subject: How Do Ballerinas Learn To Dance On Pointe [print this page] Pointe work is a technique of classical dance is to dance on the distal end flattened or the ballet shoe spikes (as opposed to ballet shoes with half-points called "flat"). By metonymy, the word also means dancing slippers with soles reinforced used in classical dance.
Pointe work is a ballet technique where the artist is positioned on the tip of slippers. This is made possible by the use of special shoes with the flattened end is stiffened by a shell (as ballerinas call the "box") currently in composite material. The ballerina is held in support the arch of his foot on the edge of the rigid liner and holds it in position. It gives the feel of the weight on the toe while she is resting on the arch. In addition to stand on pointe requires a morphological feature of the foot and pelvis that man does not usually, which is why he must, with exceptions, is content with half-points.
The ballerina must possess sufficient strength and technique before working on pointe. The acquisition of this technique can take between six months and three years or more. It is also important for young beginners do not approach this ballet technique before the age of twelve. Indeed, before this age, the bones of the feet have not reached the end of their growth. They are also insufficiently calcified and can be severely damaged by work on the tips. The resulting strains are final regardless of the strength and skill of the dancer. Finally, it must possess extremely strong ankles.
Young children who are interested in a career as a ballerina usually begin to dance on pointe after eleven years of age or if they are admitted to a dance academy (the age of admission varies), is to say at the end of their first year of study or during the second year, children can start working on pointe at the age of ten years for reasons explained earlier in this article . It is also necessary that the muscles of the foot and leg are strong enough to support the dancer in this position. Future ballerinas should have reached a sufficient level in dance in order to maintain a rotation of the pelvis during different combinations of shapes and keep a proper position. No woman should begin pointe work before being authorized by the master.
In the dance academies the most serious, a medical opinion is sought to be sure that the bones of the foot have a sufficient ossification and mineralization. Moreover, in the dance schools where students take several courses a week, children are closely monitored by their teacher to detect any weakness. Fractures, particularly of the ankle, can occur due to lack of training muscle and bone. The flats should avoid resorting to pedicure and have their toenails cut one day before the dance event to allow the toes to fit the new length of the nails. Horn, calluses, corns, etc.. are useful protection against the aggression of the liner. The blisters, boils, dermatomycoses, cuts or bleeding must be detected.
Dancing on point requires the participation of the whole body including the muscles of the legs, back and abdominal muscles .
Once all requirements are met, the preparation of the dancer is a gradual process. It begins with exercises at the barre to develop the strength necessary (for example, mount points and down. Depending on the preferences of the master's teaching, the dancers, usually a ballerina will be hoisted first on a demi-pointe and pointe before you put your feet flat on the floor. It is noteworthy that in the teaching method of the Russian school or the Italian dancer, rises directly on point without going through the stage of half-point. At this level, the first exercises in "the bar" consisting of "" survey "and" escaped running on each foot.
The young rookie also learns to position his feet correctly. Once the student is comfortable with these exercises and tendons strong enough new execices ending on one foot is introduced "no stuffed into points," withdrawn into wedges, etc..Variants in execution speed and position of the foot are then introduced, but always during periods of time not exceeding five to ten minutes. It is only after six months to a year in this training by ballerinas can freely dance on pointe. Agrippina Vaganova suggests the "statements" and "escaped" on edge as the first exercises on each foot.
