Hey there! As a Physiotherapist who's worked with countless dancers (and being a former dancer myself), I know just how exciting it is when a young dancer starts thinking about pointe work. It's a huge milestone! But here's the thing – I've seen both the beautiful successes and the painful setbacks that can come from starting pointe too soon. No one wants to finally get their first set of pointe shoes, only to sprain their ankle en pointe a few weeks later. Trust me, I've been there...it's not fun.
Let me walk you through what I look for when assessing dancers in my clinic, and why it matters so much to get this right.
The Real Talk About Pointe Readiness
You know what I love about my job? Getting to be that trusted guide for dancers and their parents during this exciting time. When dancers come into my clinic they often ask, "But how do I know if I'm ready?"
Well, after years of working with pre-professional students at Queensland Ballet Academy students and various full-time dance programs across Brisbane, I've learned that it's not just about age or years of training. It's about having the right building blocks in place.
What I Actually Look For
Let me break it down for you – here's what I check during our pre-pointe assessments:
Can you maintain proper core control and alignment while moving various body parts? (And I mean really maintain it!)
How's your ankle strength and flexibility? (This is huge for pointe work)
Are you consistently nailing your technique in flat shoes?
Is your body physically mature enough to handle the demands? Ideally, we'd like to wait until you're 12years old.
Here's What Gets Me Excited (The Good Signs!)
When I see a dancer who:
Makes technique look effortless in flat shoes
Has that rock-solid core stability
Shows great ankle/foot strength and control
Understands their body and listens to it
These are the things that make me think, "Yes, this dancer is on the right track!"
The Red Flags I Can't Ignore
I'm always honest with my dancers because I care about their long-term success. Here's what makes me pause:
Not being able to perform at least 20-25 single leg calf raises with good control
Struggling with intrinsic foot exercises like:
Piano toes (can you control each toe independently?)
Toe swapping (switching between big toe and little toes down)
Doming (can you create and hold that foot arch?)
Difficulty maintaining basic ballet technique
Weak core strength
Physical development that's not quite there yet
What's Next?
If you're thinking about starting pointe, here's what I recommend:
Book in for a proper assessment (yes, I'm biased, but it's so important!)
Follow through with any strengthening exercises you're given
Keep up with regular check-ins
Join our Healthy Dancer Workshops (they're fantastic for building that pre-pointe foundation)
Let's Chat!
The journey to pointe is different for everyone, and that's okay! What matters is doing it safely and at the right time. If you're wondering about pointe readiness, I'd love to help you make sure you're on the right track.
Want to know more or ready to book an assessment? Send me an email, encoreperformancehealth@gmail.com. Let's make sure your pointe journey starts off on the right foot (pun absolutely intended! 😉).
Happy Dancing!
Grace
Comments