To Pointe or not to Pointe..

'Pointe shoe graduation' is a major deal in a young ballerina's life. Because it's what ballet is all about right? I so often hear the words, "we've been waiting for this day to finally get a pair of pointe shoes", little Mary is so excited. Mmmm. The first question I always ask is "do you, your teacher or parent have any concerns with going onto pointe"? Generally they'll say no, some are honest and admit they may need more time. In all honestly, this is the best answer, because there's very few students who come in and tick every box on the form.

25-30years ago there was no such thing as a pointe assessment. We just bought a pair of shoes when reaching an Intermediate level. I saw many of my friends quit soon after, as ballet wasn't for them. Pointe was too hard, too difficult.

Why was it too difficult? Maybe because their feet were not structurally made for pointe work? They may not have had the plantar flexion or 1st toe dorsiflexion range, leg shape or strength needed to rise through the hard sole shoe... Or the shoe was simply the wrong fit/type?

Last year I was watching a ballet competition and praying this young girl wasn't going to sprain her ankle. The instability I saw in her ankle from the back of the auditorium was astounding. Maybe she was strong, but the shoe was the wrong type for her foot?

I'll give a personal example here: when I was 16, I had a pair of new pointe shoes, they were Gaynor Minden brand. I wore them on stage and fell over 3 times doing fouettés. Unfortunately, these shoes were not fitted for a high arched, flexible foot. I could've sprained an ankle myself that day. So I stuck to my Bloch pair of 'Serenade strong' for a long time after that.

So it's not all just about reaching 25 calf rises, having the right plantar flexion, or 1st toe dosi-flexion range, it's about the type of pointe shoe and if they are suitable for your foot. TIP: If you have a hyper-mobile, high arched foot you won't suit shoes with a short vamp or soft shank. These may suit someone with less plantar flexion range for example.

So to stay "enpointe" have your pointe assessment, find out more about your feet and what style of shoe is best for you, if pointe is right for you. Don't give up dancing if you're feet aren't suited to pointe work, it's a small part of the ballet class you can easily still complete in flat ballet shoes.

Until next time, keep pointing your feet. ;)

Mel