Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 3/9/2009

Question
My 6 1/2 year old daughter takes ballet 3 times/week for one hour/session in Belgrade, Serbia, where I am currently working.  The teacher recently moved her and a few other girls (mostly 7 years old) into the next higher class and they now use point shoes (I think for about 30 minutes each session).  She says the girls are ready.  Her classes are very serious with much more stretching and exercises than dancing.  However, from everything I've seen on the internet, it seems that even with strong muscles, pointe shoes are not recommended for girls younger than 9 or 10 at the earliest.  I'm afraid she will have to quit her ballet classes (as I know she will not want to move back down to the "little kids" group after all her friends have moved into the pointe shoes group).  I don't want to risk permanent damage to her feet or tendons just so she can continue with her friends.  By the way, most of the views I"ve seen on the internet are from dancers or parents.....do you know of any sources on the internet that discuss this issue from ortheopedic doctors?  Thank you so much.

Answer
".....has basically been up to the teacher to decide when each student makes the transition.

This has lead to many girls being allowed up too early, to “keep up with their class”, often resulting in chronic foot injuries that may plague even the most competent dancer throughout their career, or even permanent damage. Due to the variability in growth rates of girls in the 11 – 14 year age group (when moist girls start en pointe) and the lack of complete closure of many of the growth plates in the feet until at least 16 – 18 years of age, strength of the feet and ankles is a huge factor in preventing injury when progressing to toe shoes."
Lisa Howell, dance medicine specialist, author of The Perfect Pointe Book

Her book link is at http://www.theballetstore.com/
....but you don't need to read it for more on this. When your daughter IS ready for pre-pointe training, this would be an excellent guide for her.

It is absurd to put 6 and 7 year old girls in pointe shoes. The chances of an exceptional student being ready is remote.

"I emailed a few orthos that specialize in dance and have been told that 14 is the age- and in addition 5th position shouldn't begin for girls until around puberty due to their under developed hips." - a dance teacher from a dance forum - she doesn't name the ortho's.

If you do an extensive search you will find more like this. I would change your daughter's school and allow her to continue her training properly!

All the best, Dianne

http://www.dance.net/topic/7820600/1/Ask-a-Studio-Owner/ballet-training-in-regar...

more references regarding same!