Pointe technique

Pointe technique is a ballet technique in which dancers support their weight on the tips of their toes using pointe shoes. It requires specialized footwear, strength, alignment, and training.

Pointe shoes: Ballet shoes with a reinforced box and stiff sole that support dancers en pointe. Their structure spreads pressure and supports the toes during pointe work.
Ballet barre: A handrail used in ballet classes for support during exercises. Barre exercises build foundational strength and alignment before dancers work away from support.
Pointe shoe fitting: The process of selecting pointe shoes that fit a dancer's feet and support their technique. A suitable fit helps distribute pressure and maintain control while dancing en pointe.
Dancer's foot: The foot as shaped and conditioned by the repeated demands of dance. Pointe work can produce characteristic adaptations and pressure-related changes in dancers' feet.
En pointe: A ballet position in which a dancer's body weight is supported on the tips of the toes. It is the defining position performed through pointe technique.
Relevé: A ballet movement in which a dancer rises onto the balls of the feet or onto pointe. Repeated rises develop the control and strength used in pointe work.
Pointe readiness: A dancer's preparedness to begin pointe work, assessed through strength, alignment, control, and training experience. Readiness determines when pointe training can begin with lower risk.
Hallux valgus: A deformity in which the big toe angles toward the smaller toes and the first metatarsal shifts outward. Constrictive footwear and loading may aggravate this condition in some dancers.
Demi-pointe: A ballet position in which a dancer rises onto the balls of the feet rather than the toe tips. It offers a lower, less demanding rise that often prepares dancers for pointe.
Intrinsic foot muscles: Muscles located entirely within the foot that support its shape and movement. They help stabilize the foot inside the shoe under pointe loads.

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