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 Program
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 Program
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. Please note, students must be enrolled in our Pointe Program before completing a formal pointe assessment with a therapist. They must also wait for our confirmation before visiting a therapist.
- **DIRECTOR APPROVAL**
Students enrolled in our Pointe classes, will be assessed by the director to determine whether they are meeting our Pointe Criteria. Once a student has met our internal criteria and received approval, they can proceed to the next step and visit a therapist for a “Pointe Assessment.”
- **THERAPIST APPROVAL**
Students enrolled in our Pointe classes, who have received the director’s approval, are required to visit one of the recommended therapists for a “Pointe Assessment”. Once a therapist has given the final approval, the student can proceed to the next step. Therapist reports, including the approval report, should be emailed to [email protected].
- **PURCHASING OF SHOES**
Once the office has received the therapist report, the student 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!