The Linda Jamieson School of Dance offers pointe work to its pre-professional senior program students. Faculty at the Linda Jamieson School of Dance carefully evaluate each student for advancement in the program and for placement in pointe work.

1. Readiness for Pointe Work
Linda Jamieson, School of Dance

2. Introduction
• The Linda Jamieson School of Dance offers pointe work to its pre-professional
senior program students. Faculty at the Linda Jamieson School of Dance carefully
evaluate each student for advancement in the program and for placement in
pointe work.
Starting to dance en pointe is a rite of passage for many ballet dancers, though far
too many think of the step as a natural consequence of reaching a certain age or
experience level. Pointe work is a privilege rather than a right and should reflect
commitment and maturity as well as a high level of physical development and
technical precision.
Every teacher or studio has an individual set of criteria to determine when a
student is ready for en pointe, but most agree that the dancer's bones must be
sufficiently developed and strong. It is rare for a dancer to safely begin pointe work
before the age of 11, as the combined force of body weight and movement en
pointe can permanently damage the muscle and bone structure of the foot.
Students should also have at least two to four years of training in pure ballet.

3. Pointe
• They must arrive to class consistently well prepared and implement
corrections quickly and effectively. Furthermore, because many studios
require their en pointe students to take at least three to five hours of
ballet classes per week, they must demonstrate a high level of
commitment to their studies.
Technical prerequisites include the ability to use plié, piqué, and relevé
effectively, particularly in center work. Multiple relevés in center should
challenge neither their endurance nor technique, and the same is true for
single-leg balance. The overall posture and core strength must be
consistently good, as should the ability to keep the ankle and foot in
alignment.
Although these are generally accepted guidelines for pointe work, each
teacher knows his or her students best. It is important for pre-pointe
students to accept a teacher's determination of their readiness, as much
as it is a teacher's responsibility to keep each student safe and working at
an appropriate level.