“Can my daughter just try out some pointe shoes?”

People are fascinated with pointe shoes.  They are a huge part of ballet, and they are often the most appealing part to young girls just beginning their dance education.  Some little girls getting ready for their first ballet classes have only ever seen Barbie dance before.  I have been faced with pre-schoolers who genuinely believe that they will be getting pointe shoes.  It breaks my heart to have to explain that most dancers get pointe shoes around age 11, and it requires years of hard work in order to be safe.  To a four-year-old, having to wait 7 years (nearly twice her current lifetime) is as good as saying “never in a million years.”  I have had dancers cry in front of me, which makes me extremely uncomfortable.  I am obligated to protect dancers’ safety and deliver factual information, but I wish that this didn’t sometimes crush the hopes and dreams of small children. 

I have also experienced older girls and young teens, accompanied by their mothers, who announce that they want to try pointe.  When a few more questions reveal that they are new to ballet, I am forced to say no.  You cannot just “try” pointe.  You cannot put on a pair of shoes, even ones that are expertly fit, and become a ballerina.  It is extremely unsafe and disrespectful. 

I can’t reiterate enough how important it is for a qualified ballet teacher to decide when a student is ready for pointe.  Different schools follow different guidelines pertaining to the age at which students can begin pointe, but all require that students be at least in middle childhood (for strong bone development and emotional maturity) and to have completed multiple years of serious ballet training. 

I wish more young dancers were aware of the fact that pointe is a process, not just one magical moment that can be called up at any time.  When mothers are thinking of putting their daughters in ballet class, a few clicks to a website like mine will give them enough information to be able to answer some of children’s most common questions about dancewear.  I do not blame parents for not knowing much about ballet, but I do wish that efforts would be made to find the correct answers rather than keep fostering a possibly dangerous fantasy.

If you and your child are curious about pointe shoes, I recommend asking an advanced student and/or teacher at a ballet studio to show you their shoes and explain how they work and what they do.  Some shoe fitters at dancewear stores are also willing to take some time to show pointe shoes to young dancers and explain a few things.  It is good to get the facts from a person who has “been there” with pointe shoes.

If you are dedicated to helping your daughter achieve her goal of going en pointe, there are a few things you can do as a parent to help her along the way.  Start her in ballet no later than age 8, which is usually when children’s dance classes transition from just fun to fundamental.  Have her attend as many classes per week as you can, an encourage her to practice at home.  When she is about 9 or 10 years old, get her an exercise band and encourage her to use it to strengthen her feet.  Help your daughter eat and exercise to be strong and healthy (an unfortunate truth is that overweight dancers have a much more difficult time with pointe than those at a healthy weight, and underweight dancers sometimes lack the muscle tone necessary to dance en pointe successfully).  Most important is that you support her at her level, do not push her, and do not push others on your way to the goal.  Emotionally mature dancers who work hard and show enthusiasm will be rewarded and eventually achieve their dreams.