New Pointe Shoe question!!!!!!!?

Question

Well I just got my first pair of pointe shoes yesterday! They are the Bloch Seranades in size 3. I know I just got them, but I'm having a very hard time breaking them in! Has anyone ever had these shoes? Are they hard to break in? Any tips? THANKS!!

Also in need of tips on how to sew on the ribbon and elastic.

Answer 1

just wear ur shoes around the house and then they will form to fit ur feet. and just ask ur teacher about how to sew on the stuff my mom did it for me so I don't really know but sew the elastic on the outside and at a angle

it works. and sew the ribbon on the outside at a angle if u sew it on the outside it is more comf. I have never had that brand before i use capzio

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Everytime you wear your shoes they break down a little, especially if your feet are hot or sweaty. Every time you work in your shoes helps to break them in. In new shoes you need to pointe your foot extra hard during class. Usually some breaking in is done at home so your first class in them isn't as painful. I usually wear them on my feet for about half an hour around the house. I put socks over my shoes to warm them up faster and also protect the satin from getting dirty. Your shoes may warm up faster. You want to have warm, slightly sweaty feet. Then I do a few releves in first position taking extra time to slowly roll through them, pausing at demi-pointe and going over the arch after reaching full pointe. The key here is the slowly part. When I take them off, I bend the shank with my hands as much as I can. Because I already worked in them a bit, I can pretty much can see and feel where I want it to arch. Some people use alcohol on the wings or vamp of the pointe shoes to soften them up if they are uncomfortable, but I like to keep them hard for as long as I can.

also try boiling sum hot water, then pour the hot water into ur shoes. put the shoes on and leave them on until they dry. dont worry if the pink color on the shoes looks weird. u can paint it with calamine lotion when ur shoes dry.

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Answer 3

Never had that particular shoe, but you can break them in by hand. Look up the spot that the shank should be broken (not the halfway point but closer to 1/3 of the shank, the 1/3 point closest to the box). Take some relatively large pliers to help you bend it in that spot. You don't want to break it all the way (or to bend the whole way through) otherwise 1) they'll die faster and 2) you won't use your feet muscles as well and you're supposed to develop them. But bending them a bit will help you in the slightest bit that you need.

Since you're just starting pointe, having a hard time breaking in the shoe should be expected. You haven't developed those feet muscles for pointe fully (even with pre-pointe classes).

To sew the ribbon and elastic, there are a bunch of different ways to do it. Not a particular preferred way. I'll tell you the way I've found works best for me.

The elastic: First, make sure to sew at the same spot on both sides. That's important. Put on the shoe. The elastic (only use one) should go along with your foot, so no creases (if you do it right the elastic should be sewn at a slight angle). What works best for me is to measure the elastic with the shoe on. The elastic should start hugging your foot right below your ankle. Pull the elastic until its firm but not too tight (that'll be too much pressure on your ankle and will hinder your performance quality). Depending on the length of your elastic, there might be leftover elastic that will be on the inside of your shoe, but DON'T cut it off. If you measure it wrong on your foot and realize it after you sew it, you can cut the thread on one side and remeasure.

Your shoe already has sewn thread along the edges. Just sew in the same line. It shouldn't look like there is extra thread sewn on there. Make sure to sew one side, measure it against your foot, and then sew the other side. If you don't measure in between sewing, you might have to undo half of your hard work.

The ribbon: Again, sew in the same spot on both sides.

**Make sure the ribbon is sewn so that the shiny side faces inward... as in, you won't see it when you tie it up. It might not make sense but that's the way its supposed to be.

**There should be a half way make on your shoe like there is on mine (thread sewn vertically in at the halfway mark). Sew the ribbon close to that halfway mark but not on it (closer to your ankle). Tilt it on an angle like you did with the elastic (less than you did with the elastic -- less than half a degree) but towards the opposite direction that you did with the elastic.

**You need more thread sewn in with the ribbon because it is more likely to rip off since its not as durable as the elastic. The elastic should be sewn twice over. The ribbon should be sewn twice as much (four times over -- four times over the same area).

**When you're finished, have your dad burn off the fringe on the ends of the ribbon (otherwise, it might fall apart). Don't do it yourself!

Good luck!

Answer 4

Well I think you should ask your ballet teacher to help you break them in, you generally should bend them a little but I think you should have your teacher do that so she knows the right spot to bend them.

Again, with the tips on how to sew the ribbons & elastics, ask your teacher... it's sorta hard to explain...

Answer 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX-PNqJr9...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feCNkoAUb...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_BqoNLLl...

they might help but i would ask ur teacher for help