I strongly urge caution before using pointe shoes - also called toe shoes. The bones of the feet need to be hardened from the cartilage of childhood. No pointe shoes before age 11 and until completing 3 years of beginning ballet. This coincides with the beginning of the Intermediate Ballet Syllabi.

Not every student should go on pointe - the final decision is up to the ballet teacher. On pointe, it is the lower back that is taking the stress - so a strong back developed from several years of ballet classes and proper placement is necessary.

I recommend the pointe portion of the class follow the completion of the regular class - extending the time half an hour. This also allows the male students not to be interrupted while the females practice pointe work.

If pointe work is not included as an extension of the regular ballet class, then it should immediately follow another dance class so that the feet, ankles, legs and body are warmed up.

Exercises at the barre are for strengthening the feet, ankles and finding the proper placement and balance on pointe, and will be a life long part of practice for the established ballet dancer.

After strength and balance on pointe are achieved the student can move to the floor exercises, but only under the guidance of the ballet teacher. The students should not practice pointe away from the barre by themselves to avoid unnecessary injury.

The only injury I've had from being on pointe was a broken foot doing emboités entournant while 3 months pregnant, because my balance and placement were off.

If you take some time off from doing pointe work such as a summer vacation or longer, slowly work back toward your previous stamina.

So, always take care to find your balance and strive for perfect placement while learning and performing on pointe!

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Pointe Work Introduction

Classical Ballet Beginning to Advanced - Manual by Susan Kramer. Preballet, beginning, intermediate and advanced levels of ballet with hundreds of combinations including a separate section of pointe work. 100 pages.
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Article by Susan Kramer

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