While pointe work is not exactly like wearing slippers, it should not be painful for the beginner. There are a few reasons why dancers may get pain en pointe, and each can be easily corrected.

Many girls (and their mothers) are concerned at the idea of going onto pointe, and the possibility of developing unsightly and painful damage to their toes.

Having pointe shoes that fit well can make all the difference in you loving or hating pointe work, so it is important to get it right from the beginning.

It is one of the most often asked questions in ballet, yet one to which there has not really been one definitive answer;

As a Dance Educator and Dance Physiotherapist, one of the most common queries I get is... "I have 'flat feet'. Is pointe work a no-no?".

If the shank is too firm and has no discernable curve when you are en pointe then it is too stiff and needs to be worked before you wear it, as otherwise it will pull you off pointe or twist away from the sole of the foot.

The "How Old Is Too Old?" question comes up often in forums and discussion groups centred around pointe training, and it is an issue that not many teachers/therapists/authors address.