Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 3/20/2008

Question
Hi
my name is Joeanne and i started ballet when i was about to turn 11 .

My problems are i am in level 2 and most people start pointe when there 12 and i am 12 now and i consider myself to be a good student i am very very flexable and i know all the meaning of ballet positins . but when the teacher comes to my bar she skips insecpeting me completly and does not tell me if i am doing a good job like she tells some of the others(who are younger than me).

Amd i have asked to be advanced but my teacher said my level is  right for me .

HELP  

Answer
Hi Joeanne. I'm afraid you have to trust your teacher right now. Pointe work depends on strength as well as age and the level that seems to indicate you'd be doing pointe work. It's wonderful that you are dedicated to getting ahead in class.

I recommend you ask her exactly what you need to do to get strong enough to begin pointe work. Have a notepad ready and write down everything she says. If anything puzzles you ask her to explain. Most teachers really appreciate a serious student, so I don't think she'll mind.

If that does not get you a workable result, I can recommend a book written especially for students to self-assess their own readiness for pointe work. You will find it at http://www.theballetstore.com in the upper left of the first page. The lady who wrote it explains everything - foot types, foot muscles, with photos and videos. She has written in charts you use as a workbook, to test yourself for strength, correct technique, and many more details. The author is a dance medicine specialist and also a retired dancer. I can honestly recommend it to any level of dance student, because the detail is more than a teacher can cover in a class setting. It is called The Perfect Pointe Book.

I hope this helps, Joeanne. I wish you the best!