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.
