The 3 Things You Need to Earn Pointe Shoes

The 3 Things You Need to Earn Pointe Shoes

What's the #1 question I get asked as a Ballet teacher? 

"Am I ready for Pointe?'

"What do I need to work on to earn my Pointe shoes?"

"How will I know when I am ready for Pointe?"

"When can I begin Pointe work?"

I'm going to share the 3 things you need to get ready for Pointe and earn your very first pair of Pointe shoes. If you are able to achieve these things, with hard work and dedication, you will absolutely be ready for Pointe lessons. So what are you waiting for? Get to work!

1. BUILD YOUR ANKLE STRENGTH

All Pointe work needs to be supported with strong ankles and the tendons that surround them. Ankle strength is the first thing I look for when assessing a student's readiness for Pointe work. 

The best exercises for building ankle strength include: 

- Theraband Exercises -

- Releve -

- Pre-Pointe Exercises -

- Ballet Barre Work -

If you aren't currently working on these things, it's time to add them. In fact, Pointe students are required by most teachers to work at home daily in strength building exercises. Now is a great time to form a daily habit. YouTube has tons of resources for finding exercises for Ballet dancers. Just be sure to find someone who actually is a trained teacher and knows what their doing. 

My current favorite YouTube Ballet teachers are...

KATHRYN MORGAN

current dancer for Miami City Ballet

and

CLAUDIA DEAN

former artist of the Royal Ballet

2. STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE

Every good Pointe dancer has strong feet for sure. However, many people underestimate the power of the core. Your core muscles surround your upper body. You will need to work on strengthening your abdominal and back muscles to prepare for your first pair of Pointe shoes. 

Best Exercises for Strengthening your Core: 

- Pilates -

- Pilates - 

- Pilates - 

I began taking Pilates during my senior year of High School. It was offered at my studio and I took it for fun! My dancing improved overnight and I began to actualize my dreams of becoming a professional dancer. I cannot stress enough the importance of Pilates Work as a support for dancing. Your local area should have Pilates classes or studios nearby. Just be sure that your instructor is actually certified to teach Pilates. While you can find access to Pilates exercises online or on television, I recommend finding an instructor to teach you how to do the exercises correctly and to avoid injury. However, there are some very basic exercises you can begin at home to start strengthening your body today!

JESSICA VALANT

This is a physical therapist with years of Pilates instruction experience. Her beginner Pilates videos are a great starting point for anyone looking to build core strength. 

https://youtu.be/D3TC-tz3TeQ

 3. IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE

Balance is an extremely important skill into developing your skills as a dancer. Good balance indicates several important qualities needed for Pointe readiness:

- Ankle Strength - 

- Core Strength -

- Body Awareness -

- Center of Balance - 

If balance is an area of difficulty for you, it may be due to specific ankle weakness. One of the best exercises to improve balance looks like this: 

Literally, standing like a Flamingo will improve your balance. The act of standing on one leg for :30 seconds to 1 minute will gently strengthen the muscles around the outsides of your ankle. I recommend my students stand like this on each leg for the length of their favorite song. Who knew that the Flamingo holds the secrets to great Pointe work ? I mean they are pink after all. 

AND THAT'S IT!

3 Simple Ways to Get Ready for Pointe Work 
1. Ankle Strength
2. Core Strength
3. Balance

If you can improve in these 3 key areas, you are well on your way to earning your first pair of Pointe shoes. Its likely to help your dancing in your other classes as well. I guarantee that the more you practice and make efforts outside of class, the more your teachers will begin to notice these new changes in your dancing. Your future is bright! Now get to work!!!