Pre-Pointe Evaluation Components Used by Dance Schools

Abstract

This study sought to identify the components of the current screening protocols used by dance schools to determine the readiness of a student to begin dancing en pointe. The subjects surveyed (N = 200) were the individuals who were responsible for performing the pre-pointe evaluation. An e-mail was sent to dance schools with an instruction letter to request it be forwarded to the pre-pointe evaluation administrator. Frequency tables were used to analyze the gathered data. A group of eight components were reported to be used by more than 75% of the institutions responding to the survey. Those institutions using an allied healthcare practitioner averaged 11.9 components per evaluation while institutions without an allied healthcare professional averaged 9.6 components. There were eight commonly reported components of the pre-pointe evaluation. At nearly 96% frequency, age was the most common component. Institutions affiliated with a company conduct a pre-pointe evaluation similar to those not affiliated with a company. The presence or absence of a healthcare professional had the most influence on the components used in the pre-pointe evaluation.