Required to enroll in 1 class a week. 

Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school.

The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

Required to enroll in 1 class a week. 

Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school.

The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

Required to enroll in 1 class a week. 

Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school.

The Ballet Training Dress Code is required.

Recommended to enroll in 2 classes a week.

Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school.

The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

Hair must be secured in a ballet bun.

Recommended to enroll in 3 classes a week.

The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

Hair must be secured in a ballet bun.

It is recommended students at this level enroll in 3 ballet and 1 stretch and strengthen class per week.

The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

Hair must be secured in a ballet bun.

It is recommended students at this level enroll in 3 ballet classes and 1 conditioning class.

Some students at this level may be invited to join our Pointe Prep Program

The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

Hair must be secured in a ballet bun.

It is recommended that students at this level must enroll in 3 ballet classes and 1 conditioning class per week.

Some students at this level may be invited to join our Pointe Program.

The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

Hair must be secured in a ballet bun.

It is recommended students at this level enroll in 3 Ballet classes,  Conditioning 2, Pointe Prep or Point 1,2,3. 

The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

Hair must be secured in a ballet bun.

It is recommended students at this level enroll in 3 Ballet, Styles, Contemporary 1, PBT/Conditioning, Pointe 1, 2, 3. 

The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

Hair must be secured in a ballet bun.

Students at this level must enroll in 4 Ballet/Pointe, PBT/Conditioning, Contemporary 2, and Styles.

The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

Hair must be secured in the ballet bun.

Students at this level must enroll in 4 ballet/Pointe, PBT/Conditioning, Contemporary 2, and Styles.

The Ballet Training Program Dress Code is required.

Hair must be secured in the ballet bun.

Students in this class need to be enrolled in the school and in our Ballet Training Program.

The Ballet Training Dress Code is required.

Hair must be secured in a ballet bun.

A Letter from Dr. Aimee Martel, PT

The Ballet School Performing Arts works very hard to make the health and safety of our dancers a top
priority. Earning that first pair of pointe shoes is an exciting time, and a big goal for many young
dancers. With the current research being conducted by the dance medicine community, it is our
responsibility to evaluate how and when we introduce our dancers to pointe.

Pointe work is a beautiful, yet potentially dangerous discipline, and the decision of when a dancer is
ready for pointe is not taken lightly. The risks of starting too early include injuries due to lack of foot
and ankle range of motion and strength, which in turn places undue stress up the chain on knees,
hips, pelvis, and spine that can manifest over time. It can also become a very frustrating experience
if your body is not yet ready to meet the required demands. Research is showing us that students
starting pointe around 12 years old are beginning with the same abilities as those who started closer
to 10 years old, with the advantage being the older students start pointe with more mature bodies,
stronger technique, and sufficient foot and ankle range of motion and strength. Age alone, however,
is not a determining factor. We have made the decision to adopt the following guidelines set by the
International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS):

•  Around age 12 or older with at least 2-4 years of ballet training, and placement in
  Intermediate Advanced 2 or above
•  When the teacher feels the student’s technique is strong enough to meet the demands of
  pointe work
• Pass a Pointe Readiness Assessment conducted by a dance medicine physical therapist. The
  assessment will measure trunk and lower extremity strength, neuromuscular control, balance,
  and ankle range of motion. This assessment will be offered to be scheduled by appointment at
  TBSPA.

WHAT TO EXPECT MOVING FORWARD:
When your dancer is ready, they will be invited to enroll in the first level of our pointe program,
“Pointe Prep”, which will precede Pointe 1. The main goal of this class is to further prepare and
strengthen our dancers before they begin pointe work. Here they will learn specific exercises to
stabilize and strengthen their ankles, legs and core, gain more awareness and control of balance, and
improve the flexibility and range of motion necessary to safely get over the toe box of a pointe shoe.
The intention behind the Pointe Prep program is to make pointe a safer, more successful experience
from the beginning. With an anticipated enrollment of AT LEAST 12 months of good attendance, it
will give time to train proper muscle memory that will carry throughout her pointe experience.
Thanks to ongoing research from dance medicine specialists, it is obvious to us that there are no
benefits to starting early, but there are risks. Our aim is to keep your dancer as safe and healthy as
possible as they start this exciting phase of their ballet training. Please do not hesitate to contact me
or your student’s teacher with any questions regarding our program. We look forward to the day we
can confidently and enthusiastically promote your dancer to pointe work and are excited to help
them achieve their goal!

Sincerely,
Dr. Aimee Martel, PT