Why Pre-Pointe Assessments?
Starting en pointe is an exciting milestone for ballet dancers. Pointe-work is a technically demanding skill being introduced to many young dancers which places the dancer in a position of high injury risk. Therefore, determining adequate strength, control and technique can minimize injury risk. Therefore, a proper and thorough evaluation is necessary prior pointe work to ensure dancers are fully prepared for the demands of dancing en pointe.
What is a Pre-Pointe Assessment?
The Pre-Pointe Assessment is designed to gauge the strength, capacity and ability of the ballet dancer’s progression to pointe-work. the pre-pointe assessment is to identify any of these weaknesses or any incorrect techniques that could be harmful once the dancer is en pointe.
Research suggests that a biomechanical assessment and an assessment of the entire kinetic chain including functional tests which examine core stability, strength and flexibility of the feet and ankles, lower extremity alignment, and postural control can help determine muscle imbalances, compensation, and other issues to gauge whether the dancer is ready to being pointe work. In addition to other factors, according to the IADMS guidelines, pointe training should not begin before the age of 12.
The Pre-Pointe Assessment Process
During the initial Pre-Pointe Assessment, the dancer will be assessed in detail to determine their readiness for pointe. This includes a biomechanical exam, assessing pointe range, foot control, lower extremity, pelvic and core strength and stability, turnout range, and the application of all of these in basic ballet steps.
The initial Pre-pointe assessments consultations last about an hour to allow the doctor to spend quality time with the dancer to enable a thorough assessment and to determine if treatment and/or a tailored exercise program is necessary. The information from the assessment will empower the dancer with the knowledge and tools that they need to succeed.
After the assessment, the dancer’s performance score will be reviewed by the doctor and the teacher to determine if the dancer is ready for pointe, not yet ready for pointe, or pointe is not suitable for the dancer.
In any of these scenarios, the dancer may be given a set of exercises to work on until their next appointment. This is necessary because while ballet classes are designed to improve coordination, skill, and musicality, they are not structured to improve and increase strength and stability to the desired level of en pointe work.
References:
1. Altmann C, Roberts J, Scharfbillig R, Jones S. Readiness for en pointe work in young ballet dancers are there proven screening tools and training protocols for a population at increased risk of injury?. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science. 2019 Mar 15;23(1):40-5.
2. Richardson M, Liederbach M, Sandow E. Functional criteria for assessing pointe-readiness. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science. 2010 Sep 1;14(3):82-8.
3. DeWolf A, McPherson A, Besong K, Hiller C, Docherty C. Quantitative measures utilized in determining pointe readiness in young ballet dancers. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science. 2018 Dec 1;22(4):209-17.