en pointe

dance

Also known as: pointe work

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June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

"En pointe" is a ballet term that means "on the tip of the toe." It refers to a specific ballet position where a dancer balances on the very tips of their toes. This technique allows for an illusion of lightness and grace, and it became particularly prominent during the Romantic era of ballet, around the 1830s to 1850s.12

While all ballet positions involve turning the legs out from the hips, dancing en pointe requires exceptional strength and control. Dancers can rest on the balls of their feet (demi-pointe) or the tips of their toes (pointe), though pointe work is traditionally performed by women. This demanding technique allows for intricate movements and poses, contributing to the ethereal quality often associated with ballet.32

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dance criticism
The Enlightenment to Romanticism
…was developed in the 1820s—pointe work, or dancing on the tips of the toes. The exact origins are unknown, but early champions were the pioneering Romantic choreographer Felippo Taglioni and his daughter, the ballerina Marie Taglioni. The advent of pointe work was perfectly matched to the portrayal of the…
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…was developed in the 1820s—pointe work, or dancing on the tips of the toes. The exact origins are unknown, but early champions were the pioneering Romantic choreographer Felippo Taglioni and his daughter, the ballerina Marie Taglioni. The advent of pointe work was perfectly matched to the portrayal of the…
Read More

dance
Basic characteristics
Dancing en pointe lends lightness and airiness to the dancer’s movements, and the pointed toe extends the line of the leg—particularly when it is raised in the air, as in an arabesque.
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Dancing en pointe lends lightness and airiness to the dancer’s movements, and the pointed toe extends the line of the leg—particularly when it is raised in the air, as in an arabesque.
Read More