Im getting pointes next week...?

Question:i was wondering, all of my friends have said that they will mangle my feet really badly! is there anything that i can do to stop it? and what type of toe coverings should i have, should i have toe dividers?
Thanx

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: i was wondering, all of my friends have said that they will mangle my feet really badly! is there anything that i can do to stop it? and what type of toe coverings should i have, should i have toe dividers?
Thanx

Hi Chloe!

Great question, and one I had myself years ago when I first started pointe. I'm hoping and praying that your instructor is much better than mine was back then, and that indeed you are ready for pointe.

Ideally, the pointe shoe will fit your feet well individually so you do not require pads, separators, etc, however nothing is perfect, and the average person has far from the "perfect" fit.

When you go to get fitted for your first pair of pointes, ask your instructor for brands and styles she would recommend for your feet based on her observations of you and what your feet need now and what she anticipates they'll need farther down the road. Be sure to go to a reputable dance boutique and be professionally fitted by someone there with ample experience working with the various brands.

When I got my first pair of pointes, they fit poorly, and unfortunately for me, due to my age and the fact my feet were still growing and building the strength I should have already had, I ended up paying more for padding and toe separators than I did for the shoes over the course of the 4 months preceding my injury. Years later I found a wonderful instructor who worked with me one-on-one a lot, and has once again allowed me to dance en pointe. My Chacott Veronese-II's fit like a dream, and due to instructor preference, neither I nor my classmates were permitted the use of padding or liners in order to properly "feel" the floor. My studio has now switched to Gaynor Mindens and after trial and error, I've again found a shoe which requires only that I separate my big and second toe with a gel-lined open-top tube on both toes.

Ultimately, it depends on you and the construction of your foot and how it fits in your pointe shoe. You may need a separator or two, and you may need additionally padding or protection around another part of your foot. You need to do whatever you need to do to make sure the shoe accentuates and 'melds' with your foot to become an extension of it. If your shoe does this, and your feet are ready for pointe, they won't become "mangled" or permanently damage their function and appearance.

Dancers may have 'ugly' feet, but their dance is the most beautiful of all.

Congratulations and good luck en pointe!!!

What are pointes?

try ouch pouches, they prevent getting blisters and work really well

You get gel toe covers that are wonderful. You shouldn't go on pointe unless your feet are really strong and your technique well developed. Do you have a good ballet teacher? Then she should be able to determine when you should go on pointe and tell you what shoes to buy.

It's worthwhile investing in a proper shoe, like Gaynor Minden. If you use a proper shoe, technique and toe cover you certainly won't mangle your feet, maybe just get a blister or two in the beginning!

If you have the strength and proper technique to begin with as well as a correctly fitted pair of pointe shoes, they should not cause damage to your feet. In any case pointe work is not easy but its probably the least of your worries in terms of pain and injury, especially if you plan to progress to a higher level. So I say to all young dancers starting pointe work not to expect it to be easy and painless but it should not 'mangle' your feet.
Someone said to get gaynor mindens, I personally wouldn't advise it especially if you're only beginning pointe work as GM's are really not beginners shoes. They require really strong feet to get them to bend onto demi pointe because they're bent into a permanent arch but arent bent the other way. I had GM's and they really bruised my feet (but thats apersonal experience).
As for the coverings, you can get ouch pouches or I find that putting lambs wool in your shoes works well too. You just need to try a few different things to find out what suits you best. By the way what shoes were you thinking of getting??

ur friends r fools lol jokes
Pointe wont mangle your feet!!!
I wear padding which is by papillon -there like rubbery-like a second layer of skin.
ive used them and i havent had any blisters,bleeding or anything!!

pointe is a great thing!!! dont feel put off.

Are your friends dancers? It doens't really sound like it. If you want to improve as a ballet dancer, pointe is a must. You may get blisters and calluses, but if you have properly fitted pointe shoes, your feet will not be "mangled." As for toe pads, I personally like ouch pouches because they don't flatten out and you can wash them. You really just need to try out some and see what works best for you.

for padding, ouch pouches or lamb's wool are both supposed to be good, but it is more of a personal preference.

to protect your toe nails, all my friends use " Second Skin" that you can get at any Rite-Aid store. Its like a thin gel layer you put over your toe nail to prevent bruising it or getting an ingrown