What would a beginning pointe dancer do in class?
For the first month on pointe the student holds onto the bar with two hands, while rising up onto the toes on two feet. This strengthens the muscles and tendons in the feet and the legs.The shoes only stay on for ten minutes the first day and will gradually increase over time to a half an hour during the first month depending on the aptitude of the student. As the student gains strength, they go up onto one foot at the barre. When they can release the barre and balance on foot, then the student can go out into the center to do more advanced work. This greatly diminishes the chance of accidents or injuries. This is the method Ms. Morris has used for the last twenty two years with hundreds of students without an injury.
