Dancers perform pointe by rising to the tips of their toes while performing steps from ballet. They perform the technique while wearing hard-toed and stiff-shanked pointe shoes. Pointe is one of the most graceful and famous forms of dance. If done wrong, it can be painful and cause permanent foot damage.
Only a few dancers will be able to master pointe work, which is an exciting and essential part of any ballet student's training. Most students begin pointe work after they reach advanced levels in training. To learn the pointe technique and combinations, they work in flat shoes and develop the strength they will require.
To learn the art of en pointe dance, you should be mindful of a few requirements. You must be ten years old and have two years of ballet training. The bones of your feet start to become harder at this age, a common thought that dancers should not go on pointe until this time. You must have taken three classes a week consistently as a minimum.
For all ballet students like you, follow these dance tips on ballet pointe:
Hold your turnout while dancing - As the main concept of ballet, turnout allows you to execute certain steps that you couldn't do otherwise. Holding your turnout while dancing signifies strength and conditioning. If you don't have the strength to maintain a turnout, then you are not strong enough for pointe. It is much more difficult to hold turnout en pointe.
A strong, straight back while dancing, especially the lower back - En pointe requires the muscles in your legs and feet to stand en pointe and not use the shoes as a crutch. If your back is weak, then it will throw you off balance while dancing en pointe and will make it difficult to do ballet steps. A straight back is also important for doing pirouettes.
Keep your heels forward toward the big toe - The most stable position when doing pointe is to have your weight slightly forward over the big toe. If you have your weight over the little toe, it will be much more difficult to stay up en pointe. There is also a better chance of strain or injury.
Use plié while dancing - You will need to use pliés while dancing since this is how to get up en pointe. By you won't use pliés, your legs will bend incorrectly. Ballet dancers execute the pliés by bending the knees smoothly and continuously.
Point your feet while dancing - Point your feet while dancing to strengthen the muscles which pointe work requires. These muscles should be strong enough to support your body weight on the ends of your toes. If you always use these foot muscles, you will be able to support yourself en pointe and knuckle over on your toes, with no risk of getting hurt.
Pique passé using a straight leg - To push onto half-pointe, you should have built up enough leg strength. This step is much difficult to do en pointe. A bent leg is usually the leading sign of weakness and improper step preparation.
Do 16 relevés in center without stopping - Relevés are a great way to build up vital strength in your calf muscles for pointe work and to go up as high on half-pointe as possible.
Hold a passé balance on half-pointe - You should still have the strength to balance on half-pointe, your hips square, back straight, and legs turned-out. The surface area for balancing will be smaller, so the requirements for balancing en pointe will be greater.
A difficult ballet technique like pointe demands strength, experience and countless training and conditioning of the feet and leg muscles. Why not read The Perfect Pointe Book and you should be healthy and physically fit to execute such a step. A pointe work done wrong could result to an injury.
Rose Starr - A Practicing psychologist. Has traveled some places of the world in order to foresee herself how amazing and wonderful God have created the world. Also practicing ballet for the better improvement of mental skills and to be a good instructor.
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