Do you take technique en pointe?

[Guest SpiritIvy]

Do you take technique on pointe? it required, or just allowed? How often do you do this?

 

My studio doesn't let us take technique on pointe untill you are the advanced level, but that only happens once in a blue moon when the teacher wants them to take class en pointe. The company members are allowed to, but no one does.

 

I'm curious because I've been to a lot of different studios and they all have their own way of doing things- this is pretty much the first time ever that taking class en pointe was not allowed. I miss being able to take class en pointe because it built up a lot of strength. I got used to doing things en pointe, so it looked a lot more natural. I've noticed that at studios where it is allowed, the technique en pointe is a lot better than studios where it is not allowed... whats your opinion?

[Victoria Leigh]

My opinion is that this is not a Pointe Shoe Topic, but a Young Dancers' topic, so, it's going there

[Victoria Leigh]

In my opinion a full class on pointe should be only for the most advanced dancers, and only then if they are not receiving enough pointe work otherwise. I prefer technique classes in soft shoes, followed by pointe classes. Sometimes I suggest that the advanced class do the technique class in pointe shoes, but not always. I feel that both are needed. Students who wear only pointe shoes do not articulate as well with their feet. That needs to be learned in soft shoes, and then developped in pointe shoes.

[Guest Cristin]

At my old studio you could take classes on pointe if the teacher said you could, and she usually did. At my new studio you take pointe in pointe class and that's all.

[Petite_Arabesque]

At my studio you can start wearing dead pointe shoes in A-1 (the lowest level) once you reach B-2 (intermediate), not to go up on pointe, but just to get get used to working in the shoes--after all that's what you'll be doing for the majority of your ballet career, should you choose that path. After you reach C-2 ( advanced/pre-professional), you can start taking the second class in pointe shoes and on pointe if you took the first class, so that your feet are warm. Also, in C-1 and C-2, we are sometimes asked to put the pointe shoes on for center, again to get used to articulating the feet in the shoes. As we all know, it makes everything that would otherwise be relatively easy a LOT harder!

 

~*~Carmen~*~