Lynne Charles is well known throughout the ballet world as a guru for pointe. She is the founder and creator of 4Pointe, a comprehensive pointe technique training method, and is the Artistic Director of the English National Ballet School. Dance Informa interviewed Charles in 2024, before she took over the helm of the school. She has been director for almost a year, and we caught up with her to find out about her new position and the future of 4Pointe.
Do you feel like you are settling into your role?
“No, I don’t ever think it’s good to be settled. Being settled implies a sense of complacency, and I believe one always needs to be on the edge of their seat — ready to go, ready to do something, ready to create or make something happen. I don’t think being settled is beneficial. For me, settling is not a good place to be. I do believe, however, that we are working toward my vision for the school.”
Were there any improvements you felt the school needed when you took over?
“The mindset. That was the key thing I felt needed the most improvement. A shift in mindset, stepping out of the comfort zone and moving forward into the future. It’s about learning to let go of what keeps us in the past and being open to what can take us forward. That, to me, was the most critical change needed at the school.”
Were there any gaps in the pointe work that needed to be addressed?
“Yes, I would say pointe work was another area I felt needed attention. It was lacking and not aligned with the standards required of a professional dancer today.”
What sort of changes have you made to implement these improvements, and have you incorporated the 4Pointe method into the pointe technique at the school?
“I’ve started teaching 4Pointe myself to the senior Level Three students. As of May 26 of this year, two of our teachers, Nicola Simpson and Şebnem Önal, are fully certified in the 4Pointe method and will be teaching it in their respective classes. We still have one more teacher at the school who needs to be certified. Once she completes her certification, all the female faculty will be fully certified in the 4Pointe method.”
Do you have some kind of teacher training for the faculty in the 4Pointe methodology?
“4Pointe was officially established in 2019. Since then, I’ve traveled the world teaching 4Pointe to students and professional dancers, and offering online classes internationally. In 2023, we launched the 4Pointe Teacher Training Program. The first teacher training course took place in August 2023 in London at The Place. The course spans four days, totaling 36 hours. Teachers have the opportunity to learn directly from me and work with students using the 4Pointe method. The training includes practical instruction, written theory, and an exam across two levels: Level 1 (pre-pointe, beginner pointe and rehabilitation for dancers) and Levels 2 and 3 (intermediate, advanced and professional pointe work).
To clarify, this training is for teachers to learn how to train students — not other teachers. Once certified, teachers are only authorized to teach the method to students. Since this year, we’ve formed a partnership with the English National Ballet School to offer this training to teachers at different times throughout the year.”
What kind of feedback are you getting from the faculty?
“The ENB School Level One and Two teachers have observed a tremendous improvement in the alignment and strength of the legs and feet. This has notably helped with jumps, landings, and the transition up to and down from pointe.”
What do you have planned for the school in the future?
“I hope to raise the overall standard of training for the students and introduce new programs that will further prepare them for professional careers in dance. 4Pointe is one of the programs I’ve brought into the school. In today’s world, I believe it’s essential to provide everything we can to enhance a student’s development, so their chances of securing a job are even greater.”
What kind of feedback are you getting from the students?
“I can see improvement in their dancing and in their understanding of how their legs and feet work. Additionally, since 4Pointe will be implemented throughout the school starting in September, not all of the students have been learning the method long-term yet. That said, I can mention two students in particular: Madeline Bleich, who was part of the Young Artist Development Program, the apprentice program at the English National Ballet School. I helped rehabilitate Madeline after her injury and have been training her in 4Pointe both in person and via Zoom. The second is Norma Esposito, who is currently a second-year student at the school. I originally began working with her via Zoom as well.”
Madeline Bleich and Norma Esposito: Two dedicated students of the 4Pointe method
Madeline Bleich, from Phoenix, AZ, is a graduate of the ENB School’s professional trainee program and is dancing professionally in the US. She began working with Charles four years ago after an extensive foot surgery. The post-surgery recovery forced Madeline into a long convalescence, and she had to work hard to regain her strength and confidence. She credits Charles and the 4Pointe training for helping her get back to dancing en pointe, saying, “After my first session with Lynne, I noticed immediate improvement. She was kind and patient and helped me build a new foundation to develop my pointe work and as a dancer.”
Bleich continues to work with Charles in ballet and pointe technique, as well as variation coaching. “Since working with Ms. Charles, I have seen improvement in my articulation, strength, control and body placement,” she shares. “4Pointe has been transformative for me, and I am very grateful to her.” She feels that 4Pointe gives her the skills to build confidence in her dancing, and that is a natural part of the progression in the training.
Norma Esposito, from Naples, Italy, is in her second year at the ENB School. “Since I started 4Pointe, I realised that I gained a lot of strength in my ankles, calves and even in the underneath muscles of my foot,” she explains. “I understand, now, how to articulate my feet properly in my pointe shoes and in particular how to go properly on pointe going up on pointe without ‘jumping’ in my pointe shoes but going through the quarter, half, 3/4 and full pointe every time.”
4Pointe has also taught her about the importance of alignment. She now focuses on creating one straight line without pronating or supinating when standing en pointe or flat. “I think that these concepts are very important for our health because they prevent injuries and achieve a good understanding of your alignment,” Esposito says. “4Pointe also improves your stamina, ability to move fast, and how to transfer your weight placement in a good way.” She appreciates the importance of setting up the upper body and the lift of the pelvis without sitting into the hips. “Since I began this kind of work with her, I feel more confident and safe because I feel that I have more balance and control on pointe.”
Confident, safe, balance, and control. Those words are what every dancer wants to feel when performing. Charles truly gives her all to her students and the teachers trained in the 4Pointe method. We look forward to seeing more from this truly amazing wizard of pointe.
To find out more information about 4Pointe, head to www.4-pointe.com. To find out more about the English National Ballet School, visit www.enbschool.org.uk.
By Mary Carpenter of Dance Informa.
