WHY CAN'T I GO ON POINTE?
It is easier to say when a child should not  begin pointe work  than to give a definite age limit, or lay down the length of training to precede it. Children of the same age group vary enormously in weight and strength; aptitude and facility cannot be standardized and, as every teacher knows, these must largely govern the timing for starting pointe work. The most important requisite for pointe work is good coordination of the whole body, each part adapting correctly and without strain to any new position without losing the "placement" which should have been established by barre and centre training.
FIRST. Is the child's posture correct? Can she stand and move without losing this posture?
SECONDLY, strength. Can all exercises on the demi-pointe be performed with the supporting knee absolutely straight? In not, back, hip, abdominal and especially thigh muscles are not yet strong enough, so that thighs can be well pulled up and weight lifted off the feet. There is then great risk of damage to the feet and possibly to the
knee joints and even the spine.
THIRDLY, feet. (a) Are the feet absolutely free from any tendency to sickle in or out?
In not, the ankle joints in particular will be subjected to strain.
(b) Is the ankle joint sufficiently flexible to form with the forefoot a right-angle when  on the demi-pointe?(c) Are the toes being correctly used inside soft shoes, i.e., without anyclutching or curling?
Is it an unfortunate fact that too early pointe work exists today. In serious schools ofballet it is regarded as of no importance and arises from the years of training quite naturally and at the proper time. It cannot be stressed too often, therefore, that it isthe teacher, and the the teacher only, who can decide when that moment arrives.Parents should be made to understand that it is always fraught with some element of risk.
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