Soon to be en pointe! Help?

Question

My ballet teacher has just told me that I will be able to dance en pointe in the next six months. I have danced for 9 years and am 13 years old. I have a very narrow foot, and am not sure what pointe shoe to get. Any suggestions about pointe shoe brands, or advice for when I have my pointe test and pointe in general would be great! Thanks!

~Emm

Answer 1

Go to a place where they are know for their pointe shoe fittings ottawa-brio, toronto-the shoe room, etc.. and if your still not sure after going for your fitting ask your teacher. When you put your pointe shoes on and try them on they will be a little painful but you dont want too much pain because that is bad but overall i'd just ask your fitter for help and tell them everything your experiencing just to be sure you end up with the right pointe shoes.. best of luck : ]

Answer 2

When it's time ask your teacher what to look for.  You'd be amazed how much information about pointe shoes your teacher has, and they'll have the right information.  It's important that pointe shoes fit correctly, and there are many brands and styles available.  If there is a good dance store near you they are likely to have a staff member who is good at fitting pointe shoes. So ask your teacher, bring that advice to the store, and let the staff member guide you and you'll find the perfect shoes.

And enjoy your pointe work!

Answer 3

i'm 13 and been dancing for nine years too... and pointe is really fun. some of the best pointe shoes to get would be Bloch, and Capezio. there is also a website called discountdance.com where you can find the right size for you, and get all the things you need for dance such as leo's, tights, shoes, etc.

my advice for your pointe test would be to break in you shoes first thing after you get them. which basically means bending them back and forth until they get kind of a permanent arch in them. also, work on strengthening your core by doing sit-ups and yoga for flexibility.  pointe shoes tend to hurt a lot when you first start out, but once you get used to them, the pain starts to settle in and you really don't care about it that much. i just started pointe last year and i'm still getting used to the pain and technique, so just don't worry about it too much. i'm sure you'll do fine on your test. just keep practicing and breaking in your shoes.

-Have fun and i hope this helps you.

Answer 4

That is so exciting, being en pointe will hurt at first, but if you make sure your shoes are broken in properly and you have some padding, you will get used to it. This is a great video, that will give you some help to break in your shoes.  

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

The only thing i can say about getting your pointe shoes, is get them fitted properly, it is really important.  As they are hand made, even the same make and size can vary slightly.  As for the pointe test, just practice, i know it is not what you really wanted to hear but it is the only way.

Answer 5

You should search for some pointe shoe sellers in your area that can fit you. Everyone has different needs in shank, box, width, etc. Gaynor Mindens have special rubber on the bottom that when blow dried, molds to your arch. But the best thing to do is go get fitted somewhere and try on different ones, to see which fits the best for your foot.