Pointe
shoes, in many ways, can be considered an extension of the dancer.
Designed for pleasing aesthetics as well as function, these shoes
typically have a short lifespan, but enable the dancer to move with
incredible grace and strength.
The most critical feature of any pointe shoe is how well it fits.
Proper fit safeguards the dancer’s feet, ankles and legs and makes en
pointe work possible. This is especially important for younger dancers,
as proper bone development can be impaired by incorrectly fitting
shoes. There are a number of brands and styles available, and no single
type is built for every dancer. A dancer’s experience, shape of the
foot and strength should be considered in finding the best shoe.
Bloch Pointe Shoes
The Bloch pointe shoe is available in different styles including
Sylphide, Sonata, Suprima, Serenade, Aspiration, Concerta, Triomphe,
and Alpha ¾ Sole. Beginner dancers will be suited to the Sylphide,
Sonata, or Suprima. The Sylphide has broader widths than other Bloch
pointe shoes and helps beginners with untrained feet roll up onto
pointe more easily.
The Suprima will feel comfortable to beginners and advanced students as
it provides good flexibility while maintaining good arch support. Note
that some Bloch pointe shoes have the narrower box shape and snug heel
which is not suited to a “fleshy” foot. Shoes such as the Aspiration
and Alpha pointe shoe are designed with the advanced student in mind.
These shoes offer better arch flexibility but should not be worn if you
do not have strong feet and ankles.
Capezio Pointe Shoes
Capezio Pointe Shoes includes several styles, each intended for
specific needs. The original Glissé features a hard shank, broad
toe-box and a U-shaped vamp to allow dancers to roll up to pointe
comfortably. The Glissé ES offers the same, but with a harder shank.
The Glissé Pro and Pro ES are intended for more experienced dancers and
feature a lower side and back height, with a medium and hard shank
respectively. The shankless Demi Soft is based on the Glissé design,
and intended for pre-pointe students.
The Plié style is best suited for dancers needing a vamp that extends
beyond the toe. Plié I offers a medium shank, and Plié II features a
harder #5 shank. The Tendu style offers a medium shank and boasts a
quick break-in time. Tendu II has a broader box and wider platform.
Both Aerial and Pavlowa shoes feature a Russian-styled tapered box. The
Aerial is best to support high arches, while the Pavlowa offers a
harder shank, longer vamp and heel height. The Contempora is an
American-style wide-platform shoe with a longer vamp and lower heel.
Freed Pointe Shoes
Freed Pointe shoes are available in the Classic, Studio and Studio Pro
styles. The various lines are designed for a specific level of dancer,
as well as their physical requirements. The handcrafted Classic is
particularly designed for the needs of the experienced or professional
dancer. It features a deep, round vamp, but those needing more support
will favor the deep V-cut vamp and stronger insole of the Classic Wing
Block.
The Studio line is intended for the younger dancer and offers extra
support. The Studio II style features a wider platform and lower
profile than the original. The Studio Pro is also designed for the
younger dancer, but it includes a V-shaped vamp and ¾ shank for greater
flexibility.
Grishko Pointe Shoes
The line of Grishko Pointe shoes features Eleve and Releve models. The
Eleve include the Ulanova I and II. These shoes are intended for
dancers instructed to roll up on pointe. You can find out more about
dancing en pointe at www.balletdancestudio.com . Ulanova I has a medium
height vamp and versatile box for dancers with toes of an even or
slightly varied length. Ulanova II has a deep vamp and is best suited
for dancers with longer toes or narrow feet.
The Releve styles, Fouette and Vaganova, are designed to accommodate
the Russian–style of springing on point. The Vaganova has a deep vamp
and tapered box. This style is particularly suited for dancers with a
flexible arch, longer toes or narrow feet. The Fouette has a broad box
and wide platform best suited for dancers with shorter toes or wider
feet.
Gaynor Minden Pointe Shoes
Gaynor Mindon Pointe shoes differ from many brands. While manufacturers
commonly feature a variety of styles, Gaynor Mindon instead designs
shoes over six fitting options; shank, vamp, heel, regular fit, sleek
fit and size. So many variations can feel confusing, but the benefit of
this brand is that dancers essentially custom fit their shoes. The
entire line is designed to minimize the shock of impact and comfortably
fit every type of foot. Shank options run from flexible/little support
to hard/ample support. In order from flexible to hard shanks, options
are Pianissimo, Featherflex , Supple, Extraflex and Hard. Vamp options
include Regular, Deep and Sleek.
A deep vamp is best for dancers with pronounced arches, while the sleek
vamp is best for feet wider along the ball and narrower towards the
heel. High, Regular, Low and Sleek heels are available. Choosing
between them is a mainly a matter of comfort. The Regular and Narrow
fit shoes differ only in width, but less heel and vamp options are
available with Narrow Fit shoes.
Suffolk Pointe Shoes
Suffolk Pointe shoes includes the Solo, which features a slightly
tapered box and longer vamp. It is available with a range of shoe
types, Standard insole, Hard insole or Light insole. All but Light
feature a standard box which provides uniform support appropriate for
most dancers. The Light version is a flexible choice designed to help
dancers go on pointe more easily. Hard insoles are available with
either a full or ¾ shank, so dancers have the choice of greater
flexibility along with ample support. No matter the variation, the Solo
Pointe shoe features a low profile to provide comfort throughout the
metatarsal area without sacrificing support or function.
How do you choose?
There is not one shoe that overall is considered better than every
other shoe. It really is a matter of individually fitting the right
shoe to your foot. Be wary of other dancers recommendations because
your feet will differ from theirs, and their shoes may feel very
uncomfortable on you. You now know the major brands of pointe shoes and
their different characteristics. You should have a good understanding
of which style of shoe and which brand will fit best on your feet. I
recommend finding a good retail dance store with a good shoe fitter.
Get them to take you through the process of fitting different shoes and
working out which shoe will best fit your feet.
Anita Leembruggen is a dance teacher and avid dancer herself. She has
written many guides and articles for young and old dancers alike. Anita
spends a lot of her time helping students overcome obstacles in their
way to dancing success. http://www.balletinfo.com
