Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 6/22/2011

Question
Well I've always loved dance and now I'm at the point where I would LOVE to begin pointe. I don't take a ton of ballet classes but I know the basics. My mom's been debating whether I'm ready for it or not physically. I'm 14 in October and my feet haven't grown for a while. Do you think that it would be safe and or a good idea for me to do pointe? Thanks for your help!

~Aisia

Answer
Hi Aisia. You have two options in determining whether you are ready to dance ballet in pointe shoes.

One, is to ask your teacher if you are strong enough. Hopefully she or he will know the exact assessment tests to determine this.

Two, you can get a dancer's guide called The Perfect Pointe Book, (you will find the author's presentation of it at http://balletpointeshoes.info)

and learn how to assess that yourself.

The advantage of learning this through practicing the exercises and tests in her book, is that you will know about, and know how to strengthen the exact foot muscles needed to dance in pointe shoes. It is a dancer's manual of pre pointe exercise, it reviews ballet turnout, ballet positions, and instructs you with text, video and photos.

It may not be something that you need. Ask your ballet teacher, and see what comes out of that.

All the best! Dianne