Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 1/4/2009

Question
My daughter did ballet when she was like four but then she took a brake, and now shes doing it again and she is ten. She thinks she is ready for pointe shoes... how can i tell?

Answer
Hi Angel. Most ten year olds are not ready for pointe shoes. The exceptions would generally be: is in a professional program taking 5-10 classes a week; is currently taking 3 ballet classes a week after three years previous training;is exceptionally strong and physically developed.

That excludes most ballet students.

Ask her ballet teacher if your daughter is ready for taking ballet in pointe shoes. I doubt that your daughter is ready, or her teacher would have suggested that already.

If you would like to give your daughter something to work with, increasing her strength and technique in preparation for pointe shoes, get her a copy of The Perfect Pointe Book. The author's link is at http://www.theballetstore.com on the home page.

This book is written for students to determine themselves the exact strengths they have with each and every factor needed for them to begin pointe work. It is easy to understand, and your daughter will know clearly what she has to do to in order to progress faster. The author sells this as a download, with exercise charts, photos and videos included. It is an excellent educational tool for any dance student. It is $47.77 US, and I believe a student would use it as a reference over many years. If your daughter is a serious student, she will love this.

What she will not like is if she gets onto pointe too early and develops deformities or arthritis in her feet, which is common in that situation.

All the best to you both, Dianne