Students of the Conservatory are put on pointe only AFTER a minimum of 2 consistent years of ballet training (of at least twice a week). Students must pass a pointe test that demonstrates: Strength, Alignment, Control and Focus. With teacher approval, dancers in level 4 or up may begin trying to pass the pointe test at age 10.5. At this age, the dancer is allowed 1 try of each element* of the test. If the element is not passed off on that first try, they must continue working at home and may try the element again the following month. Once dancers are 11, they are given 3 chances per element to pass. If the element is not passed off after the three tries, they must wait until the next month's test to try again. If a dancer reaches 12, and has been consistently working on passing off the test for a minimum of 6 months, private lessons are encouraged to help your dancer develop the tools needed to help them earn their pointe shoes.
Pointe Test (As of June 2024)
1. Must pass pencil test both while sitting on the floor, legs and feet extended in from of them and feet fully pointed, as well as in a demi pointe releve.
2. The airplane test: You must begin standing on a single leg with the other leg extended behind you in a rotated arabesque position. The standing foot should be parallel. The trunk of the body will need to be pitched forward and the back leg should be the same level or height as the body. The student must complete at least 4 out of 5 controlled plies while horizontally bringing the arms together in order to touch the finger tips to the ground.
Pass criteria would include:
-knees tracking over the center of the standing foot
-maintaining a level pelvis with the foot
-the back and head must move in one line
-no standing foot pronation (the arch can’t roll forward but must stay lifted up)
-4 out of 5 repetitions must be completed at a slow, steady pace
The Following Elements must be completed with strong and aligned core, stable equal turnout, and proper port de bras.
3. 1 minute balance in 1st position
4. 20 one-leg eleve in parallel coup de pied on each foot. (Executed at barre)
5. 32 releve in 1st position in center. No tracking of the ankles - achieving pencil test at the top of each releve. Consistent timing.
6. 8 Eleve (each leg) in center. No tracking of ankles. Achieving pencil test at top of each releve. Consistent timing. Standing leg stable, turned out, and pencil test ankle. Other foot either in coup de pied, retire, or Degage devant/ a le second.
7. 8 Second balance on each leg. Standing leg stable, turned out, and pencil test ankle. Other foot either in coup de pied, retire, or Degage devant/ a le second.
8. The topple test: the student will complete a single pirouette en de hors from 4th position with the working leg in a high passe position and the standing leg fully extended. The student must complete the full rotation with a vertical trunk and demonstrate a controlled, decelerated landing. The student must show proficiency on at least 6 out of 8 pirouettes to complete this skill.
9. Single leg saute test: the student must demonstrate 10 consecutive single leg saute jumps.
Pass criteria include:
- at least 8 out the 10 jumps need to be executed properly to pass this skill
-the dancer must maintain a neutral pelvic position, upright and stable trunk, and a toe-heel landing
- the dancer’s leg must be fully extended with the foot pointed underneath while in the air
- lower extremity alignment must be neutral
10. Female dancers must show competency of putting their own hair up into both a class bun and a performance bun. A parent note is sufficient for the class bun. For the performance bun, a video of your child doing their own performance bun is required. We recognize this will take time to practice and master, but is an invaluable skill for any Ballet dancer to be able to not only do their own hair, but to be able to then fix any issues that might occur backstage - when there is not a parent there to fix it.
A reference has been provided below for students wanting further clarification on some of the new tests and to show the importance of student readiness for pointe work.
--> As an FYI: Your first pair of pointe shoes will be fit by a professional at a nearby dance store. This will be scheduled with your teacher after passing the test. Your first pair of shoes can be sewn by the pointe shoe store or by a parent. However, your second pair of shoes will need to be sewn by the dancer. This again is an invaluable skill that all dancers en pointe need. A sewing class will be given in the beginning pointe class when there are enough dancers at that stage.
--> FYI #2 : any time the dancer takes a two week break from dance (or longer), the dancers must: Send proof to the teacher of 3 times per week working en pointe to maintain strength OR they will need to repass the pointe test upon return to class before being able to dance en pointe again. The dancer's safety is always our most important focus, and this rule helps not only to develop good habits of keeping up strength by working at home, but also avoiding overuse injury/injuries due to weakness.
*Elements are NOT accumulative when dancers are 10.5. Dancers must pass all elements on the first try at 10.5.
Once dancers are 11, they are granted 3 tries per element per test.
Once a dancer is 11.5 and has tried to pass the test AT LEAST 6 times, then the test become Cumulative. Meaning once a dancer has passed off an element, it is marked in your chart and then they can add up the elements over time. All 7 elements can then be passed off in successive testing.
** Pointe shoes are not gender specific. If there are any male students who would wish to be en pointe (or if there are male students who would benefit from a study of pointe work to strengthen their feet and ankles, or to prepare them for a future of teaching) they are also able to take the pointe test.
