Progression of Pointe Excercises

The teaching method of pure classical ballet was founded by Agripina Vaganova but also developed by her pupils. It is a slow, safe and predictable systematic approach to ballet education.

Pointe work has a systematic and sage approach of progressive exercises that will build strength.

This Russian method, it is fair and safe to say that is not just another style of teaching or method, is scientifically based and physiologically sound and incorporates the laws of physics and biomechanics and has been proven to be not only the safe step by step approach to the development of a ballet artist but the only complete system that can develop the entire nerve muscle patterns and coordination’s in such a way to free the artists from technical worries. The artist can then truly express himself over self.

 Agrippina Vaganova tested the effectiveness of her methods at her school as if in a “laboratory”, and her best friends and colleagues were scientists, professors and leading experts in the fields of education, biomechanics, physiology of exercise and kinesiology. The resulting method (completed by her first assistant for nearly 30 years, Vera Kostrovitskaya, with the input of many other Russian methodologists) is the only method which is based entirely upon physiological, as well as aesthetic, principles.

Classical dance is characterized by flight or airiness. Peggy Willis- Aarnio, BFA, MFA, PhD said that Russian method is a complete education with a rich tradition and is honest and fair to say that the Russian method is not just another method.

Vaganova deeply studied all the methods on her students to combine and modify obtaining only what was best for classical ballet training.

Here are a few example classes of exercises en pointe from the Vaganova school classes (year levels) 1, 2, 5 and 7.

Pointe Class year 1

Pointe class year 2

Pointe Class year 5

Pointe class year 7