the hype about pointe dancing?

Question

im 19, i took ballet then quit. my feet are obviously developed, my pointe shoes come tomorrow. do you think i can teach myself?

Answer 1

Makenzie, I'm very worried about you, sweetie. I've been going over your 94 questions plus some of your answers and your life seems to be spiraling out of control. Just on this matter of pointe dancing, you already asked this a month ago and most of the people, including the voters' best answer, told you that you can't teach yourself pointe because you could hurt yourself.

Meanwhile, your GPA slipped last semester, you've become obsessed about your already low weight, you're a vegetarian who hates soy and most vegetables, and yet you wonder why you get lightheaded and blurred vision when you climb four flights of stairs. And then on top of it all, you were grappling with depression by the end of the semester. Don't you see that you have to take better care of yourself?!

Last semester you said that you were taking 7 hours of dance a week. Frankly, that is not enough if you're thinking of becoming a professional. (Or was your saying "I'm trying to make it professionally in dancing" just a cover when you sought "Weight Loss" advice?) It sounds as though none of those classes are in ballet, which also doesn't make sense for someone who is trying to be a professional. You've said in the past that your college doesn't offer pointe, but most college ballet teachers still allow their intermediate and advanced students to wear pointe shoes in class in such (non-pointe) programs. I don't understand why you're so bent on learning pointe when you're avoiding taking ballet class.

Makenzie, I think the best thing you could be doing for yourself would be to pull yourself away from all this faux socializing on-line and get more involved with school. If it's too late to sign up for a ballet class, then join a dance club on campus. It would also be great if you could consult your campus health services to see if they provide counseling. You sound like a very smart girl; you deserve much better than how you're treating yourself.

Answer 2

I would not think so. You may well be able to stand on the pointe shoes, but so much technique is involved as well. My daughter is an advanced ballet dancer and she has been on pointe for 5 years.

Have you had the pointe shoes professionally fitted as they come in so many different widths and sizes to suit all different shapes and sizes of feet. The professionals can tell if you heel turns on one foot more than the other and gives you shoes that will help with things like that.

I think if you are interested in doing pointe work you should find a good teacher as you can damage your feet and ankles if you do the wrong thing.

Answer 3

You should absolutely not go on pointe by yourself....You shouldn't even order pointe shoes online unless you have already been fitted by a professional. There are many different types of shoes for different shaped feet.

You are 19 so I suggest that you join a studio that teaches adult classes. I myself am an adult, 27, danced from 6 years old to 12 and then quit. I started again 6 months ago taking 3 classes a week and am now beginning pointe so you can do it, but you need to do it properly or you can injure yourself.

Answer 4

First of all, pointe shoes must be professionally fitted. Secondly, you cannot teach yourself a technique you don't know. If you don't care if you ever dance again, knock yourself out. If you want to actually learn pointe ballet and protect yourself from injury, you need a teacher.

Answer 5

I would highly advise against that. If you are just messing around for something to do, try something else. Pointe can be very harmful if you are doing it improperly. You can injury your ligaments or tendons in your ankle, and you can break your ankle if you roll off your pointe the wrong way. Pointe is very hard to learn and should be taught only by a professional who has had proper training. I hope you seek to enroll in a ballet class, even if its a lax class for people who want to learn ballet for pleasure, not neccessarily go pro at it.

Answer 6

possibly...but pointe shoes can actually be a little dangerous if you don't know what your doing. And you won't have any advice on technique. Just remember not to bend your knees when going up en pointe and don't practice on carpet. Be careful about your ankles!

Answer 7

I'm concerned that you seem to think pointe dancing is far easier than it actually is. It takes great skill and very carefully developed feet. If you do try it by yourself, please be careful!

Answer 8

you should always have a teacher around when you go on pointe when you begin. One wrong foot placement can be a broken ankle just like that. do the safe thing!

Answer 9

NO WAY!!!

Even with a teacher some people still develop the wrong form! My ankles are a little screwed because I didn't learn correctly!!!!

Take it from me!!!!