Level 2 – Pointe Intensive – Cortlandt Manor, NY – 12-13 August 2023
$440.00 AUD
24 in stock
Description
Course Description:
Often students in one class mature at different rates, having a well crafted pre-pointe preparation program and a thorough individualised assessment is essential before progressing students into their first pair of shoes. Identifying any technical or biomechanical issues, and resolving them before going en pointe, can make an extraordinary difference to a dancers success and enjoyment en pointe.
In this course you will learn how to conduct:
• A pre-pointe questionnaire
• A postural assessment
• A detailed screening of feet, core, hips and basic classical technique
• An assessment of the other factors that may affect pointe work
• Plus how to screen students already on pointe to enhance technique
We also explore:
• How to curate your own pre-pointe preparation classes
• Integration of the pre-pointe assessment into your studio
• Detailed pointe shoe fitting techniques
• Modification of pointe shoes for certain foot types
• Customisation of ribbon placement and elastics
• Preparatory exercises for the initial progression onto pointe
• Discussion of many complex questions around preparing for pointe
What’s Included:
- 14 hours of teaching spread over 2 Days. The content will be delivered over 2 days (9am to 5pm) with a combination of practical and theoretical components.
- Course Manual. On Day One you will receive a detailed printed manual which includes both the theoretical components and practical exercises discussed in the course.
- Course Schedule. For a detailed outline of what is covered on each day, please review the daily schedules below.
- CEC Accreditation. After this workshop, you will be emailed the CEC Accreditation Application Form, which is designed as an overview of the online course in order for you to appropriately claim CEC credits with your governing body for 14 contact hours of education.
- A comprehensive set of assessment sheets. These sheets make any future pre-pointe assessments easy to conduct, and to share with your colleagues.
- Unlimited access to the Level Two Pointe Intensive Members Area. After the workshop will you be given
- Lunch & Snacks Included. The course fee also covers lunch and snacks for the two days. Vegetarian, gluten and dairy free options are provided, however if you have any major food allergies or restrictions it is advised to self cater.
Location details for this course:
- Location: The Dance Conservatory
- Address: 2050 East Main Street, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
- Dates: Saturday 12th August & Sunday 13th August, 2023
- Times: 9am to 5pm daily
*Please click here to view our cancellation policy before completing your purchase.
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Course Schedule
Day One
(9am to 5pm)
Introduction & Preparation For Pointe Work - The first part of the course looks at how we can more effectively prepare young dancers and their parents for the process of preparing to go onto pointe. Adequate education well ahead of the final formal pointe screening will help avoid many broken hearts, as well as reducing the likelihood of injury.
Pre-Pointe Questionnaire - We go through a simple questionnaire that helps ascertain the current status of each dancer in relation to their training and injuries. This will help identify whether the student has the history and current training in order to be suitable for pointe work and to give a good snap-shot in time of their current timetable.
Pre Pointe Assessment - Assessing the individual dancer thoroughly before going on pointe is absolutely paramount to success en pointe. Having a clear system that allows you to accurately identify areas of weakness, tightness and instability in a dancer allows you to give them specific exercises that will help optimise their function. The assessment process explores simple screening tests that teachers can perform in the studio before allowing their students to go onto pointe. This may be done as individual private assessments or in a group setting over time.
Postural Control - Mastering control of basic standing posture is essential before moving on with any higher level strengthening. This is also a great time to screen young students for any sign of scoliosis.
Foot Assessment - We discuss the assessment of the dancers' foot in detail, with special consideration of anatomical variances in foot type and foot shape, as well as how this affects the fitting of pointe shoes. We explore the different arches of the foot and the appropriate levels of dynamic control needed to progress onto pointe work.
Day Two
(9am to 5pm)
Core Stability Assessment - This is a perfect time to ensure that the dancer has dynamic and spontaneous core stability, as this is an area that is lacking in many young students. Ensuring optimal function before progressing onto pointe can help prevent many of the hip, back and ankle injuries in dancers en pointe.
Hip Assessment - It is important to look at the anatomical structure of the hips, as well as the dancers dynamic control of turnout before adding the challenge of pointe shoes. Simple screening tests can highlight issues that may be missed in regular class work.
Other Things to Consider - This section looks at elements beyond the physical assessment that must be considered when assessing a student for their preparedness for pointe work. This includes things such as age and development, level of hypermobility, body type and maturity.
Completing the Assessment & Exercise Prescription - Following the completion of the assessment, we discuss recommendations based on the assessment findings and how to prescribe appropriate home exercises for individual students or the class as a whole.
Common Questions about starting en Pointe - There are so many urban myths around pointe work, and in this session we spend some time discussing several of these, along with the repeated common questions about starting en pointe.
Preparing & Fitting Pointe Shoes - We look at the ideal fitting of the pointe shoe, different options for different foot types, and ways of customising the shoe. Simple ideas can make a huge difference in getting a perfectly fitted shoe, whether you are with the student at the fitting or not.
How to Break in Pointe Shoes & Ribbon Placement - Many questions arise around the topic of ribbon type, ribbon placement and the best way to ‘break in’ a pair of new pointe shoes. All too often, students position their ribbons in the wrong place on their pointe shoes, tie them too tightly around their Achilles Tendon and break their shoes in a way that may cause it to fail faster than needed.
Preparatory Exercises - We look at some preparatory exercises for students who are new to pointe to get them accustomed to the shoe and the workings of it. We focus on ankle stability when standing in pointe shoes and effectively using the demi and ¾ pointe, first in sitting and then at the barre. We then progress to some basic beginner pointe exercises that build the foundation for a safe progression onto pointe. These exercises are suitable for even the most advanced dancers and should be revisited regularly by all dancers en pointe.
