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Woah... That's dissapointing.
Getting on pointe isn't worth losing toenails....

This may sound mean...but I say let her... if she is too blind to see that there is a reason that she wasn't on pointe yet and that she isn't ready for it...let her...plus she isn't the one with a degree in the subject...she can ruin her dancing career by doing what she is doing. She sounds a bit egotistical, but it is clear she likes to dance but love, is too strong of a word. If she did she wouldn't be willing to jump into something she isn't ready for.

yea when i got on point i had really healthy preety toenails thatwere kind long but ot nasty long so when i first got up on thm my toenail jammed in so i tryed curling my toes but thathurt so all ihad to do was clip my toenails down

I have never been on pointe before, I was not in ballet long enough for it. gonk crying sweatdrop But from the little I do know, I think you should stay in ballet as long as it takes because if you rush into pointe you could end up injuring yourself permanently to a point where you would never be able to get back into it.

I would definitely rather be at a studio that trains you for a really long time until you are DEFINITELY ready for pointe. I've heard it's incredibly demanding. As for rivalries. My friend and I, we're good friends, but in a way, I've noticed us kind of try to rival each other. It's not petty or anything, but I've noticed when our class is doing fouettes, you'll see both of us going until one of us stops. It's kind of bizarre.

You should always, always, always, wait until you are completely ready before going en pointe. If you don't, you could seriously damage your ankles and toes. I've seen it happen, trust me. Always take lessons for a long amount of time before you go on. I'd tell you how much, but it's different for everyone. But definitely at least 2 or 3 ballet lessons a week.

^Agreed. The bruised toenails (the reason that toenails usually fall off) are likely caused by ill-fitting shoes or not trimming the nails or something, and not bad technique or weak feet or the like.

Yeah, it's silly to switch studios just because you want to be en pointe, but I guess I have a few of my own opinions to add. Everyone always freaks out about 'oh no! don't go en pointe before you're 13 and have had 3 years of training AT LEAST and amazing technique and strength!' but a lot of good schools put their students en pointe at around 10, not because they have perfect technique (they ARE only 10) or super buff feet, but because pointe (in my opinion) helps to strengthen and improve technique when taught correctly. Obviously you wouldn't put a newbie in pointe shoes and tell them to fouette, but I don't see a problem with a younger person (with fully ossified bones anyway), maybe with weaker feet or imperfect technique, putting on pointe shoes and doing some releves at the barre under careful supervision.

I know this view could be carried to the extreme, which is bad, because I agree that some girls shouldn't be on pointe yet... but most of what I've heard on ballet forums is just an opposite extreme, and I'd like to try to balance things out a bit. If you put on a pair of pointe shoes and you stumble around at first and aren't very good, it's not going to kill you. You'll improve. (Well, if the instruction is good, anyway.) Pointe is an important part of ballet, particularly if you want to go pro, and starting sooner rather than later means you can get comfortable in them sooner rather than later. With all the hullabaloo about waiting for years so that when they finally get up onto pointe it's easy as pie... I'm not surprised that this girl might want a second opinion, especially if she's eager to learn and begin this new style of dance (which pointe sort of is). Obviously I have NO idea if she's really okay for pointe or if her new studio is just incompetent, but... I don't know, I just wanted to throw the possibility out there that maybe she'll be okay. The snobby personality will have to go, of course, but then I haven't really heard any solid evidence that she's a twit aside from you saying that she takes ballet seriously and really wants to do pointe. Your 'friend' (is she really? It doesn't sound like it) would probably not appreciate being called an idiot for either of these reasons.

And I have just totally rambled on forever and I'm sorry that this probably sounds rude and confrontational. I just saw the same opinion posted multiple times and had to disagree... I think I get it from my very argumentative brother (or maybe my History teacher that loves pointing out opposing arguments/facts?) redface

P.S. jamemarie2014, pointe shoes never have wood in them. wink