WB POINTE POLICY

“When can I start wearing pointe shoes - my friend at the studio down the road is already dancing in pointe shoes at age eight ?”

At Wilmington , we welcome this question because it gives us another opportunity to further our students’ education. The only responsible answer to this question is: A young dancer risks serious and permanent growth plate injuries if she is allowed to wear pointe shoes before acquiring the necessary bone maturation, physical strength, and to work safely ‘en pointe.’

A dancer’s health is of paramount importance at Wilmington Ballet, which is why we adhere strictly to the recommendations and practices of the top ballet schools in the country. Therefore, our professionally trained and experienced instructors consider the following criteria when assessing whether a dancer is ready to begin pointe work:

• Age - while there is no magic age at which a student may start pointe classes, a general guide is between the ages of 11 and 13, when the bones in the have begun to ossify • Ankle Strength –ability to stand ‘turned-out’ on a flat foot without collapsing the arches (pronating); ability to hold a high ‘demi-pointe’ without wobbling (e.g., being able to releve at least 16x on one leg while maintaining correct alignment) • Physical Strength (e.g., being able to hold a 90-degree extension with straight supporting leg; or jump on two legs while maintaining turn-out) • Secure Postural Alignment- ability to hold hips and turn-out secure when rolling up and down through demi-pointe • Straight Knees while dancing • and Arch Strength – not “crunching” under or placing weight on pointed toes in tendu • Mental Maturity – ability to follow combinations and retain corrections in class • Commitment to Multiple Classes – attend at least 3 ballet technique classes per week to maintain necessary strength and technique

After careful consideration of these factors and discussions between parents and Wilmington Ballet instructors, our students may be ready to begin wearing pointe shoes. Beginning pointe work is a gradual process. Young girls must be correctly ‘fitted’ in pointe shoes appropriate for their foot and will start, slowly, building further strength and pointe technique during 5-15 minute sessions at the end of regular class. After many months to a year of this type of “pre-pointe readiness” training, the student may be prepared to engage in a standard, typically hour-long, pointe class.

For further reading, please see, http://www.dancemagazine.com/issues/April-2012/Centerwork-Perfect-Timing