Should I go into En Pointe?
I've been doing Jazz and Tap all my life, started when I was 4. Anyways. I started doing Ballet (i got put in Adv.) this year, and have only been in the class for 3 months. My teacher automatically switched me into En Pointe, and told me I'll be going into it, this Friday, she said, if I didn't want to i didnt have to, but ballet would just be too easy for me, because my strength is ''outstanding''.
Do you think i should go into En Pointe? or stay with what i have? I'm 13 btw.
More Questions From This User See All
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
If what you are saying is true, I would run from that school as fast as I could. Telling a student that has taken ballet class for only 3 months that they are strong enough for pointe is insane. If you were studying in the finest ballet academy in the world like Paris Opera Ballet school and took classes 8 hours a day 6 days a week, you wouldn't be ready in 3 months. There is no way you would have enough ballet technique or know how to engage your turnout even if you had perfect turnout. Zhops is 100% correct. There are so many young girls en pointe asking how to get over their boxes as well as questions about dance injuries I keep reading about on this site due to girls being put en pointe that have no business being en pointe based on their level of training.
Please don't do this. By the way, Professional ballet dancers take lower level classes on occasion to reinforce their basic technique. They don't find it "too easy for them". They find it helpful. Those must be awful classes and that teacher...well what can I say. I am not trying to be rude, I am just trying to save you a bad experience and a possible injury as well..
Jazz and tap don't put the same kind of pressure on your feet as ballet does (pointe or not) Your feet need awhile to develop the correct turn-out and arches and just overall strength it requires for pointe. I think that if you hop into pointe so quickly, you are more at risk of injury because pointe can be really dangerous if it isn't done properly.
Are there any other ballet schools near you? This teacher of yours doesn't sound well trained or informed to me... You could seek out the advice of a more experienced teacher, or even a professional pointe shoe fitter.
Good Luck, hope this was helpful
Only three months of ballet? It takes time to develop a reliable turnout, and jazz and tap don't help with this. And it's not possible that in three months you have a secure grasp of ballet technique. These are necessary before going on pointe. I would like to say your teacher knows best, but I fear your teacher doesn't know anything. Several students have posted questions here in the last few weeks about just having been put on pointe and being unable to get over the box of their shoes without bending their knees. This is part of what happens when one is put on pointe before being ready. You may be very strong, but you can't possibly have the kind of strength needed for pointe. Are you sure you want to stay with this teacher?
After three months, even if your teacher says your strength is outstanding I would hesitate. Ballet is hardest kind of dance there is. I have never seen a student go up on to pointe before at least a year to two years of just demi-pointe work and have always been told that doing so earlier with little or no experience in ballet, was dangerous.
I personally would not recommend it and would talk to your teacher and maybe wait a year before doing pointe.
Well, if your at an adaquete Ballet school, and a certified teacher who knows what she is talking about gave you the 'ok' to go en pointe, then it is absolutely safe. Its up to you to decide if you would like to go en pointe. I hope you know that it is very painful and injuries are very common. But it is very rewarding, and essential if you are pursuing a professional career in Ballet.
Just to be clear, you would be taking Ballet classes AND pointe classes, right? Because you have to understand, that girls in academies and professional ballet schools (such as myself), always have to have at least 2 hours of technique class, and then have either 1 or 2 hours of pointe. Your ballet class is the most important, that is what is going to get you your technique.
I wish you luck! Hope I helped!
:)
i definitely would not.
i take ballet and tap and i used to take jazz. tap and jazz are not enough to prepare you for pointe. stick with ballet for for a year ar two and maybe then u can go up depending on your turnout... and u may want to be careful because your teacher sounds inexperienced.
Good luck!!!
If i were you, i would do at least one more month without pointe and take Pilates. Idk if you dance studio has this but all ballet academys do. It will strenghthen you ever more for zpointe and assure that you are strong enough not to get hurt.