[pnw_hazor]

In ballet, being invited into pointe class is a big deal coming of age for ballet dancers. It represents their first step to becoming a real ballet dancer. Dancers don't get to do pointe until/unless they are good enough. It takes a few years of non-pointe ballet and not everyone gets invited to do it.

I think it appeals to people who strive to be recognized as elite members of a group. My daughter couldn't wait to get into pointe class. However, once she got in and did it a couple a years she moved on from ballet. But she still gets admiration when it comes up that she did pointe and was in a couple of Nutcrackers.

I remember when my daughter's cohort were invited to start pointe. They were all so proud and happy. Now, for the first time the Ballet Mistress would spend time with them, personally showing them how to sew the ribbons on their toe shoes, talking to them about foot care and pain, and so on.

It is a bit like if a figure skater learns to land single Axels in competition. Most people never get there. (Let alone triples or quads that we are used to seeing on TV). Landing single Axels in competition was the first separator of competitive skaters from recreational skaters. I think pointe is similar in ballet.