Ballet Pointe Shoes
All You'll Ever Need To Know!

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Please ask any question or relate your experiences at the bottom of this Pointe Shoes Page‏. Odette designed the special visitor sections just for you to have your say.

Don't leave it to your teacher!

You can watch this pre-pointe video yourself here (just wait for the page to load up then the video is on the top right of the page).

Ballet pointe shoes are the key to a ballerina's career.

It is valuable to have as much knowledge as possible on ballet point shoes.

It is not only a case of being physically ready to begin pointe work, but also being mentally prepared.

No one would have thought people would be dancing on their toes as part of their everyday life.

Ballet pointe shoes allow a ballerina to look taller and more powerful. They were designed to give the appearance of being light and weightless.

You will be fascinated to see how many ballets do not wear the typical pink satin of a ballet pointe shoe. Many popular ballets use black pointe shoes for performance.

Ballet pointe shoes are the things every little ballerina knows is coming their way.

Not much can be more special for a ballerina then getting their first pair of pointe shoes.

You need to be clever with how you manage your shoes as that is the key to cheap pointe shoes. Every dancer's pointe shoes will break down eventually because the material naturally softens under heat, usage and pressure.

Each pair of pointe shoes are carefully handmade. There are so many different makes of pointe shoes it can seem quite overwhelming. Shoe makers are coming up with so many different types of pointe shoes, it's hard to know which pair is right for you.

Bloch pointe shoes are good for dancers in training because they are strong, supportive and have many different styles within the brand.

Ballet toe shoes have many crucial components such as the toe box, the shank and the sole.

Searching for the perfect pointe shoe can take years for a dancer to get right. It's so important to get a pair that fit correctly.

It is a good idea to try out a few different makes until you find the ideal pair.

Shoe makers include Grishko, , , and .

You can share your pointe shoe experiences and read other peoples' tips and preferences in the visitor comments section below.

There are many different types of padding we can use to cushion the feet. Lambs wool can be put into the toe of the shoe. Ouch pouches can also be worn on the toes, which are usually made from a thin layer of gel inside a fabric pouch.

You can tape the toes with plasters if you have particular pressure points. This can prevent blisters.

To begin to wear pointe ballet shoes, dancers need to be ready. Dancing with pointe shoes is much more challenging than wearing ballet flat shoes.

It is ideal not to start before the age of 10 or 12. You can risk serious injury with lifelong trouble.

Be sure to take a quick look at Lisa's pre-pointe video to avoid possible future trouble. Knowledge is everything when it comes to these things.

What Ruins Most Dancers? Most trainee dancers ultimately fail... WHY? Find out from Odette for free...

It mainly depends on where you are with your training and whether you have thought long and hard about pre-pointe training. Also your ballet teacher should know when you are ready to start to prepare, but always be prepared to take full responsibility for your own destiny.

Successful people never sit in the comfort zone - they always push themselves (and others) into doing the right thing at the right time. Do not just 'sit on your hands'.... ACT!

It won't affect dancers if they start wearing pointe shoes a bit later than everyone else. But it will affect dancers if they start too early, if they have no knowledge of how to prepare.

Pointe can seem painful at first, but when you are out there dancing on the stage in front of a real audience, it will all be worth it!

The visitor comments and questions section is just below here - just scroll down a bit further.

Remember, just like I did before I went en pointe, ballet students MUST take responsibility for their own strengthening prior to beginning pointe work.

Australian dancer, Lisa Howell has made a video which explains how pre-point strengthening works.

Don't leave it to your teacher!

You can watch this pre-pointe video yourself here (just wait for the page to load up then the video is on the top right of the page).

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Does criss-crossing the elastic on your pointe shoes support your arch better?

-Carolyn

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Reply ...

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