Pointe Preparation and Training at Charlesworth Ballet School
At Charlesworth Ballet School, we offer both Pointe Preparation and Pointe Training for students aged 10 to 18 years old, ensuring they develop the strength, technique, and safety measures required for this challenging aspect of Classical Ballet.
Pointe Training involves dancers performing on the tips of their toes in specially designed shoes. The development of the pointe shoe was driven by the desire to allow ballerinas to move with grace and appear weightless while performing.
Pointe Preparation Programme
Our Pointe Preparation syllabus consists of three lessons per year, each running for 30-45 minutes. The focus is on building strength and alignment of the feet, ankles, and knees before progressing to pointe work. This is available to students in Grade 5 and 6. The class includes:
- Barefoot exercises to strengthen the feet, ankles, and knees.
- Barre and centre practice in ballet shoes to prepare for pointe.
Pointe Training Programme
The Pointe Training syllabus is similar to the Pointe Preparation programme but extends the training to 60-minute lessons. This is available to students in Grade 7 and above. These classes are also broken into two parts:
- Barefoot work focusing on foot and ankle strength and alignment.
- Pointe work at the barre and in the centre. Beginners spend more time at the barre until they build the strength needed for centre work.
Pointe Approval Procedure
As pointe training requires dancers to support their full weight on extended feet and pointed toes, it is both challenging and carries a heightened risk of injury. Therefore, we have a Pointe Approval Procedure to ensure students are physically ready, and it is safe, for them to begin pointe training.
- **DIRECTOR & PRINCIPAL APPROVAL**
The Director or Principal will assess students to determine whether they are meeting our CBS Pointe Criteria. Please note, the obtaining the director’s approval is a mandatory requirement before students can proceed to see a therapist for a Pointe Assessment.
- **THERAPIST APPROVAL**
Once a student has recieved the director’s written approval, they will be required to visit one of the recommended therapists for a “Pointe Assessment”. Therapist reports, including the approval report, should be emailed to [email protected]
- **PURCHASING OF SHOES**
Once the therapist approval has been passed onto our office, students can purchase their first pair of shoes.
Safety First
Our comprehensive Pointe Approval process ensures that each student is properly prepared for the physical demands of pointe work, helping to reduce the risk of injury and foster a successful, rewarding pointe experience. Join us at Charlesworth Ballet School and take the next step in your ballet journey with confidence and care!