Ballet Training requires many different qualities to attain the grace and power we witness when enjoying a Ballet production. Ballet dancers often begin their extensive training from as young as 2 years of age, and work with dedication to ballet training that draws on requirements of flexibility, strength, stamina and balance. Ballet dancing requires training that parallels most other sports practiced at an elite level, to dance proficiently en pointe. So, for a young ballet dancer who feels such great passion for their art wishes to go onto pointe, you can understand how important it is to them. Their preparation for entering this advanced level of Ballet training is considered carefully by their teachers, who are responsible for the tireless attention to detail in training these young ballerina’s.
Working en pointe, that is dancing in a pointe shoe, is seen as a transition to doing work that can lead on to professional work in the future. There are many things that need to be taken into consideration in a pointe shoe training assessment. Certainly, age is a consideration, number of years of ballet training, syllabus work and personal aspirations. The weight of the body needs to be distributed through the bones of the foot, and assisted by structural support built into the pointe shoe. The dancer needs to have the necessary training and strength and structural suitability in their foot anatomy, to achieve good quality pointe work. For a en pointe work assessment, bone structure is examined, flexibility, some demonstration of certain movements, study of different ballet positions and levels of turn out. Injury history is also an important factor. Studies of injury history include lower back, hip, knee, foot and ankles. If you are wishing to have your child assessed for pointe work readiness, please ring our surgery on (07)40543330 or visit our website at www.hip2toe.com.au and make a request online for a particular booking time. If you are travelling from interstate please let us know. Saturday appointments are available. Bring ballet shoes and any radiology that may have been carried out in the past. Assessments are carried out by Dr. Jeremy Hawke (Podiatrist) who has been trained in Classical ballet and has also been a competitive swimmer and long-distance runner.