Pointe Work: From Beginners and Beyond CPD Workshop

Event Date:

Sunday 8 June 2025

Event Time:

10am – 5pm BST

Location:

Dorset (UK)

Available Online?

Who’s it for?

This workshop is open to all ballet teachers

Fee:

Members £137 | €161 | $175
Non-Members £193 | €227 | $246

Contact:

cpd@rad.org.uk

This one day practical workshop is designed to increase a ballet teacher’s confidence and knowledge of teaching pointe work to students at different stages of training.

The workshop charts preparation and training progressions which underpin the requisites of pointe work. Participants will be introduced to, and explore through discussion, the vocabulary of pointe work from Intermediate Foundation through to more advanced levels of training. Examples of training exercises which prepare students for the progressive demands of pointe work, as well as strategies for implementing training exercises, will be explored.

Aims

The aims of this workshop are to:

Gain knowledge and understanding of the evolution of pointe shoes and the fitting and maintenance of pointe shoes,
Improve the participants’ knowledge and understanding of pointe work with a particular focus on how to prepare and train pointe work across different stages of training and proficiency, and
Share and discuss ideas on creating and teaching preparatory exercises, training exercises and pointe work enchaînements.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the workshop, you will:

Have knowledge and understanding of the evolution of pointe shoes, fitting and maintenance of pointe shoes,
Have knowledge and understanding of the principles (anatomical readiness and technical competencies) which indicate when students are ready to commence pointe work,
Have developed skills to create preparatory exercises, training exercises and pointe enchaînements for different levels of study,
Have knowledge and understanding of the needs of different students when teaching pointe work, and
Have developed different approaches and strategies for teaching pointe.

Venue

Studio One, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7PQ

Further information

Recommended Preparation

Participants should read the sections on pointe work in the following RAD publications: The Foundations of Classical Ballet Technique and The Progressions of Classical Ballet Technique.

Tutor

Deborah Mercer ARAD BA Hons RAD RTS

Born in Hong Kong, Deborah began her dance training there before being invited to join the Hong Kong Ballet Group where she performed regularly, as both corps and soloist. She went on to train at the Académie Princess Grace followed by the Rambert School of Ballet. She gained a degree in modern languages from the University of Westminster and an MA in marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and, following a period working in marketing and commerce, she re-trained as a dance teacher gaining qualifications from the RAD and ISTD.

Deborah has taught in Brighton and Hove for many years at various dance schools including Brighton College and The Brighton Academy. She was head of ballet at a private dance school, and senior ballet teacher at Brighton College before opening her own school in 2020. Over the years, she has choreographed for numerous shows and her pupils have gone onto prestigious vocational dance schools such as English National Ballet School, Elmhurst, Rambert, and Tring Park as well as gaining places as Associates at the Royal Ballet School and Central School of Ballet. In addition, her pupils have seen success in competitions with a finalist in the Genée International Ballet Competition (now The Fonteyn) and All England Dance.

In 2021 Deborah became an RAD Examiner and shortly afterwards a CPD tutor. She is passionate about passing on her knowledge to the next generation of dancers and teachers.

CPD Hours

8 hours Time-Valued CPD

Fees

Members of the Royal Academy of Dance receive discounts on all CPD activities.

How to book

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If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please contact the CPD Team, cpd@rad.org.uk

Contact

If you have any questions about this activity, please email cpd@rad.org.uk

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Book your free in-store pointe shoe fitting appointment now!

Our fully qualified team at the Royal Academy of Dance Shop are on hand to cater for all of your pointe shoe fitting needs. We carry a wide range of Freed and Bloch shoes and accessories, and offer a full service for everyone from first fits and beyond. If you have been previously fitted, and we don’t carry your item, we can order them on a pre-paid basis. And finally, members get 10% off!

Call now on 0207 326 8080 or contact sales@rad.org.uk