These classes teach basic to advanced Pointe work for the experienced Ballet dancer. Students must be currently enrolled in another Ballet class to participate. Any student wishing to enroll in Pointe must first exhibit the required skills necessary to participate and acceptance into the class is by instructor permission only.
2010-11 Class Schedules
Classes will begin August 30, 2010 for the academic year through May 2011.
Dancer must get permission from their ballet instructor before advancing to Pointe.
Monday and Wednesday
8:30 – 9:00 pm
Pointe Terminology
Point Shoes: The satin ballet shoes used by dancers when dancing sur les pointes. The ballet shoes of Marie Taglioni, the first major ballerina to dance on her points, were not blocked but were padded with cotton wool. Later (about 1862) the toes of the ballet slippers were stiffened (blocked) with glue and darned to give the dancer additional support. Today the toes of pointe shoes are reinforced with a box constructed of several layers of strong glue in between layers of material.
Releve: Raised. A raising of the body on the points or demi-pointes, point or demi-pointe. There are two ways to relevé. In the French School, relevé is done with a smooth, continuous rise while the Cecchetti methodand the Russian School use a little spring. Relevé may be done in the first, second, fourth or fifth position, en attitude, en arabesque, devant, derrière, en tournant, passé en avant, passé en arrière and so on.
Pointe
These classes teach basic to advanced Pointe work for the experienced Ballet dancer. Students must be currently enrolled in another Ballet class to participate. Any student wishing to enroll in Pointe must first exhibit the required skills necessary to participate and acceptance into the class is by instructor permission only.
2010-11 Class Schedules
Classes will begin August 30, 2010 for the academic year through May 2011.
Dancer must get permission from their ballet instructor before advancing to Pointe.
Monday and Wednesday
8:30 – 9:00 pm
Pointe Terminology
Point Shoes: The satin ballet shoes used by
dancers when dancing 
sur les pointes. 
The ballet shoes of 
Marie Taglioni, the first major 
ballerina to dance on her 
points, were not blocked but 
were padded with cotton wool. 
Later (about 1862) the toes of 
the ballet slippers were 
stiffened (blocked) with glue 
and darned to give the dancer 
additional support. Today the 
toes of pointe shoes are 
reinforced with a box 
constructed of several layers 
of strong glue in between 
layers of 
material.
Releve: Raised. A raising of the
body on the points or 
demi-pointes, point or 
demi-pointe. There are two 
ways to relevé. In 
the French School, 
relevé is done with a 
smooth, continuous rise 
while the Cecchetti method 
and the Russian School use a 
little spring. Relevé 
may be done in the first, 
second, fourth or fifth 
position, en attitude, en 
arabesque, devant, 
derrière, 
en tournant, 
passé en 
avant, passé en 
arrière and so 
on.
Terms and definitions from American Ballet Theatre.