Is this standard form?

[SAMI4166]

Quick question. Is it normal for kids to go away to an intensive and then be put en pointe? It seems that if a child is studying somewhere else and they have not been put up that this would not be appropriate. I was just wondering. These kids are going to get up this year at their home studio, but were already introduced at intensive. Just seems like bad form. What do you think?

[Gracey]

It is very common in Canada for kids to be put into pointe classes during the summer. Most kids start pointe at 10 years old here, and our summer schools are auditions for the fulltime programs, so depending on the school year the dancer is going into, they would have to do the classes inorder for the school to see if they are interested in them.

[Victoria Leigh]

It is not, to my knowledge, common here, and I would not dream of doing it without consulting with the students regular teacher first.

[cbmr]

I would hesitate to say that most kids start pointe at 10 yrs in Canada. Pointe shoes fittings might occur, perhaps, at the large SIs. but I can't thnk of anyone who started pointe work at a summer school, especially if they were attending somewhere other than their year-round school.

I don't even see the purpose of introducing it during the summer, especially if they won't be staying in the fall.

Edited September 9, 2006 by cbmr

[SAMI4166]

That is what I thought too. It just seemed rather wrong to me. One of the girls is now injured with a growth plate injury. I am not sure if that is why but it seems that it might be. I would not allow someone else to put my daughter up other that her regular teacher. She knows her so well. Thank you for the replies!

[mom2]

In our family experience, there was one Canadian program (of several) that put our dancer in pointe shoes at an early age. That one was the NBS. That was a few years ago, and in fairness the school did say in the pre- SI literature that this would be a part of the program. My recollection (based on what my daughter told me at the time) is that there were only few brief pointe classes per week after the first week. I had the impression that the school was looking at the potential of feet in dancers of a young age. Dd's teacher had sent many students to the program over the years, so it was not a surprise to her either.

 

My dd had never donned a pair of pointe shoes before that summer program.

 

Our experience with other Canadian programs was different and I don't recall young dancers being fitted for pointe shoes in schools other than NBS. While our family experience is broader than NBS it does not encompass all Canadian schools...perhaps another Canadian poster can offer more specifics.

 

m2

[dancindaughters]

I think NBS may have changed this practice. My dd was in a class of mostly Grade 6s and a few Grade 5s at NBS this summer. There was no pointe whatsoever. Some of the Grade 6 girls were invited for the year-round program. My daughter says that some of the girls had already started pointe at their home studios, but still did not do pointe during the summer program. It's possible that the next level up (which also had Grade 6) may have had pointe.

 

I wouldn't have a problem with a professional school starting my dd on pointe during the summer, but I would expect to be informed in advance.

[Gracey]

dancingdaughters - dancers going to grade 5 or 6 do not do pointe during the summer, grade 7 and up definitely do. There are american dancers who arrived here without having experience in pointe and have attended the classes. From what I understand they all do very well in it as well as they are 12 or almost 12 by that point and ready.

 

I can't say anything about the issue of whether they "should" be choosing to put a dancer on pointe during the summer, but again there is a big difference in expectations of a summer pogram in the US and in Canada. In Canada you are not simply attending an Summer Program to get a more intensive experience with different teachers. You are attending as an audition to their fulltime program. It is do or die. Having said that, though I do not know of any family who said "no thanks, she's not ready" to the pointe classes in grade 7 and above, I honestly can't see the faculty considering that a make or break point unless there are other issues.

 

 

I wonder if Quinte, Goh or RWB does the same....anyone out there know?

[dancingin the sun]

At the RWB (Winnipeg) summer session level C and up took pointe and levels A and B did not. A and B were mostly 10-12 year olds and C mostly 12-13 year olds. (level A in summer is level 1 in the fulltime program although summer placement is done by a placement class and fulltime program placement is done by age). In the fulltime program they start pointe in level 2 (12 year olds) of the program.

[G2B4]

Most kids from elsewhere who attend Goh's SI would be the age and ability of their professional program kids ... I think all teens and pointe would have been part of their audition.

[yankee]

SAM - I think this sounds like a dangerous practice and a potential for liable as not enough time could possibly be dedicated to exams, scans, etc., for each student placed in a pointe-ready level at a summer intensive. Granted, the faculty will assess each student for placement resulting in some students being placed in a pointe class respective to their level but within the age range of 11-13, some would and should still be working in the pointe class as a pre-pointe student (in soft slippers). The summer intensive faculty would also likely know, based upon the student's enrollment information, which students have progressed to pointe in their home school. The decision of each student's home school should be adhered to in order to protect the student from potentially serious injuries. Understanding each and every policy of a summer intensive - especially the age range at which pointe work is given to those within the program - is the best way for parents to know if it is one which will give regard to the decisions of the student's year-round school.

[balletmom311]

I think it is important to remember that students selected to attend NBS or RWB have been screened to make sure they have the facility to train as a professional dancer. Both schools are known for their slow and steady approach to training and the classes are small with outstanding teachers. Young dancers complain that they find the classes too basic.

 

DD attended four summers at NBS and two at RWB and I can not recall hearing about one 11 or 12 year old being injured during class. I have heard of several who where injured jumping or running around in the dorms.

 

DD went on pointe at her home student in April of Grade 5. She was 11, 4' 5" and weighed 62lbs and wore a size 1B Bloch Serenade. I know, the horror of it! I did take her to an Orthopedic surgeon before allowing this. It took until her last day of class in June before the teacher finally let the students actually rise onto pointe at the barre.

 

That summer DD attended NBS for the first time and was again fitted for pointe shoes again which they 3/4 cut. Most of the work they did would be considered pre-pointe. In talking to NBS I discovered that they like to see how the student responds to the challenges of pointe work and they 3/4 cut the shoes of the very young dancers so they can see what the foot will look like after a few years of training.

[dancindaughters]

I think it is important to remember that students selected to attend NBS or RWB have been screened to make sure they have the facility to train as a professional dancer. Both schools are known for their slow and steady approach to training and the classes are small with outstanding teachers.

 

Yes, I agree. That is why I would trust them to make the decision about a student's readiness for pointe.

 

Balletmom311 (or anyone), do you know if NBS still 3/4's shoes? I know they like their young dancers to start in light shoes, either Freed Studio Light or Suffolk Solo Light, depending on the shape of their feet.

[balletmom311]

It is a very common practice at NBS and it is based on the students individual needs. They even 3/4 cut the lights for young students if they feel it is necessary.

 

This is not common practice with the teachers in our home city, but again you are dealing with a different type of student.