Top 5 Underlooked Assessments for Pointe Readiness 🩰
Dancing en pointe is one of the most demanding skills in ballet — and one of the riskiest when done too soon. Dancers who go en pointe experience loads up to 13x their body weight at the ankle and over 3.6x greater force through their toes (1).
While most teachers are aware that 12 years old is generally considered the ideal minimum age and that years of ballet training and solid technique are key prerequisites, many overlook the objective assessments of strength, flexibility, and motor control that truly determine readiness.
Yes, a dancer may demonstrate beautiful alignment and artistry — but without adequate joint stability, strength, and neuromuscular control, she’s at high risk of injury once pointe work begins.
Below are my Top 5 most underemphasized assessments that ballet teachers should consider before progressing a dancer to pointe:
👉 Purchase the Pointe Readiness Assessment here
1️⃣ The Airplane Test
This single-leg balance test assesses dynamic stability and trunk control — both essential for maintaining alignment en pointe. Watch for hip drop, trunk rotation, or loss of balance.
2️⃣ Single-Leg Balance with Eyes Closed
Removing visual input challenges the dancer’s proprioception and ankle stability. If balance can’t be maintained for at least 10 seconds, the dancer likely lacks sufficient neuromuscular control.
3️⃣ Ankle Control in Relevé
Many dancers show ankle hypermobility at the top of their relevé. While extra range is fine in tendu or battement (open chain positions), repeating it under load can overstretch stabilizing ligaments and tendons. Dancers must demonstrate control and awareness of their hypermobility at end range — not just flexibility for a beautiful line.
4️⃣ Full-Body Strength Training (at least 1 year)
Dancers should consistently train full-body strength in standing positions with load for at least a year before going en pointe. Floor work alone doesn’t prepare them for the forces of ballet. Prioritize resistance, compound movements, and single-leg strength training. It’s time dancers start training like the athletes they are.
5️⃣ Active Doming in First Position Plié
This test examines intrinsic foot strength and the ability to lift and support the arch through a plié without gripping the toes or rolling the ankles. A strong, active arch that can maintain control through movement is essential for stability and shock absorption in pointe shoes. Dancing with “domed” arches will also improve alignment up the chain, decreasing overall injury risk in the dancer.
Why These Assessments Matter
Many dancers easily pass the traditional single-leg relevé or meet the 90° plantarflexion range — but that doesn’t tell the full story. Pointe readiness requires a comprehensive understanding of strength, control, and stability, not just flexibility and aesthetics.
That’s why I created the Pointe Readiness Assessment, a detailed resource designed by a dance physical therapist specifically for ballet teachers and dancers. It goes beyond the basics to evaluate every major component of safe pointe training — from mobility to strength to proprioception.
🩰 Ready to see how your dancers measure up?
👉 Purchase the Pointe Readiness Assessment here →
Erdman A, Ulman S, Dyke J, et al. Pointe Readiness in Youth Ballet Dancers: A Pilot Study on Dance Instructor Decision Making. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science. 2024;29(3):154-160.
