Position:Home>Dancing> Finding the right pointe shoe?

Hi, great question!.?

First of all, you should start by getting your shoes professionally fitted!. You can probably speak to your teacher about that, because unfortunately, I only know the ones that are in the Pennsylvania area!. But anyway, professionally fitted means that the shop in which you are getting the shoes fitted doesn't sell anything other than shoes!. For instance, Dance Ten is not a professional fit because they are a dancewear and apparel shop!. Therefore, the employees may not necessarily be experts in fitting pointe shoes!. However, in a professional fitting shop, all the employees are highly trained, experienced, and are obviously all experts in fitting pionte shoes!. This will give you maximum security and support whilst up en pointe!. Besides, it costs no more to get your pointe shoes professionally fitted!.

I, too, have a high, strong arch!. I recommend a Russian brand for this foot type to my students because the make of a Russian shoe is generally geared toward a Veganova-styled dancer!. Veganova dancers have what I call "banana" feet, meaning they have your foot type -- high, strong arches!. Generally I like the Griskho brand because other Russian brands tend to break in unusually and are very expensive!. Grishkos are made for dancers with high, strong arches but aren't intensive dancers (by that I mean triple-hard shank, 7 days a week, 6 hours at the dance studio, 10 shows a year kind of dancers; although the Grishkos run a little hard so I would recommend, if you aren't softs already, get a shank softer than normal)!.

However, merely choosing the right shoe is not enough for an foot type like yours!. I highly recommend sewing the elastics around the hindseam of the shoe!. In other words, when you look at a pointe shoe, there is a thick seam running down the heel of the shoe!. About a half an inch on each side of this seam away, you should sew the inside side of the elastic!. This will support the upper part of your arch and keep the shoe from falling off your ankle!. Believe me, I had tons of trouble with this before I learned to sew this way!. The shoe fell off me every time!

I'm going to warn you of something!. No matter what teacher or what bozo tells you to sew your shoes like this, don't do it!.
http://www!.the-perfect-pointe!.com/images!.!.!.
This pictures a loop made by excess elastic sewn onto the inside of the hindseam!. The dancer has her ribbons looped through the loop of elastic!. Recent studies by leading podiatrists (foot doctors) show this as one of the leading causes of Achilles tendinitis among dancers!. Tendinitis will put you out of dance for at least 3 months and it is VERY painful!.

Another way to secure your arch is to sew your ribbons right!. Ribbons aren't just for asthetics -- they support the ankle and guide the upper foot to align with itself and the ankle!. What you have to do is fold the heel of the foot, where the hindseam is, forward until only about a half an inch of shoe is left between the fold and the brown part on the underside!. Where the edges meet the inside of the shoe is where you should sew!.

Another more OSFA (One Size Fits All) way of finding where to sew is sewing the inside part of the ribbon on the edge of the seam on the sides of the inside of the shoe (the edge that faces the vamp)!.

Make sure whenever you sew your elastics and ribbons to sew with little X's to reinforce!. X's are about three times more effective than regular stitching!. It keeps the elastic and ribbons on securely!. Believe me, even the ribbons and elastic from my first pointe shoes are still on because I sewed with X's!. Any sewer will tell you that!.

Please, sew your shoes yourself!. Only you can really know what's best for the shoe, and besides, if you go to a store and get it done, then you won't be able to fix it when you're at a show or something and your elastic pops off!. It's very important that you sew them yourself!.

Kudos to you for starting pointe! I remember I was very excited my first few days!. Good luck to you!

I also have great amounts of respect for those who seek out outside advice and professional assistance for help in their craft!. Good for you!.

Hope I helped!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Are you trying on the shoes without elastics and ribbons!? That's usually how the store has you try them on, and they will slip off your heel without them!. If they are slipping off in class with the ribbons and elastic sewn on, it's just a matter of incorrect sizing!. You can try heel grippers (i think i saw some in the pointe shoe accessories on discountdance!.com) if this keeps happening with smaller shoes!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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I had the problem too, i fixed it by sewing my ribbons back by my heal, on the shoe, and putting the strap right at the bending part of ur ankle (there should be a seem by it on the pointe shoe), that should work!

If it dosnt, try putting rossin on ur heal before class then put ur pointe shoe on!.
also, as a last resort, buy a heal gripper, but ONLY if you HAVE TO!!!

good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

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My daughter has an elastic loop in the heel of her shoe that she threads her ribbons through!. Some dancers put elastic in the front of shoe in an X!. You got to find what works for you!.

She also has a very strong arch!. A year ago she went into Russian Point shoes and has had better luck with not breaking her arches with these!.


As most above have said!. You must be fitted by a professional!. Bring you old shoes with you!. Once fitted you can just order new shoes as needed!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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