Pre Pointe Assessments
Starting en pointe is such an exciting milestone for your daughter, but it is important to remember that she only has one body for the rest of her life! Pointe is a beautiful art form when done well however it is not a normal human function. It is for this reason that correct preparation and a Pre Pointe Assessment is essential before starting en pointe.
Along with her normal ballet classes it is important she is assessed by a qualified health professional who has experience with ballet dancers. All of our therapists have trained and prepared for years to gain the necessary skills to be a part of this exciting moment in your daughters life. We know your daughters wellbeing is of utmost importance to you and we are excited to collaborate with you and her dance school to ensure she is as safe as possible while en pointe.
She is worth the very best.
To help guide you through the many questions that people have about their dancer starting en pointe, we have filmed a series of videos for you, discussing the FAQs about Pre Pointe Asssessments, available on YouTube HERE.
What Is Involved?
All of the therapists at Perfect Form Physiotherapy have significant experience in the dance industry at many levels; so our ability to talk the talk, and understand the multitude of pressures, both physically and psychologically that can make a huge difference in developing the optimal programming and treatment for your dancer. Our therapists have been specifically trained to conduct detailed pre-pointe assessments, creating training programs to correct their individual biomechanics and technical elements prior to going onto pointe.
In the Initial Pre Pointe Assessment, the therapist will assess the dancer in detail to determine their readiness for pointe. This includes assessing pointe range, foot control, turnout range and pelvic stability, core control and the application of all of these in basic ballet steps. After the assessment, the teacher will receive a report, outlining what was seen and prescribed. The dancer will be given a set of exercises to work on until their next appointment.
All our Pre Pointe and Dance Assessment consultations are an hour long, allowing the therapist to spend quality time with them and enable a thorough assessment, treatment (if necessary) and tailored exercise program development. While our assessments are detailed and specific, our aim is to never make a dancer feel small or incompetent but to empower them with the knowledge and tools that they need to succeed.
What happens after the Pre Pointe Assessment?
After working on their prescribed exercises at home for 3-6 weeks the dancer is usually reassessed to determine their progress. Anywhere from 1-5 appointments may be required before a dancer is achieves all of the components required to safely progress onto pointe. This is obviously dependent on their current level of training, and also their diligence with their home program.
We know this is a learning curve for many young ones, so we have also developed a wealth of resources to help your dancer stay focused, and achieve their dream in the fastest time frame.
We love working with passionate, dedicated dancers who want the best out of their training and value their health as an absolute priority. Whether your dancer plans to be en pointe for just a few years for fun or aims to be a professional dancer, they will need their body for the rest of their life. An investment in establishing correct biomechanics and technique prior to going onto pointe can make a dramatic difference to the long-term health of your feet and hips. It truly is an investment in their future.
And for the future?
Many of our elite clients choose to continue their sessions with us, often in the absence of any pain or injury. Especially if the dancer is dancing full time and aiming to pursue auditions and training overseas. We aim to make you the specialist in your own body – taking advantage of your opportunities and intelligently working on your challenges. Each dancer is unique, and while the destination may be the same, the process of how we get there may be quite different.
Call now to book your Pre-Pointe Assessment
Ph +61 498 177 123