I started ballet at the age of 7 and continued in RAD style under I was 11. I have recently returned to ballet, now age 21.

I've always wanted to go en pointe but left ballet before I was able to, would I be able to in the future or have I had my chance?

That is definitely a possibility, although not necessarily easy. To go en pointe safely and productively, you need at least 3-4 years of training, 5-6 days/wk. So if you can get that kind of training and have a teacher committed to training you then, in a few years pointe work would be a possibility.

Unfortunately that kind of training is not available in my area, therefore I think I will have to be content with progressing as much as I can in the time that I have in class.

Thank you very much for the information though.

"I think I will have to be content with progressing as much as I can in the time that I have in class."

That's very sensible herbal42, as the key thing is to enjoy your dancing and develop your skills. Resist any siren voices, from within or without, encouraging you to go on pointe if you are not ready, as a lot of damage can be done this way.

Herbal42, many students have safely started pointe work with fewer years' experience, and fewer classes per week than Citibob suggested. Ideally you should be studying at least 3 times a week and at least 2 years. If you were taking only 2 classes a week, it would take longer. But ultimately, since every body is different, only your teacher can tell whether you're ready to work on pointe.

Speaking of bodies being different, another point that will have to be considered by your teacher is simply whether your feet are well constructed for dancing on pointe.

Hello...citibob's schedule would be ideal, but sometimes we don't live in an ideal world. For example, your studio may simply not offer that many adult classes. I think djb's advice is solid, too. As long as(if you, in fact, do eventually begin pointe) you begin very slowly and only at the barre for quite a while.