I am not on Pinterest!I got lucky. Really, that’s the main reason I got to start pointe so early, so much earlier than I would recommend for people. But I have strong and flexible ankles, a decent arch, a good instep, the passion for it, and a ballet/pointe teacher who believed in me. She pushed me, hard, but it meant I progressed quite quickly.
CommentsSo keep working at your ballet classes! Look at outside studios for ones that offer pre-pointe and look into enrolling in one. Let your ballet teacher know that you’re interested in pointe work some day and ask them for advice, corrections, etc.
CommentsThere is no such thing as “too fat” for a dance class. I’ve taken classes with people of a variety of weights, heights, ages, etc. 50-year-old women, 12-year-old boys, girls with ligament issues, and more! Your weight may make things like leaps more difficult, but it won’t stop you from having fun. Also, as a class at college, if you totally hate it, you can drop it in the first few days (or a couple weeks, depending on your school) without any repercussions.
As for tips, the biggest thing is to enjoy yourself. Wear something that doesn’t conceal your knees, as your teacher needs to make sure you’re not twisting them, which could lead to serious injury. Bring a water bottle. Make sure your hair is out of your way, and as the class progresses to turns, you’ll want to make sure a ponytail won’t whip you in the face. Trust me, it hurts.
And no, beginner classes won’t end with pointe shoes. Many of my classmates had never even seen pointe shoes in person before my teacher brought hers in at the end of a semester to perform a bit for us. Most teachers require a few years of ballet experience before even considering putting you in demi-pointe/pointe classes, though it’s different for everyone.
I really hope you consider taking a dance class! They’ve always been a joy for me!
CommentsEat a banana (or something else with potassium) before class to help with muscle cramps. Drink a lot of water. Don’t feel bad if you only start out doing a little barre work en pointe at first. Have Icy Hot or Tiger Balm or something like that ready for the aches and pains the next day.
But congratulations! You’ll have a blast (especially once the blisters and calluses help with the pain)!
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Here’s a quick series to help pointe hopefuls gain the necessary strength in their ankles and calves.
I’m in the dark blue, and my sister is in the light blue :)
