The moment my daughter showed interest in dance I imagined her gliding across the stage on the tips of her toes in her swan lake debut with the New York City Ballet. The time and dedication needed to learn to dance on pointe is not something you consider when your toddler is jumping around in a pink tutu.
Pointe is literally danced performed on the tips of your toes. When you envision a ballerina, you are visualizing them on pointe. The ultimate goal for serious ballet students is to reach a level of mastery in basic ballet technique so that they can learn pointe and dance on their toes.
My daughter fell in love with tap and my swan lake dreams crushed. But I learned a lot about dance over the decade spent taking her to the studio.
You cannot go on pointe without experience.
The statement that attempting pointe without training is dangerous would be an understatement. That is not to say that some have not tried it. There is a small population of internet sensations that have emerged touting their self-education in ballet. But it is impossible to believe they did not read, watch or practice according so form of guidelines.
Dance students traditionally work on basic ballet technique for a minimum of 3 years before they can start learning pointe. The average age for beginning pointe students is between 11 and 12. That means those dancers probably started learning real ballet technique between ages 7 and 9. Many dance teachers say that you need 10 years of formal training to be competent in pointe.
The professionals make it look effortless as they float across the dance floor. But in truth they have spent thousands of hours and millions of positions to get to that spotlight. Blisters and broken toes are just a small part of the pain they willingly endure to get a chance to perform with a major company. Even after getting paid to perform dancers will take classes throughout their career to continue to maintain their skills.
The options for learning pointe
In the United States there are 55,000 dance studios to choose from. The cost of dance classes in a studio can cost anywhere from $40 to $160 a month for just 1 weekly class. Most studios require beginners to take multiple classes to learn the basics. When a dancer is ready to start pointe, they may need to take a class devoted to strength training for their feet in addition to their dance classes. There are schools in many countries that integrate dance training with traditional educational models. In Canada the renowned National Ballet School start these programs from grade six through graduation with most students going on to dance professions. During the pandemic, many studios turned to Zoom and Skype for virtual classes to help students retain their skills while in lockdown. They even had recitals virtually to give students an outlet to share their progress.
All these options still may not be viable for most families. There are scholarships and grants available for exceptional and gifted students. But the expense is often a barrier for low-income families. There are dance programs available at community centers and youth intervention programs. Those programs are not always to the same quality of learning students would receive in a traditional studio. These barriers drive excited young dancers to the internet for alternatives.
Technology has given a variety of options for anyone looking for less expensive alternatives to traditional studio classes. You can find hundreds of beginner ballet lessons on Youtube, Skillshare and various dance related websites. With a simple hashtag you can even find microlessons on Instagram and TikTok. Although these methods are not recommended by professionals because no one is watching the dancer to ensure they are not developing bad habits that could lead to injury.
Pointe shoes
Every ballerina has a story about finally buying their first pointe shoes. All across social media thousands of dancers are memorializing the magical day with videos and tearful selfies. Buying those first satin covered slippers is a testament to all their hours sacrificed.
A single pair of pointe shoes are only optimal for performance for 12-15 hours of dance. A seasoned ballerina can dance through over 100 pairs of shoes in a single season. The average dancer pays approximately $65-75 per pair, which adds up quickly as they advance in their skills. Many professional dancers have their shoes custom made and that can cost up to $160 a pair.
After paying that cost every ballerina prepares their pointe shoes by breaking them down in different ways. Some will add super glue, tape and stitch in elastics and ribbons to add more support and comfort. Dancers bang those beautiful satin shoes on the ground and stomp on them to break down the hard interior. After the pointe shoes have been broken down most dancers wrap their toes in tape and even coat their feet in special lubricants to stop friction.
The dangers of attempting pointe without training
“The person who teaches themselves how to dance en pointe has a fool for a dance teacher,” says William Hamilton, a New York orthopedic surgeon specializing in ballet injuries.
Almost every pointe training video you find on the internet has a disclaimer telling you the vital importance of building up the strength in your toes and feet before attempting to go on pointe. You risk the possibility of twisted ankles, broken bones or other injuries without proper training and technique. If children attempt going on pointe to early, they can hurt their toes, suffer stress fractures, shin splints, tendinitis, and damage to the growth plates in their feet. Even young dancers with training will deal with bloody blistered toes and pain in their feet when they start with toe shoes. Most students learn how to dance through the pain with the knowledge that it will always be a battle.
The possibility of injury also puts more pressure on dancers to keep their weight low. Because of this, dancers are three times higher at risk for having eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. In their constant focus on perfectionism to master their craft on the stage these graceful artists battle body dysmorphia and mental health issues as well. Another major obstacle for dancers is access to medical insurance to help them deal with these issues.
Living your dream
After a decade of dance classes in hometown studios only about 10% of dancers who apply to prestigious dance colleges are accepted. Of those lucky dancers who graduate from those colleges only 10% try to pursue a professional career and make it to the big stage. Professional dancers can work for 15 to 20 years when they start at 19.
They say a dancer dies twice. Because after living their life for dance every day for decades the end of their career changes their entire existence physiologically and mentally. A dancer’s career can end without notice from a sudden injury or a companies change in direction.
It is not impossible to live your dream of debuting in Swan Lake with the New York City Ballet. But you can not get there without training and experience. Every child who dreams of dancing on the tips of their toes should be encouraged to follow those dreams. It will not be easy, but that’s why they will love it.