NorthRidge Dance Conservatory

Going On Pointe
Several levels of strength, body awareness and muscle development must be present for a dancer to be ready to go on pointe.  This kind of strength and awareness does not come naturally for any dancer, even if they have been training for several years.  The timeline for each dancer is different, but a constant for a ballet dancer to be prepared to take pointe class is ballet technique class more than once or twice a week.  It is not enough for a dancer’s feet to be strong.  They must exhibit a great awareness of how to engage their leg muscles, calves, hamstrings and quadriceps.  The strong use of their core, abdominals, arms, shoulders and back must be present.  This will enable them to strongly and securely hold themselves up.  This “lift” or carriage comes from a strong history of working at the barre and at center, as well as very specific attention paid to the engagement and strengthening of leg muscle groups in ballet technique training.  There also exists a certain level of confidence and knowledge of ballet material, steps, vocabulary, etc., which must also be present for a dancer to feel strong and secure while executing pointe work.

All of these factors must be present for an instructor to allow a student at NorthRidge Dance to go on pointe.  We require a minimum of three ballet technique classes a week (one may be a prepointe class) for the student who is preparing to go on pointe.  Adhering to these guidelines is only to ensure what is best for our young dancers.  Our aim is for them to avoid injury, build a solid foundation, and feel strong and confident when they take this next step in their ballet training.  It is not a race, but a process.