| If you are a parent reading this, please be aware | | | | box. A longer second toe usually requires a slightly |
| that there is a considerable financial aspect at stake | | | | tapered, narrow to medium box, but there are no |
| here. Pointe shoes cannot be purchased to grow into. | | | | hard and fast rules. A longer big toe may also feel |
| They must fit like a glove, to be simplistic at the | | | | more comfortable in a tapered box, but every shape |
| moment, and may not wear out before the student | | | | of shoe must be tried on. |
| grows out of them. On the other hand, if your child | | | | Take a pair of tights with you, to put over your foot |
| has a high arch, shoes may be broken completely | | | | and try the shoes on. For your first fitting, don't |
| and useless for pointe work, in a matter of a few | | | | wear the tights, as the fitter may ask to see your |
| classes. This situation will improve as the feet | | | | toes, if there is a problem getting a fit. Just in case. |
| strengthen, but must be put up with until then. Those | | | | You can check the vamp needed by rising up to 3/4 |
| students can remove the inner sole, soften what is | | | | pointe, and seeing if the shoe break is wear your |
| left of the box with their hands (if necessary) and | | | | metatarsal joints are. Too high a vamp will impede |
| wear the shoes as soft shoes for regular classes. | | | | the foot movement, and too low a vamp will not |
| This saves buying soft shoes, unless they are a | | | | provide support. |
| requirement, such as for a ballet exam. | | | | The stiffness of the shank will be determined by the |
| At a student's first fitting, a lot of time must be | | | | arch height and ankle flexibility. You need to be able |
| taken. If a fitter or a dance teacher is available, that | | | | to get up onto pointe fully, so that you are not |
| is a real plus. Not all stores may have experienced | | | | working leaning into the back of the box. So the |
| fitters. | | | | shank must give supportbut not present so much |
| The individual's foot shape must be examined. The | | | | resistance that you can't work properly. Most shoes |
| length and tapering of the toes, the width across the | | | | will break in, and keep breaking in until suddenly they |
| metatarsals, the height of the arch, and the depth of | | | | are worn out! That's the life of a pointe shoe..... |
| the foot must all be fitted correctly. Badly fitting | | | | Gaynor Minden's are different, and that site explains |
| shoes can contribute to sprains and permanent | | | | exactly how. They don't break in, so you need to |
| injuries. Good technique can make up for bad fits, but | | | | buy exactly what you want to work in. I have never |
| the tolerance of the resulting pain is a waste of the | | | | worn them, so please do your research for exactly |
| dancer's concentration. | | | | the right fit with those shoes. |
| Before you get to the shoes, think about what you | | | | When you are up on pointe, there should be about 1 |
| might want to use for protection inside the shoe. | | | | 4 inch of fabric at your heel. If there is none, the |
| This will take up space. The variety of gel pads, toe | | | | shoe is too short. If there is more, the shoe is too |
| length adaptors, toe tips and all the other things are | | | | long. Also, if you do a demi-plie, and your toes are |
| wonderful, but make sure you have room for them. | | | | mashed into the box, hurting, the shoe is too short, |
| You may be a fan of a ballerina who has stated "I | | | | too narrow, or both. |
| never put anything in my shoes because I like to feel | | | | The vamp should not gape or wrinkle - neither should |
| my feet".... and you should definitely try that after a | | | | the sides. There should be equal pressure from the |
| few years of pointe work - but not now. | | | | shoe all over the foot. |
| The box section of pointe shoes come in tapered | | | | I've tried to keep these articles fairly short - but like |
| shapes, and square shapes. They must fit so that | | | | your first few fittings - time, patience and detail is |
| the foot does not sink into, or slide around inside the | | | | needed. |