Pre-Pointe Assessments

Starting en pointe is an exciting milestone for ballet dancers. Therefore, determining adequate strength, control and technique will minimize the risk of injuries. The Pre-Pointe Assessment is designed to gauge the strength, capacity and ability of the ballet dancer’s progression to pointe-work.
Pointe-work is a technically demanding skill being introduced to the dancer at a young age and therefore the dancer is placed in a position of high injury risk. In addition to other factors, according to the IADMS guidelines, pointe training should not begin before the age of 12.

To make safety a priority and ensure that the adolescent is fully prepared for the demands of dancing en pointe, a proper evaluation is necessary prior to allowing a dancer en pointe.
The purpose of 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.

The Pre-Pointe Assessment Process

In 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 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.

Our team is trained to conduct detailed pre-pointe assessments, create training programs to correct a dancer’s individual biomechanics and technical elements prior to going onto pointe. We also offer support to the dancer when they are en pointe to ensure they stay strong en pointe.
Our desire is to work with passionate and dedicated dancers who want the best out of their training and value their health as an absolute priority.