Parents

When is my child ready for pointe shoes?

It's about strength, not age. Here is how we decide.

Written by

Clara Hale

New pink pointe shoes in a box with tissue paper, hands holding a ribbon

Most dancers start pointe work between 11 and 13, but age is only part of it. We look for strong ankles and feet, a stable core, at least two years of regular ballet and two classes a week. When a pupil is ready, Clara writes to the family and books a fitting at Freed in Brighton. Please never buy pointe shoes without a fitting.

  • Ballet shoes lined up under a wooden bench
  • Two dancers in black tap shoes mid-step
  • Pointe shoes hanging by their ribbons on a hook
  • Teenage dancers laughing together in the studio
  • A little girl in a pink tutu twirling, seen from behind
  • A dancer’s hands reaching up in window light
  • Girls in tutus helping each other with hair buns in front of a lit mirror
  • Children in a tap class mid-routine

Create a free website with Framer, the website builder loved by startups, designers and agencies.