How do I make sure my daughter is OK to dance ballet?
What are the requirements for going on toe shoes for ballet without hurting yourself?
There are some basic guidelines for deciding when a dancer is ready for pointe work (dancing in toe shoes.) These are not written in stone but are generally followed:
1) Minimum age of 10 ½ to 11 so that the foot is fully grown
2) At least three years of ballet in a program that emphasizes technique
3) strong back, leg and foot muscles
4) a good arch
5) Ability to perform the necessary dance techniques needed for pointe work.
The decision for each dancer also needs to take into account her individual characteristics such as physical maturity, skill level and willingness to put in the time needed to master pointe techniques. The decision to go on pointe should be made carefully by the dance teacher, parents and dancer.
For more information, here is a link to the paper published in the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science in 2009. http://www.iadms.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=185
