Things to Consider Before Stepping En Pointe

Have you ever seen a dancer en pointe and thought to yourself “How do they do that?” Getting your first pair of pointe shoes marks a very clear milestone in a young dancer’s education. Your dancer has worked hard and has displayed that they have built the strength and technical skills in order to advance to the next level. While this is an exciting opportunity to work toward, there are some things that should be considered while working toward this next step.

Technique and Strength are What Determine a Dancer’s Readiness, Not their Age

Every dancer (at Music House) who wishes to dance en pointe must pass a pointe readiness evaluation that assesses a dancer’s strength and technical ability. We have found that the dancers who successfully pass this evaluation are taking class at least two times per week. It is hard to build the proper technique and strength necessary to dance en pointe if you are only dancing for one hour every week. If you are serious about pointe shoes one day, perhaps consider bumping up dance classes.

When your Dancer Does Pass their Pointe Readiness Evaluation They Will Be Expected to Dance More than One Day a Week

This is for your dancer’s safety. We value dance education that encourages dancers to understand and care for their bodies. Dancing en pointe only one time every week not only increases risk of injury but also does not give the body time to develop muscles that support dancing en pointe. When performance season rolls around and our dancers are working harder, we want them to feel equipped to tackle a more rigorous dance schedule and safely execute their performance. 

Your First Pair of Pointe Shoes is Special

We love seeing our dancers getting their first pair of pointe shoes. It is a special day and should be treated as such! Though it may not appear this way, pointe shoes come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Every dancer’s foot is different and it is important to find a shoe that works for YOUR dancer. That being said, going to buy your first pair of pointe shoes in person is absolutely essential. Once your dancer knows what style and size works best for them, subsequent pairs may be purchased online, but it is important to have a professional pointe shoe fitter match your dancer with the perfect pair that first time.

Pointe Shoes take Some Getting Used to

Getting approved for pointe and then going to purchase your first pair of pointe shoes is very exciting. Then you start attending pointe class, which is where the real fun begins…or the hard part? Pointe shoes are entirely different from soft ballet shoes in that they have absolutely no flexibility and will feel pretty uncomfortable until broken in. This will likely take weeks. In that time blisters, toe nail troubles, and bruising are not uncommon. Be patient. Your foot and your body are adapting to a brand new style of shoe. This takes time and it WILL get easier.  

Dancing En Pointe doesn’t Need to be the End Goal for all Dancers 

Not every dancer needs to have the goal of one day dancing en pointe. There are hundreds of famous dancers throughout time that have never once put on a pair of pointe shoes let alone considered it. Maybe your dancer loves tap or hip hop. While there isn’t a footwear change that clearly correlates with progression in these forms, there is such depth and nuance to be found in these styles that would qualify a dancer as advanced. Sometimes lack of clear end goals can feel confusing and make it hard to track progress. Recognize that every year your dancer is in class, they are building strength, rhythm, dynamics, work ethic, and ensemble skills. Recognize that progress, and treat it as a milestone!