In this fourth class of our Pre-Pointe series, guided by Stephanie Petersen, students will work on lower body strength, turnout, and dynamic stability — building on the foundations established in the previous sessions.

The class opens with targeted ankle conditioning, building the specific strength and mobility the ankle joint needs to support a dancer safely en pointe. From there, the work moves into glute activation, deep rotator and core conditioning, and external rotation — developing the stability and strength that will allow students to sustain turnout and control when the time comes for pointe work. The session closes with a cool-down to release tension in the hamstrings and adductors.

Tips

• In Bridge in 5th Position, watch for pelvic alignment — this exercise builds the ability to maintain external rotation in 5th position without the compensations that tend to appear when working on their feet, so any shift or unevenness in the hips is worth addressing.

• In Frog Loops, pay attention to alignment when students move into the side-lying position. Remind them to keep their core active and avoid letting their ribcage collapse toward the floor.