Guest dance4life87 Posted November 18, 2002 Report Share Posted November 18, 2002 Everyone that I have talked to , asked or know that is on pointe, has been dancing for at least 5-6 years before getting on pointe. But, they have had to be at least 12 to get onto pointe, so thats why I think that they've had to wait so many years beofre gettting onto pointe. If you start at a later age does it make a difference? Do you know of anyone who started ballet as a late beginner and got on pointe much faster then 6 years? Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted November 18, 2002 Administrators Report Share Posted November 18, 2002 Yes, it's possible, IF you have both quality and quantity training, and IF you have a good physical facility for ballet. You need to be at a good intermediate level, taking at least 3 classes a week in teachnique, an hour and a half each, by the third year of your study. After that year, it might be possible, but it always depends on way too many variables for anyone to say who can't see you. Be sure and read the "Sticky" entitled Facts of Life About Pointe Work. Link to comment
Guest dance4life87 Posted November 18, 2002 Report Share Posted November 18, 2002 really? I still think 4 years is a long time lol I thought maybe 2 years or something but thanks anyways. Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted November 18, 2002 Administrators Report Share Posted November 18, 2002 I was saying possibly 3 years, meaning that in the 4th year, IF all the other things mentioned above are in place, it might be possible. There are some who have done it sooner, but they are either really rare exceptions or they attend schools that do not know or adhere to the standards of who and when someone should be on pointe. Link to comment
Guest SpiritIvy Posted November 19, 2002 Report Share Posted November 19, 2002 I'm really curious then- is it bad to be put on pointe earlier than 2 years? most people say 2-3 years at the earliest, but a lot of late starting professionals (allegra kent and mistly copeland are two that come to mind) started pointe after only a few months (6 and 4 respectively if I remember correctly) I've also known quite a few late starting dancers to get enough technique in a few months, so they started taking pointe then, too. I also started with only 4 months training- this WAS a bad decision on the teachers part because I had only taken one hour class a week (and it was split with jazz- ugh!) so I know in MY case it wasn't a good thing, but with intensive training, is it safe? Link to comment
Guest dance4life87 Posted November 19, 2002 Report Share Posted November 19, 2002 well in my opinion, if the late beginner starts with like tremendous amounts of training and they work as hard as they can I think that they could do it in like a year. Im not saying 3 or 4 hours a week Im saying like 11 to anymore higher. I asked my teacher what was the shortest time for any of her students to get on pointe, and she said that she had a late beginner like me and she was at the studio like all the time and she got on pointe in a year, so it's possible. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted November 19, 2002 Report Share Posted November 19, 2002 In all my time in this business, I've only seen two girls outside of a European-style academy (pre-selection by a jury before they even started, daily classes, and so on) start pointe before two years study, and be able to be any good at it. Both were very highly trained athletes by the time they started, and had other natural advantages which favored them. Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted November 20, 2002 Administrators Report Share Posted November 20, 2002 It will be different with every student, of course, however I do feel very strongly that a student will not have enough knowledge of technique and placement in under 3 years of study at a minimum of 3 times a week. If a student is able to start in an intensive program, with daily classes, it might be possible after 2 years, IF the student has not only the technique and knowledge but a most unusual body which is totally appropriate for ballet. I do not see it happening in one year under any conditions. The fact that it has been done in one or two is not relevant, and it is entirely possible that they were allowed on pointe without anywhere close to the amount of technique, strength, placement and knowledge that they should have. I get students who come in with years of training, 13 or 14 years old, on pointe for two or 3 years, and they have no placement, no knowledge, no rotation, bad feet, and non-existent port de bras! They need to start over, from A, B, C. Some of them don't know the positions of the body, the arabesques, or the difference between a piqué and a relevé! It is shattering for them, but if they want it badly enough they do it. And they can learn and improve and get back on pointe. But they need to be taken off until they learn. All of this learning is not done overnight. It takes quite a bit of time. Going on pointe without this is ridiculous. It's a battle, for the student and the teacher, and it's definitely not pretty to look at Link to comment
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