3.24. When can my daughter start toe dancing?
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This article is from the Ballet and Modern Dance FAQ, by Tom Parsons twp@panix.com with numerous contributions by others.
3.24. When can my daughter start toe dancing?
Girls must not go up on pointe (dance or exercise on their toes)
until the bones of their feet are fully developed and the muscles--not only
in the arches and legs, but also the lower torso--are strong enough to bear
the stress. (Joan Lawson says ten; Gretchen Warren says eleven. Barbara
Early quotes an orthopedic surgeon who says, not until two years after
menarche. Individuals vary, however, and this must ultimately be a
judgement call by the teacher. In some cases, it may be wise to get a
physician's opinion as well, but pointe work before the age of ten is, or
ought to be, out of the question.) They should also have had several years
(at least three and preferably more) of proper training. All of this
requires careful evaluation on the part of the teacher. Note that we have
three requirements here: bones, muscles, and training.
Once a dancer is ready, preparation for pointe work is a slow and
gradual process. At first, it is just strengthening exercises at the
barre--for example, simply going up on pointe and coming back down--for
perhaps no more than five or ten minutes. It is only after six months to
a year of this that the girls start dancing on pointe in the center. The
entire process takes time and close supervision by the teacher. If a
parent is knowledgeable about pointe work, (s)he should observe the pointe
work to see that enough time is spent at the barre.
Girls are sometimes allowed to go on pointe much younger--for
example, at age 8 or 9. This may be the result of ignorance on the part
of teacher, or perhaps she has knuckled under to pressure from parents who
want to see their little darlings dancing on their toes. Beware of this!
Starting pointe work at too early an age can do irreparable harm to those
"little darlings."
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