Ballet Pointe Shoes - Pre Pointe And Am I ready?

by Sara
(Ocala, Florida, USA )

Ballet Pointe Shoes - Pre Pointe And Am I ready?

Hello. I am 12 years old,( 13 in less than a month) and I have been taking ballet for a little bit more than a year. I am now going to pre-pointe! I am very excited and happy but I wanted to know what the usual time is that a person stays in pre-pointe. I, like every ballet student, wishes to be in pointe. I even search pictures and watch videos of people en pointe all the time. So can you estimate, with age and that I have been taking ballet for a year, how long I will be on pre-pointe?
I thank you ahead of time for your answer. :)

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Reply by Odette
To:- Ballet Pointe Shoes - Pre Pointe And Am I ready?


Remember, just like I did before I went en pointe, ballet students MUST take responsibility for their own strengthening prior to beginning pointe work.
Australian dancer, Lisa Howell has made a video which explains how pre-point strengthening works.
Don't leave it to your teacher!
You can watch this pre-pointe video
yourself here (just wait for the page to load up then the video is on the top right of the page).

Hi Sara,
Thanks for your message, it is really great to hear from you. I love that you are so excited for pointe, this is super! And, well done for this next big step.

Pre-pointe IS the first most important step for any young dancer beginning in pointe. It is an essential process for you to understand pointe work and build the strength that is neccessary as you progress.

The dancer, Lisa Howell, is especially focused on pre-pointe advice and her eBook is perfect for the aspiring dancer to get the most out of their pointe shoes. You can take a look at the video above to see more!

Every dancer always starts very gradually onto pointe. I remember just doing very simple rises at the barre in my first few classes. Then, gradually it advances each week or month to slightly more difficult movements but never in a rush. In ballet, the best things are worth being patient and dedicated for, because then it comes out even more consistent and strong.

It depends on both the amount of classes you have and how your ballet teacher decides to progress your pointe classes. Mainly, remember, pre-pointe it still just as much a part of pointe work as anything else.

Keep working hard and don't forget to keep me in touch with how it is going.

Best wishes,
Odette