First Pair of Pointe Shoes

When will your little dancer get her first pair of point shoes?  Well, this is determinded by the teacher.  The biggest thing that the teacher will be looking for is if the feet and ankles are strong enough?  The earliest that girls get their first pair of pointe shoes is 9 years old, this is when the calcification of the bones in the feet are sufficent enough to support the entire body's weight when standing on pointe (standing on toes).  

To gain the strength needed for this exciting event in a young dancers life, it is important to take class at least 3 days a week, preferably more.  Every exercise in class, when performed correctly, will build strength in the ankles and lower legs and also improves balance and stability needed when standing on the very small platform (tip) of the pointe shoe.  Jumping, surprisingly is great for building strength needed for point work. 

Feet and ankles very greatly with each dancer, not just size but flexablity in which can play a big role in the strength.  Dancers with really flexable feet and ankles ("banana feet" as dancers call it) will have a harder time with strength.  Dancers with stiff feet and ankles will tend to be stonger but will have difficulty "getting up on pointe."  When up on pointe, the platform or tip of the pointe shoe should be flat on the floor putting it in line with the ankle and hip.

Next blog will include the anatomy of pointe shoes and how they work.