Pointe Shoes ..?

Question

Im 14 and have been on point for a few months ...

but i've never been able to get over properly because i have flat feet and a bad instep ..

my dance teacher's sending me to london tomorrow to ask some of the experts what point shoes would be the best for me ...

do you know any makes of pointe shoes that would help me get over better and support my feet ?

i'm going round london to visit all the shops tomorrow ..

anything i can do to make my instep better ?

do you know any makes of pointe shoes that would help me get over better and support my feet ?

Answer 1

Bloch are very good especially for people with square feet. Freed is probably the most well - known London fitter however, the staff are not always that helpful (just personal experience talking).

Be CAREFUL with Gaynor Mindons, they are professional shoes, LOOK INCREDIBLE but are very tricky to get used to and require LOADS of strength. My friend has a pair she loves the way they look but finds them tricky for class work and she is v. strong.

As filing-c said You could always try going to Leicester to visit Suffolk Solo maker Mark Suffolk, several girls at my dance school have been he handmakes the shoe for you , everything , shank , vamp etc is made FOR YOU.

www.suffolkpointe.com

hope this helps

Answer 2

Hi

In London the main pointe stockists are Freed (traditional paste shoes - located on St Martins Lane); Bloch (only about 4 of their lines of shoes are stocked at Bloch Concept Store, Drury Lane); Dancia (stock Gaynor Minden, a couple of Bloch models); Sansha and Capulet (Drury Lane - also stock Suffolk solos). Do some website searching about the various shoes before you go. Whilst you might expect 'the experts' to solve your fitting problems in one trip, this is unlikely to be so.  Finding the right shoes is a trial and error process and as you have not been on pointe long, you will find it difficult to tell the difference between shoes.  

If you have trouble getting over your box, avoid a very hard shank shoe (such as Bloch aspiration). As a beginner AVOID a 3/4 shank at all costs: I would NOT follow the advice above - a 3/4 shank is not good for a beginner (avoid Grishko 2007 for this reason). A beginner should also avoid professional shoes for basic pointe class. Professional shoes are for performances by dancers in companies.

You will not have time now to get advice before you go, but joining the web ballet community 'ballet talk for dancers' and then fill in a pointe shoe fitting advice form and Miss de Vor will advise you on a range of different brands and styles of pointe suitable to your foot configuration. She is the most experienced fitter and will give you continuing support for a shortlist of shoes to try.

Good luck

AND do not buy anything unless it really, really will work.  Take your own pointe shoe padding and any current pointe shoe with you to show the fitter/s.

lastly, do not sew on any ribbons/elastic until your teacher has seen you try the shoes on at your school. If s/he does not approve them, send them back by post for a refund.

If you can travel to Leicester, it is worth getting a fitting with Mark Suffolk who makes Suffolk solos and solo lights. (Google Suffolk solos for info).  he was a maker at Freeds and now designs and makes his own range of shoes, He alos does special orders - worth the trouble to go for a fitting.

Good luck.

Answer 3

capezio arials are good pointe shoes. they are narrow but surprisingly they help you get over your toes great.

Answer 4

Well.. for the flat feet there are lots of stretches out there to improve you arch flexibility.. since it is muscle, and also stretches for the top of your foot by your ankle, which will help you get over your box more, even if your arch isn't perfect. :]

I recommend doing those ALOT... when ever you can... multiple times a day. They will help you get stronger too!

I hear you.. its really really hard to find the perfect fit pointe shoe.

Sounds like for your feet... I might recommend a shoe with a 3/4 shank.. When I started my arch wasn't perfect either... but a 3/4 shank really helps maximize the arch and helps you get over.. Bloch has some of those.. maybe try on a Bloch alpha?

Depending on how strong you are.. I might also try a Gaynor Minden.. Those shoes are more expensive.. But I guarantee it will fit your foot perfectly. You pick specifications on length, box, shank strength and flexibility, vamp, stiffness, and heel.

Most teachers and dancers dont reccomend those shoes unless you have very strong ankles, since when doing relives they don't really allow a three quarter pointe.. which doesn't allow you to strengthen much.

but for you, I would say those shoes might be good to try..

Whatever you choose, look for something with softer or 3/4 shank, and be sure to STRETTCHHH and excercise the top of your foot!!! and your arch! :]

I promise it will pay off. Always when choosing a shoe, always choose the one that feels the best! even shoes that look good may not be good for your feet.

And don't worry, there are HUNDREDS of kinds of pointe shoes out there.. just research the different brands and be sure to try on lots of different ones before choosing.

Lots of dancers have this problem.. and it takes time but there are shoes out there for you!

Good luck with everything!

:]

Answer 5

Freed are a good make for beginners/few months in ..

Answer 6

If you have a professional fit you they will know what shoe is best for you.

My daughter just got fitted at the Russian Pointe shoe store. Had the best fitting ever. They really knew all of their shoes and which was best for my daughter's feet. We were there for over an hour.

The first fitting is the hardest because you don't know how they should feel. Get fitted for your second pair to fine tune what needs to be fixed. You may find yourself in one style one brand for awhile then need to switch.