Ballet Shoes

Right Pointe Shoes for Ballet Dancing

How to Choose the Right Pointe Shoe for Ballet Dancing


Bloch Pointe Shoes
The Bloch pointe shoe will come in variations including Sylphide, Sonata, Suprima, Serenade, Aspiration, Concerta, Triomphe, and Alpha ¾ Sole. Beginner dancers is going to be suited to the Sylphide, Sonata, or Suprima. The Sylphide has broader widths than other Bloch pointe shoes helping beginners with untrained feet roll up onto pointe easier.

The Suprima will feel comfortable to beginners and advanced students because it provides good flexibility while maintaining good arch support. Note that some Bloch pointe shoes possess the narrower box shape and snug heel which is not suitable for a “fleshy” foot. Shoes like the Aspiration and Alpha pointe shoe are made using the advanced student in mind. These footwear offer better arch flexibility but shouldn’t be worn if you don’t have strong feet and ankles.


Capezio Pointe Shoes
Capezio Pointe Shoes includes several styles, each meant for specific needs. The initial Glissé includes a hard shank, broad toe-box along with a U-shaped vamp to allow dancers to roll-up to pointe comfortably. The Glissé ES provides the same, however with a harder shank. The Glissé Pro and Pro ES are meant for more knowledgeable dancers and feature a lower side and back height, having a medium and difficult shank respectively. The shankless Demi Soft is based on the Glissé design, and intended for pre-pointe students.

The Plié style is most effective for dancers needing a vamp that extends beyond the toe. Plié I offers a medium shank, and Plié II includes a harder #5 shank. The Tendu style offers a medium shank and has a quick break-in time. Tendu II includes a broader box and wider platform. Both Aerial and Pavlowa shoes have a Russian-styled tapered box. The Aerial is best to aid high arches, as the Pavlowa provides a harder shank, longer vamp and heel height. The Contempora is definitely an American-style wide-platform shoe having a longer vamp and lower heel.


Freed Pointe Shoes
Freed Pointe shoes are available in the Classic, Studio and Studio Pro styles. The different lines are created for a specific level of dancer, as well as their physical requirements. The handcrafted Classic is especially designed for the requirements of the knowledgeable 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 younger dancer while offering extra support. The Studio II style features a wider platform and lower profile than the original. The Studio Pro is also created for younger dancer, however it includes a V-shaped vamp and ¾ shank for greater flexibility.


Grishko Pointe Shoes
The road of Grishko Pointe shoes features Eleve and Releve models. The Eleve range from the Ulanova I and II. These shoes are meant 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 made to accommodate the Russian-style of springing on point. The Vaganova has a deep vamp and tapered box. This style is especially suited for dancers with a flexible arch, longer toes or narrow feet. The Fouette includes 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 have a variety of styles, Gaynor Mindon instead designs shoes over six fitting options; shank, vamp, heel, regular fit, sleek fit and size. A lot of variations can feel confusing, however the benefit of this brand is the fact that dancers essentially custom fit their shoes. The whole lines are made to minimize the shock of impact and comfortably fit all types of foot. Shank options run from flexible/little support to hard/ample support. So as from flexible to hard shanks, options are Pianissimo, Featherflex , Supple, Extraflex and difficult. Vamp options include Regular, Deep and Sleek.

An in-depth 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 standard 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 rather tapered box and longer vamp. It’s provided with a range of shoe types, Standard insole, Hard insole or Light insole. All but Light have a standard box which provides uniform support right for most dancers. The sunshine version is a flexible choice made to help dancers continue pointe more easily. Hard insoles are available with either a full or ¾ shank, so dancers possess the selection of greater flexibility along with ample support. No matter the variation, the Solo Pointe shoe includes a low profile to provide comfort through the metatarsal area without sacrificing support or function.


How do you choose the Right Pointe Sshoes?
There isn’t one shoe that overall is recognized as much better than almost every other shoe. It really is dependent on individually fitting the right shoe to your foot. Be skeptical of other dancers recommendations since your feet will differ from theirs, and their shoes may feel really miserable you. At this point you be aware of major brands of pointe shoes as well as their different characteristics. You should have a great knowledge of which type of shoe and which brand will fit best in your feet. I recommend finding a good retail dance store with a decent shoe fitter. Encourage them to take you through the entire process of fitting different shoes and dealing out which shoe will best fit your feet.

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