Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 9/26/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi There
Im 19 years old and starting pointe this month
I went with my teacher to buy some pointe shoes. We didnt get any because they didnt really fit and we ordered some different sizes
I have quite a wide foot at top and more narrow heel so everything felt like it was "smooshing" my toes together.
I dont know how its supposed to feel in my toes so maybe the shoes did fit me but i just didnt know it was supposed to feel like that.
The shoes we ordered were Bloch Serenade and truimph 4.5 C and D if that clears anything up
What exactly am i supposed to feel when im standing in the pointe shoe and when im rising on pointe?
And is there anything else i should know to buy well fitted pointe shoes?

Thanks!

ANSWER: Hi N. New pointe shoes are not comfortable even when they are exactly the right fit. I could go into a lot of detail here, but I won't take up your time with that because if you go to http://www.theballetstore.com, there are several articles in the articles section and blog section, and a couple of videos on fitting and breaking in pointe shoes.

It's something that you get better at with experience, so don't be discouraged with the first couple of pairs. You bought 2 different widths, and if one is too wide you can use extra padding. If one is intolerably tight, you can take the sole out and use them for soft shoes, as they will loosen up a lot with the sole out and the box crushed. Hopefully both pairs will go through a lot of classes for you.

Please feel free to ask any more questions that you have after reading the data I referred you to.

All the best, Dianne

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks a lot for your reply. Just another question. I got pointe shoes. I tried on a pair that were a bit snug and one that was more comfortable and my teacher said the smaller ones were better so i got them. But now as im trying them i cant get onto demi pointe because they pop off in the heel. I havent sewed on the ribbons yet. is it normal to NOT be able to get on demi pointe without the ribbons and without breaking in the shoe?

Answer
Hi there. Yes, that would be normal. The shoe is stiff enough that it would pop off without ribbons and possibly even elastic, because of it not being broken in.

There is a video on http://www.theballetstore.com on breaking in pointe shoes. This is the part you do to make the shoe flexible enough to work in. The area of the shoe where you go through demi pointe will break in from your class work. You may have to break that area in a little with your hands, but as your feet get stronger, they will break the shoe in faster.

If the vamp is the right length, your metatarsal joints should not be impeded by the box, but only the fabric. If the vamp is a little long, you can soften the edges with your hands, if there is pain from it. Otherwise, your class work will soften it.

Hope that helps, Dianne

A brief follow up - I've recommended to almost everyone to read my articles and blog entries at http://www.theballetstore.com. You have to create a user name to log in to see all the blog entries - your privacy is safe! I really apologize that I didn't tell you this - I'm not a technical person!