The art and science of assessing a student for pointe work

Howell, Lisa B.Phty, Form Physiotherapy , North Sydney, NSW, Australia 

The art of dance is changing. The new commercial nature of ballet, and of the many different types of dance, encourages many young dancers to push the boundaries of their capacity. Dancers are working longer hours, younger, and often commence pointe work at a very young age Companies are also less willing to sustain their support of underperforming artists, whether this be due to injury or incompetence, as there is always someone else ?waiting in the wings?. 

To survive these challenges, a dancer needs to know her body more intimately than ever before, and guard against the injuries that befall so many would-be stars. She needs to build a strong base in her initial training, as this is from where her career grows. We as dance teachers and dance medicine specialists also need to take a new approach to the art of developing the prima ballerina. 

The intention of this workshop is to introduce dance teachers to an advanced system of assessing and preparing a student for pointe training. Strict criteria takes the subjectivity out of the decision, and helps the conscientious teacher enable the transition of her students onto pointe in the most integrated and responsible manner. 

The question of when is the right time for beginning pointe training has always been a difficult one. Until now there has never been a definitive guide to this process, and many dance teachers worry at pushing girls too early, or leaving it too late.

You will learn detailed assessment techniques and specific prescriptive exercises. This allows for tailoring of pre-pointe classes most effectively, for optimal strength and control in minimal time, and a reduced incidence of injuries.