Editing Pointe technique (section)

==Technique==
[[File:Réda Sári - Raymonda, Tableau du rêve - Prix de Lausanne 2010-11.jpg|thumb|Body alignment and foot placement are fundamental aspects of pointe technique, as illustrated by this ''en pointe'' dancer]]
Pointe technique encompasses both the mechanical and artistic aspects of pointe work. In particular, it is concerned with body alignment, placement of the feet and the manner in which a dancer transitions to and from en pointe. A dancer is said to have "good" or "proper" technique when in conformance with the [[best practice]]s of pointe technique, which in turn are generally referred to as ''proper technique''.

===Placement and alignment===
En pointe dancers employ pointe technique to determine foot placement and body alignment. When exhibiting proper technique, a dancer's en pointe foot is placed so that the [[Instep#instep|instep]] is fully stretched with toes perpendicular to the floor, and the pointe shoe's [[toe box#Ballet|platform]] (the flattened tip of the [[toe box]]) is square to the floor, so that a substantial part of its surface is contacting the floor.

Proper technique is also evident from a dancer's body alignment, by visualizing a straight line that extends from the center of the hip through the toes. When a properly aligned dancer is viewed from the side, the line passes through the knee, ankle joint and [[hallux|big toe]] joints. When viewed from the front, the line passes through the knee, ankle joint and the joints of the [[long toe|second toe]] or [[middle toe]] or the area between those toe joints. In cases of unusually high instep or metatarsal joint flexibility, it is sometimes necessary to flex the toes to achieve proper alignment.

===Movement into ''en pointe''===
A dancer may transition to en pointe by any of three possible methods: relevé, sauté or piqué.<ref>{{cite book |author=Janice Barringer |author2=Sarah Schlesinger |title=''The Pointe Book'' |year=2012 |publisher=Princeton Book Company |isbn=978-0-87127-355-0}}</ref> In the [[relevé (dance)|relevé]] method, the dancer rises smoothly by rotating the foot downward until it reaches a fully extended, vertical orientation while the toe box remains in contact with the floor, thus "rolling up" on the foot. This may be done either gradually or rapidly, on one foot or both feet, beginning with feet flat on the floor or in demi-pointe (heels raised). In the [[sauté (ballet)|sauté]] method, the dancer springs up and lands en pointe. In the process, the feet break contact with the floor and the dancer is briefly airborne. To transition to en pointe via [[piqué (ballet)|piqué]], a dancer will step out directly onto a fully extended, vertical foot. The other foot is then raised from the floor, thereby leaving the dancer en pointe.

Modern ballet technique incorporates all three transition methods. Relevé and piqué transitions are typically used for [[Glossary of ballet#Adagio|adages]], where strength, poise and controlled movements are highlighted. The more abrupt sauté method, which was introduced by Enrico Cecchetti,<ref>Theory and Practice of Classical Theatrical Dancing, C. Beaumont, S. Idzikowski</ref> is typically used in [[Glossary of ballet#Allegro|allegros]], where the relatively slow and smooth relevé and piqué transitions would be both impractical and visually inconsistent with the lively pace of movement. The sauté method is more common in [[Russian ballet]].<ref>Vaganova, A. Basic principles of classical ballet</ref>