Going En Pointe

What's the difference between dancing en pointe and dancing in soft shoes?

Is your placement different?

Not really.

Is your turnout different?

I hope not.

Is your technique different?

No.

Yeah, I can hear you all, now. Jerry, you never danced en pointe (I've been en pointe. No, there are no videos), you have no idea what it's like, how different it is.

To quote Master Yoda, "No! No different! Only different in your mind!"

If it's so different, then all those years preparing for it were a waste of time.

Your technique, your turnout, your placement should all be so solid, and your body must be so strong, that the only difference is the shoes.

But, Jerry- No. If you keep protesting that it's different, it will be difficult. Do you want that? Yes, the skin of your feet has to get tough. Yes, you have to try five, ten, a hundred pairs of pointe shoes before you find the right ones, but this is the only thing that matters.

Ready?

If you look at it my way, the transition to pointe work will be relatively easy. If you continue to look at it your way, it will be hard.

Do you want to be right, so much, that you will ignore an obviously better way?

One of my students asked if they could have a pre-pointe class one day. My response?

"Every class is a pre-pointe class."

See you in (pre-pointe) class.