If pointe shoes... [will pick best answer]?

Question

If pointe shoes are so expensive, along with regular class, and other fees, then how are dancers supposed to buy new ones every couple of months? I am not on pointe yet, and know not to rush and everything, but when i get to pointe i don't know if i will be able to afford it.

Here are a few questions i have:

I would use jet glue on the inside of my pointe shoes to help preserve them, as well as pointe shoe covers ALWAYS except during a performance. How much would these two things prolong the life of my shoes?

I will go to a professional place to get fitted, but in your opinion, which brand would suit a girl with a big toe and shorter other ones (yet all toes are still long), a high arch, and narrow feet?

Any tricks of keeping your pointes to last, as well as ways to pick up some extra cash (im 14) are GREATLY welcomed. Best answer goes to the person who answers all of my questions!! =)

Answer 1

Hi Twinkle,

Pointe shoes are expensive, and a huge investment if you're dancing professionally and very rigorously.  I'm in a professional company and I go through about a pair every one or two weeks.  However, with most semi-professional schools, you won't be dancing every day for several hours like I do.  "Every couple of months" is probably not accurate in a small school.  If you're dancing twice a week, you'll probably go through a pair every four to five months.

I hate to say so, but most schools won't let you dance with covers on your shoes.  It's inevitable that if you wear your pointe shoes, they're going to get dirty and ripped and wear out (unless you're wearing Gaynor Mindens -- we'll get to that later).  What I do is have a pair for class and a pair for performances (but I also have a billion more, but that's the basic idea ;]).  You wear the one for class, and right before a performance, you buy another pair.  This is an effective way to have clean shoes for the performance, but there are two problems.  One, it's expensive, so you'll have to sort that out yourself, if you're willing to make that kind of investment.  Two, they wouldn't be broken in, so you'd have to either cut out the shank (totally not recommended for beginner or unprofessional dancers), or break them in quickly and on a clean surface.

About the pointe shoe fitting.  You have a Russian-English mixed foot.  That sounds weird, but your foot can be classified as Russian, English, American, or other.  Your foot would do best with a Russian shoe with English influence.  That would include Gaynor Minden, Grishko, and Sansha.  The unique thing about Gaynor Mindens is that they don't break in.  You buy them already broken in, and they don't break in further.  These are the levels of broken in:

Hard. Very stiff, comparable to most traditional paste shoes when they are brand new.

Extraflex. Firm and medium-stiff, comparable to most traditional shoes when they are slightly worn.

Supple. Flexible and medium-pliable, comparable to most traditional shoes when they are broken in.

Featherflex. Very flexible, comparable to most traditional shoes when they are wearing out.

Pianissimo. Extremely pliable, comparable to most traditional shoes when they are almost "dead."

Check out www.dancer.com for more info on Gaynor Mindens.

You've hit it right on the head with your Jet-Glu.  That's what my company uses.  Also, never dance in your shoes and then put them right in your bag.  The sweat and (possibly) blood from your feet, if not left to dry out, will warp the shank and the box, and make your shoe impossible to dance in.  Also, you can get athlete's foot (which is HORRIBLE, let me tell you), and you might develop fungus or disease.  So just leave your shoes out at least an hour after you dance in them.

At 14, you can usually get a job at small convenience stores, the Acme, an ice cream parlor, etc.  Also, you can do odd jobs like babysitting, dog-walking, house-sitting, etc.  Believe me, you can earn some serious money with odd jobs.  Also, you can consider teaching younger students at your dance studio or at a local studio.  You can really gain from the experience.  You can help out your teacher as well with the other younger classes.

Good luck and hope this helped.  Remember, you can always feel free to contact me with further questions.♥

Answer 2

If you are only on pointe a couple of hours a week you won't need pointe shoes that often. Pointe shoes are not made to last long. Keeping them covered only keeps them from getting a little dirty from the floor. The best thing you can do for your shoes is to let them air dry after use. Many dancers put them into net bags and carry them outside of their dance  bags.

A good pointe shoe store will fit you correctly. Once you are fitted  and know your size and shoe you can order it cheaper on www.discountdance.com.  They ran from $40 to $70 there.  Do not order your pointe shoes on line unless you know your brand, style and size first.

Answer 3

The glue would probably bother your feet while you are dancing but the shoe covers could really help, by the way your feet will grow and you will eventually have to get new pointe shoes, and dont walk the streets with pointe shoes on, remember to always bring shoes to class! good luck =]

ps. maybe get a summer job for more money to afford your dream

Answer 4

You won't have to worry about that if you just suscribe to Discount Dance Supply Magazine they are cheaper in that magazine and I am not in pointe yet but I think I read somewhere is to buy flexibile pointe shoes or flex your pointe to shoes out so they can last longer.