Has anyone ever had a ballet student who is a dwarf? I have a 14 year old student who has danced with me for 5 years. She has dwarfism, but is an amazing dancer. She can travel across the floor as well as someone with more proportioned leg length!
She is at the point in her dancing, where is is 'ready' for Pointe work. Her doctor's have cleared her and said she can do what any other girl can. I am VERY concerned and feel like this is not the best choice for her. I am a very responsible teacher and certainly do not want to do any harm to this teenager. I am not sure what to do, or who to go to for advice. Please help!

I have never dealt with anything like that. I am proud of great teachers that look for the answers to questions that they have. Kudos!

good luck.

Thank you so much for your response ... I also posted this question on the 'Owners' section ... got a very negative response ... as if I was completely negating the fact that this teenager had real physical difficulties. This 'studio owner' made me feel like I was being prejudice ... I have owned/operated my studio for 19 years, and want the BEST for my dancers ... I have a BA AND AN MFA IN DANCE/CHOREOGRAPHY ... I have TONS of experience and advice to add. I thought this was the forum to ask for advice ... maybe not ... but thank you for your response ... it did make me feel a little bit better!

I can understand your concern - as I have that nagging concern every time I put a student on pointe. Even if they've gone through everything possible to get to that point there's still the question is she really really ready.....
If her doctor okay'd her and she has no problem on doing work on flat I think you should go ahead and let her go on pointe.
You mentioned in your studio owner post that you didn't think the doctor had any idea what pointe would do to her feet - but I think he would - especially if he was a doctor that specialized in bone growth, skeletal issues and such.
Sadly even if she's awesome she'll probably never be a professional ballet dancer, and she's probably old enough to know that - being denied the chance to go on pointe when she's been given the okay by a doctor and put in the effort and work to get to that level would probably do more damage to her - then the few short years she'll be dancing on pointe.

Let her do it. But maybe with extra attention of her doctor?

Was the doctor familiar with dancers and the physical issues that we face? I would assume that it would be extremely difficult to find a doctor who specializes in both dwarfism and ballet dancers, so it might be best to see if this student can see a doctor who understands dancers. If both doctors are giving the green light and you are seeing all the appropriate technique, then I would imagine this shouldn't be an issue. However, I am not a doctor, nor do I know a lot about the development of an individual who is a dwarf.

Do you have a doctor you could talk to about this, perhaps your own doctor knows a bit more about the issues dancers can have, if nothing else it might put your mind at rest.
If we're caring teachers I think we all have a bit of unease each time a student goes on pointe so that could be kicking in more in this case.

I replied to you on the Owners board

I'm in agreement with most of the responses. If she is strong enough in her flat shoes and the doctor has cleared her then I would let her try pointe. As with any child, we have to be careful when putting them en pointe for the first time. At 14, I'm sure she has experienced a lot of negativity due to her dwarfism, and I wouldn't want to add ballet to that in any way. If having her en pointe would make her experience better then I would try it. If it would not, then don't.

I have never had a student with dwarfism and most of my students with physical ailments or conditions have never wanted to do pointe. I would be interested in hearing how this pans out though.