| All brands make several different shapes and styles | | | | sort for long toes however, you will feel like you are |
| of pointe shoes, which are designed for different | | | | falling out of the front of the shoe. |
| people and different uses. This is often very | | | | E) When you plie in a wide seconde position, the foot |
| confusing for first time buyers, so if at all possible | | | | is at its longest and widest, so it is important to |
| get your dance teacher, or an experienced dancer to | | | | check that there is enough room in the shoe for |
| go along to the fitting with you. The fitters in various | | | | your foot while dancing. Your toes should stay long in |
| stores can range from exceptional to very average, | | | | the shoe, and just touch the end of the shoe at the |
| so it is a good idea to get a name of a good fitter | | | | depth of your plie. If you have very short toes, you |
| on the recommendation of someone you trust. | | | | may need to pad up inside the box of the shoe to |
| While the person who fits your shoe should check all | | | | get a nice line of the shoe, and a correctly fitting |
| of the following things, it is good to know what to | | | | box. |
| look for, and to feel, yourself. The fitter can look at | | | | F) It is important to check the fit of the shoe in an |
| how the shoe looks from the outside, but only you | | | | upright position before putting any weight on it. Place |
| can feel what is going on inside. | | | | the tip of one shoe on the floor, with your weight on |
| If possible, ask your teacher to come with you the | | | | the other foot. Press down slightly to check the fit |
| first time you get your pointe shoes fitted, so that | | | | of the box. The foot should be supported in the box, |
| they can check the fit. If they cannot go, always | | | | and not sink down too much. Check the amount of |
| check the fit of the shoes with them with them | | | | satin at the back of the heel. If the foot has slid |
| before you sew on the ribbons, break in the shoe or | | | | forward in the shoe, because the shoe is too wide, |
| dance in them. If you get them dirty by wearing | | | | there will be more satin. If the top of the foot is |
| them around the house, they my not be able to be | | | | bulging out, the box is too small. Make sure that both |
| returned to the store, and it can get to be a very | | | | the big and little toe knuckle joints are supported by |
| expensive exercise. | | | | the wings. If they are too short the top of the wings |
| Each part of the pointe shoe has a name. Try to | | | | will cut in and give an unsightly line to the toe of the |
| learn the names for different parts of the shoe | | | | shoe. |
| before you head to the store for the first time. That | | | | G) Check the length of the shoe by peeling the satin |
| way you'll know what the fitter is talking about if she | | | | of the shoe off the heel and folding it back under |
| asks "Is that vamp too high?”. There are many | | | | the shoe. Place the foot back en pointe, and check |
| sites online that can help you with this. | | | | where the sole finishes. The end of the sole/shank |
| Always try the shoe on with any padding or | | | | should be just short of the end of the heel. If the |
| ‘Ouch Pouches’ that you will wear while | | | | shoe is too long (as in the picture on the right), there |
| dancing, and check the shoe in each of the following | | | | may be bagging of the satin at the back of the |
| positions. | | | | shoe, as the satin is cut to cup the heel. If the shank |
| A) Check the fit of the box – The foot should fit | | | | is too short however, the foot will tend to wobble |
| snugly in standing; with the toes not too squashed in | | | | more, and the satin will pull too low. This results in the |
| (They should be able to lie flat). There should be no | | | | back of the shoe often poping off when rising from |
| bulging of the skin over the top edge of the shoe in | | | | demi to full pointe and can be very annoying. |
| standing. The top of the box should sit against the | | | | H) Look to see that the shank sits in line with the |
| skin of the top of your foot. You should be able to | | | | sole of the foot when the foot is en pointe. If the |
| slide the tip of your finger in to the shoe over your | | | | shank of the shoe is twisting, check the alignment of |
| toes, just. If the box is too round for a flat foot, | | | | the foot first. As long as the box is sitting square and |
| there will be more of a space here. You can flatten | | | | the foot is in good alignment, it should be ok. Often |
| the box slightly, but it will also alter the width. | | | | twisting of the shoe is due to the shank not |
| B) Take a look at the length of the wings. The wings | | | | conforming to the shape of the arch and can be |
| should come up to the side of the big toe joint. If | | | | remedied by breaking in the heel of the shoe before |
| they are too short, the box will pull the big toe in on | | | | wearing. However, the shank may also twist on the |
| an angle and may cause a bunion to form. If they are | | | | foot if the box is too narrow, so recheck this area |
| too long, it may be hard to work properly through | | | | again. |
| the demi-pointe. | | | | Once you have a good fit, you may try |
| C) Check the position of the heel of the shoe. The | | | | weight-bearing through the shoe by stepping up onto |
| satin of the heel should come 7/8 of the way up | | | | pointe. Hold onto the back of a stable chair or bench, |
| your heel bone. Too high, and you may get problems | | | | and place one foot en pointe. Put some weight |
| with the attachment of your Achilles tendon | | | | through that shoe and then bring the other foot up |
| attachment. Too low, and you will get frustrated with | | | | onto pointe. Make sure your toes are pointed long in |
| the heel of the shoe popping off when you rise. | | | | the shoe and that there are no areas of severe |
| D) Watch the length of the vamp, the front of the | | | | pressure on any toe. Isolated areas of pressure may |
| shoe. If the vamp is too long you will not be able to | | | | be solved by use of specific padding in the shoe, but |
| rise through the demi-pointe effectively. If it is too | | | | should be avoided with a good fit if at all possible. |