First Pointe Shoes

Must try many shoes to find the right pair.

Getting the first pair of pointe shoes is very exciting for a young dancer. But - pointework is serious business - not to be taken lightly. It is very physically demanding, strenuous, harmful if too soon. Correct placement, good balance, and not rolling the feet are essential. A good attitude in class and out of class is also important.
When Emily puts on her pointe shoes in class today, it will be at the end of class. The last 15 minutes only. And she will work in her pointe shoes at the barre only for some time. 

Thalia Mara says in her book On Pointe: "One of the greatest evils committed by ballet teachers is the pointe lessons which they give to physically unprepared children and children who are entirely too young to learn this form of dancing with safety." 

We certainly want Emily and all dancers to have a very long dance life - not shortened by the impulse to do too much, too soon.