Pointe work at home

[Guest dancingthroughlife]

I'm going on pointe soon, and I was wondering if practcing pointe at home is a good idea. I've heard mixed thoughts about this idea. I've heard it's a bad idea because you don't have your teacher around to make sure you're doing steps correctly, so its a possibility that you can hurt yourself. I've heard that its a good idea because practice makes perfect. Are there certain things you can do on pointe at home? Any input will be appreciated

[Guest Alive2Dance]

Although I'm not one of the moderators I'm sure they'd agree to NOT do pointe work at home. It's dangerous especially for a beginner. Practice does make perfect, but only when you are supervised by your teacher! Focus in class and you'll progress, you don't need to risk being injured or making a bad habit at home.

[Victoria Leigh]

Your answer is correct, Alive2Dance, however we would really prefer that you wait for a moderator to answer questions on technique before you weigh in.

[Guest Alive2Dance]

Sorry, I will next time. I just felt excited that I could help someone out with an answer I knew. It won't happen again Ms.Leigh!

[Victoria Leigh]

I understand, Alive2Dance The rule exists, though, because too often the teens will answer with things that are NOT correct, even though they are just trying to help. It's really nice that everyone wants to help, but the problem is that a lot of times young dancers just really do not know the answsers to things. We don't want Ballet Talk to be a place for incorrect or irresponsible advise, so, that's why we have that rule!

[Mel Johnson]

Now once a moderator has taken a whack at a topic, and you have an anecdote that fills out the picture, or provides additional information, jump right in, by all means!

[Guest dancing<><piper]

I have been on pointe since October 2003 and I practised at home from almost the beginning.

Carefully, of course, and only wht I had been taught by my teacher already.

Also, during breaks and summer, how else do I keep my calluses ad feet in shape?

Could you tell me if it is a bad idea?

Thank you,

 

dancing<><piper

[Victoria Leigh]

Nope, not a bad idea at all, as long as you are only working on things that you know how to do correctly!

[Guest veggiegrl88]

I think it depends on the situation and person at hand. For me, I started pointe kind of late (13, not too bad really) and my teacher suggested that in order to build up as much strength as the other girls, I should do releves at home every night. Now, at the same time, there were other girls in the studio who she did not allow to do this because they were too young and she was afraid they would try to expirament and then get hurt. Youn might want to ask your teacher first before you try anything because once you get bad habits, it's really hard to break them.

[Guest dancing<><piper]

Thank you Ms. Leigh and Veggiegrl88!

[mohnurka]

If you're not too sure whether you know pointe technique, understand what is right/wrong, then wait a little until that knowledge builds up, and then, you can probably start working at home CAREFULLY! AND SLOWLY! sometimes it helps because in class it's hard to do everything and correct things.

[Guest dancingthroughlife]

Thank you for all of the imput!