Shoes Point e

Archive for the ‘Pointe’ Category

Pointe shoe tips from the industry’s leading dancewear specialists.By Rebecca MartinThe time has finally come. Your ballet teacher has said that you can go up en pointe and you need to buy your first pair of pointe shoes.  So what now?Talk to your teacherThe first thing you need to do is have a discussion with your teacher about what they want you to buy.  Some teachers and schools are very specific about brands, models, ribbon sewing, ribbon type, toe pads, colour, shape, … it can be overwhelming if you don’t get a little guidance from your teacher!Prepare your feetPointe work is hard, occasionally it might be uncomfortable, and it can be costly if you don’t take care of your shoes.

So it is important that you start looking after your feet now and are prepared prior to your fitting. Trim your toe nails in a straight line. Speak to a physiotherapist or podiatrist to ensure that your feet and legs are ready for pointe work as they may be able to give you extra exercises to strengthen your muscles.  If your bones haven’t formed significantly, you may end up with injuries.  Do lots of rises and pick up a Thera-Band from your local dance shop to increase the strength of your feet and lower legs. All dancers should learn that pointe shoes are meant to provide support, but that strength in the feet must be developed from the beginning if proper technique is to be achieved.Call ahead before your fitting and schedule plenty of timeSome dancewear stores will require a fitting appointment, so make sure to call ahead. Pointe shoe fittings, especially first ones, can take quite a bit of time, so don’t pop into a dance shop after school on your way to ballet class.  This will be a disaster for many reasons:- You won’t be dressed properly.  The pointe shoe fitter will need you to do pliés, tendus, rises, and relevés, and you need freedom of movement without the restriction of a school uniform. Avoid overly baggy clothing as the fitter will want to look at the student’s placement through the body. Any long pants will need to be rolled up as the fitter will also need to look at the student’s ankles.- Your feet will be hot and a little swollen after a day in socks/stockings and school shoes.  To get the most accurate fit, it is preferable that you arrive for your fitting earlier in the day to avoid this.- After school time is the busiest for dance stores, so you may have to wait to be fitted and there may simply not be enough time for a proper fitting.- There may not be a qualified pointe shoe fitter available when you arrive.Pointe shoes should always be fitted in the store the same way they are going to be worn in class or performance and the fitting should always be conducted on a solid floor. Carpet will cushion any ‘feeling of the floor’, and rolling off the platform cannot be easily noticed. As a result what felt comfortable in the store on carpet may not be comfortable in class on a wooden floor.Once you arrive at your local dance store, you may find yourself overwhelmed with choice.  For this reason, it is important to ensure you are being serviced by someone who has a good knowledge of what’s required in pointe work and understands the products well. Most renowned stores have highly trained staff available at all times so choose a store that has experienced pointe shoe fitters by asking about their experience when calling ahead.