Strengthen your abdominal muscles. Strong, fluid pointe work comes from having a strong, balanced center. Though the focus of dancing on pointe is on the feet and legs, the whole body must work in harmony in order to balance and turn when on pointe. Pilates, yoga, underwater barre, floor barre and weightlifting can help your core become strong and support your moves better. Learning how to move from your center will greatly improve your balance when dancing with the added challenge of pointe shoes.
Pay attention to your use of plie as you rise from a flat foot to a balanced releve position. When executing a releve on one leg, remember that you have a longer distance to rise than when on demi-pointe in soft slippers or bare feet. This means that you will require a stronger, more dynamic plie in order to rise to a releve on full pointe.
Don't neglect the upper body. Your whole body should be engaged when dancing and balancing on pointe. The upper body should maintain the classical, regal look of the ballet aesthetic. However, you should avoid tensing the muscles in the upper body. The shoulders, neck and jaw should be released and relaxed. You should be working from the core down, with an easy, effortless feel in the upper body.