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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to

respond appropriately to feedback on own skill development and performance

consult with peers mentors and doctors including interpersonal skills relating to listening questioning gaining feedback and giving information

use correct terminology

initiative and enterprise skills to

refine pointe technique

dance with artistry and assurance

learning skills to refine pointe work through

practising movements and sequences of increasing difficulty

a positive attitude to dancing

analysing pointe work

planning and organising skills to prepare for pointe work

selfmanagement skills to

arrive punctually at classes and rehearsals

dress appropriately

observe dance discipline and follow direction

apply safe dance practices and identify risk factors associated with pointe work

technical dance skills to

articulate correct pointe work technique

apply advanced pointe work to classical ballet sequences and repertoire showing

muscular strength and flexibility

control of movement

quality and breadth of movement

individual artistic qualities and personalities

more complex enchanements

Required knowledge

welldeveloped knowledge of each section of dance work as it applies to pointe work including

centre practice

principles underlying dance movements and techniques as applied to pointe work including

spatial awareness

successional movement

control of movement

muscular strength and flexibility

transference of weight

anatomical foundations including

articulation of the spine

articulation of the feet

bases of support including feet legs hands arms and torso

range of motion of the joints

differentiation of the legs and pelvis

health and wellbeing issues relevant to classical ballet artists

relationship between music and dance

risk factors in ballet for the physical body especially as applied to pointe work

pointe work terminology

history of ballet and pointe

principles of classical ballet

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to

prepare feet and shoes for pointe work to avoid risks and injuries

refine pointe technique through practice

respond appropriately to feedback on own pointe technique

apply correct pointe terminology and technique to ballet repertoire

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to

fully equipped dance studios

appropriate music or accompanists

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge The following examples are appropriate for this unit

observation of practice and performance through full practical demonstration

verbal or written questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit

video recordings of performances or practice sessions

case studies and scenarios as a basis for discussing components of classical ballet technique and repertoire that incorporate advanced level pointe work

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands eg literacy and the needs of particular groups eg people with disabilities and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English remote communities and those with interrupted schooling

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended for example

CUADANA Refine ballet technique

CUADAN501A Refine ballet technique

CUADANA Refine ballet performance skills

CUADAN502A Refine ballet performance skills.

Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Preparations for feet may include:	cutting toe nails protecting the feet through use of, for example: toe pads lamb’s wool using gel medical dressing to help relieve the pain of blisters tying ribbons correctly around ankles changing pointe shoes as required ensuring there is nothing loose around the legs that could cause tripping or other injuries.
Preparations for pointe shoes may include:	using an experienced fitter for shoes to determine: size length width arch other measurements of the foot sewing on elastic to prevent shoes slipping off a narrow heel sewing on ribbons based on professional advice breaking in shoes which may consist of: making the hard shank more supple, so that the shoes can actually bend on demi pointe softening sensitive spots on the box to offer less friction against the feet by dampening a towel and applying to the box cutting the shank where arch is and then spraying the box with water using cyanoacrylate glue or shellac to harden toe box and make shoes last slightly longer.
Warm-up and cool-down may include:	stretching at the barre feet-strengthening exercises joint-mobility exercises (especially those that apply to the ankles and ball of foot) articulating through foot from flat to demi pointe to pointe and down relevés in 1st and 2nd positions échappés relevés steps ending on one foot, such as pas de bourrée en pointes and retiré en pointes in centre practice, exercises on both feet, such as: temps levés relevés échappés en pointe coordinated breathing activities.
Risk factors may include:	common injuries incorrectly fitting footwear slippery or hard floor surface.
Common injuriesmay include:	Achilles tendinitis athlete's foot bunions bunionette bursitis bruises bruised toenails calluses contusion corns cuts between the toes dancer's heel (plantar fasciitis) dermatitis dorsal exostosis extensor tendinitis fungus nails hallux limitus and rigidus hammer toes heel bruises heel spurs ingrown toenails jammed big toes neuromas plantar warts sesamoiditis sprained ankles stress fractures thickened toenails.
Pointe techniquemay include:	commencing with warm-up exercises at the barre and in the centre before performing routines or combinations en pointe practising combinations in centre applying correct posture and placement engaging abdominal muscles applying rotation of the legs dancer rising onto full pointe by passing through half-pointe or demi-pointe achieving full pointe by either articulating through the feet for adage or relevés to pointe in allegro combinations.
Technical requirementsmay include:	correct placement and coordination of body parts transference of weight strength and stability posture balance rotation of legs.
Performance attributesmay relate to:	enchaînements of increasing difficulty expressing own individual artistry mastering classical line muscular strength and flexibility.
Repertoire may include:	romantic classical modern ballet original choreography.
Ballet styles and genres may include:	contemporary ballet modern ballet neoclassical ballet-masquerade ballet-melodramatique romantic imperial.
Spatial arrangementsmay include:	floor patterns aerial pathways.
Critical analysismay be through:	individual coaching sessions viewing recordings of own performance during practice sessions.