Verified answer

When you go en pointe, you shouldn't feel any support, and it should feel like your feet are going to fall out of the pointe shoe.

Here's a video to explain better (i love lisa howell!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9NqnfPGzXA

Here are some pictures (i couldn't really find any, but this gives you an idea):

http://static.flickr.com/69/186872776_2511afa400_o...

http://static.flickr.com/57/186880387_d078b5daaf_o...

Hope this helps, have a nice day!!

=)

you know when they are dead when you have no support left, they will become quite soft either in the shank or in the box. it will hurt much much more. usually when you first start out on pointe it should take a few months. also if you are dancing correctly, the shank should not become dead at all. only the box.