En pointe (pointe) [more pointe dance terms] means "on the tips of the toes" and is part of classical ballet technique, made possible by specially reinforced shoes called pointe shoes or toe shoes. The technique developed from the desire for dancers to appear weightless and sylph-like, and has evolved to enable dancers to dance on the tips of their toes for extended periods of time. Although both men and women are capable dancing en pointe, it is more commonly done only by women.

It takes considerable strength in the feet, ankle, leg, knee, and abdomen to dance en pointe. Students must be at least eleven or twelve years of age before attempting pointe work, because bones and growth plates in the feet are usually not fully hardened and developed prior to this age. Serious foot deformities can result from starting pointe too early, even if the student is otherwise strong and skillful.

Pointe Terms

Pointe Shoes - A Parents' Guide

 a guide to help you and your child with the first pair of pointe shoes, resource by Russian Pointe (right click on the link and choose [Save Target As] or [Save Link As]

How to Tie Pointe Shoes ...

Although some ballet dancers prefer to dance without them, ribbons add extra support to your ankles. Pointe shoe ribbons should be tied tightly, but never so tight that they restrict movement of your ankles.

Mila Makarova

Dance Centers of Orlando's Ballet Mistress & Pointe Instructor

Miss Mila has been with Dance Centers of Orlando from the very beginning.

She continues a strong family dance tradition. After receiving her initial training with her parents Juanita and Nikolai, a Bolshoi trained star of the famed Don Cossack Chorus ... more on Miss Mila

"Mila has done wonders with my daughter.  When she came to Dance Centers of Orlando, she was not strong in ballet technique and it showed in her dances.  In one year, my daughter and others improved so much in ballet that it is like 5 years in 1!  This is true with all of the kids. She is strict but fun and she cares alot." ~ very appreciative parent

Dance Centers of Orlando's Policy on Pointe:

Pointe work is never offered to students who take less than 3 hours of ballet per week and dancers are assessed for pointe readiness. Three hours is the absolute minimum, and should include those in pointe prep classes who are not yet wearing pointe shoes. Hours, days, weeks, and years spent doing ballet have no true bearing on if someone should or should not be doing pointe, however. The quality of the training itself is essential and great care must be taken to assess each individual's core, turnout, and foot strength to determine if they can begin pointe work. Ask to observe a pointe class. If the dancers look unstable and precarious when away from the barre, it is not simply because pointe work is hard - more likely, their training thus far in ballet has not been sufficient for working at this level.

A truly quality establishment will not place dancers en pointe before they are ready, or at all if they cannot provide an appropriate course of instruction to safely prepare their ballet students. Some dance studios feel pressure to make pointe available to those who want it, even if it is not in their students' best interest. Sometimes otherwise good schools succumb to this pressure. I encourage you to evaluate or re-evaluate if a pointe program is really right for you or your school.