Pointe
Pointe Dance
Pointe dance is a dance technique that involves dancing on the point of the shoe that is worn by ballerinas. Those who dance using this technique needs to stand on the tips of the shoes that are worn by those who dance ballet. Those who dance pointe dance use shoes that are hard on the toes and are stiff on the shanks. Pointe dance is not very easy to get used to and one needs to practice very hard to grow the skill and strength that is required to perform this particular type of dance form. This dance form requires one to have good feet and hence dancers need to regularly take care of their feet and see to it that they are not affected by any kind of foot injury.
Dancers who used to perform ballets in the past did not use to wear pointe shoes; it was only in the early nineteenth century that this particular type of dance form was incorporated into ballet. Marie Taglioni, a ballerina in the nineteenth century is heralded to be the founder of pointe dance. She used the pointe shoes while performing the ballet La Sylphide in the year 1832. the shoes that she used for performing her ballet was very tough on the toe area but still was not as tough as the pointe shoes that are used by the Pointe dancers nowadays. The toes were made strong by stitching additional layers to the side and front of the shoes. During those days it was only for a brief period of the original dance that people needed to stand on their toes.
In the early years of the twentieth century ballet dancers began using steel parts to add to the shoes that they wore so that pointe dancers could produce a tapping sound while dancing. People also used steel ball bearings along with the steel that they used for the shanks of their pointe shoes but after some time when they began causing accidents, dancers gradually left using the steel parts in the shoes used for Pointe dance.
Dancers who practice pointe dance can start using the special shoes meant for the dance when they are between eleven and sixteen years of age. But it is not easy to start pointe dance unless somebody has at least some years of practice in dancing the classical form of ballet. It is suggested that the dancers who wish to try dancing Pointe dance should not start dancing this particular form of dance before they are of a certain age. This is due to the fact that at young ages the bones on the feet of the ballet dancers are not strong enough and in case any damage occurs to the feet while practicing pointe dance it can have a permanent effect on their feet.
Pointe dance should only be practiced once the dancer has attained good control on the classical form of ballet. Many dance institutes across the world that teach pointe dance make it compulsory for the dancers to get a clearance from the doctors regarding the ability of their feet in withstanding the pressure that is involved in this particular form of dance. If any dancer wishes to grow toenails they must see to it that they are not grown to such a size that can cause any kind of problem while dancing.
A dancer who wishes to perform Pointe dance should be very strong in the legs and apart from that they also need to be very fit physically. Dancers should have strong muscles on the abdomen, back and also on the legs.
Once a person has got a good grasp of classical ballet they can slowly start learning pointe dance. It would take a lot of time for one to learn the dance effectively and so one should have a good patience and determination for learning pointe dance. Initially dancers are made to strengthen their legs and only after they have got good control in their legs and are able to withstand their weight are they allowed to practice pointe dance full fledged.
Getting a comfortable pair of dance shoes is very important for those who wish to learn pointe dancing. It is very important to get the correct fit for the shoes as the wrong fit can aggravate the problems of a dancer. So many dance institutes that teach pointe dance suggest that one needs to follow the advice of their teachers while buying the shoes as it takes a lot of experience to be able to choose the best fitting shoes. It is also very necessary to use the right padding in the shoes as it helps in protecting the feet and also helps in reducing the pressure on the feet while dancing.
There are different types of methods that are used by pointe dancers across the world to raise themselves on their toes while performing pointe dance. There is a method in which the dancers get to raise themselves on their toes after taking a hop while in the other method they need to perform what is called a ‘half-pointe’. Rising on the toes is best done when the dancer does a hop as it helps in reducing the pressure on the calf muscles of the dancer. It is completely up to the dancer to choose which method to follow. There are many dancers who use a combination of both the methods in their dance.
Pointe dance is considered to be a very elegant dance form and one needs to be very adept at performing this particular form of ballet. One should never foray into pointe dance unless confident about being able to cope up with the tough training and discipline required for the dance. If not done in the proper way pointe dance can lead to the dancers having some grave injuries that could leave them crippled for life. So unless you are confident about yourself you should not try your hand at dancing pointe dance just on a whim.