Expert: Dianne M. Buxton - 12/4/2007

Question
QUESTION: What is your opinion on Gaynor Minden pointe shoes?

ANSWER: Hi Rachael. I have never worn Gaynor Minden's. I just did a google search and here are 2 different answers I found:

"#1
I wear Gaynor Mindens and i love them sooooo much! They are good cause they already have the arch and it wont be painful".

   
#2
"NOOOOO!!! please dont get gaynors.
they are terrible terrible shoes. You can't roll through them because they have a plastic shank, so they also don't mold to your feet and come with a pre-built in arch. They help you up on to pointe so you don't build any strength or you lose what you already have, and you can't feel the floor at all. And i think they look really ugly on just about everybody.

I know this because i had them for 3 years so i definitely know what i'm talking about. When i first switched from gaynors to other shoes i had no strength in my feet or ankles. So please please try something else anything else.
I've had russian pointes which didn't work for me but they were nice shoes. Freeds are really nice shoes but they die very quickly. and now i have Capezios which i like a lot because they mold to my feet but they last a pretty long time. But theres also Blochs Grishkos and others, so go somewhere and get fitted if your looking for new shoes. but please dont get gaynors."

The two answers may be by 2 dancers who have completely different kinds of feet - we can't tell! I have found both Freeds and capezios harder to break in,  and they last  longer. I would have to say, at this point, try on as many kinds as you can.

www.the-perfect-pointe.com is a site about pointe shoes. There is a chart describing many of the brands, which you may want to review.

There is now a wonderful book out, The Perfect Pointe Book. It is written by a dance medicine specialist. I think the author, Lisa Howell offers an incredible text of instruction, photos, anatomy lessons and more, for strengthening pointe work. I'm only mentioning this because when you are extremely strong, the type of shoes you use matters less, although you will always have preferences.

She charges $47.77 for the book and you can just download it. The link is http://www.linkbrander.com/go/54727, if you'd like to see her presentation of it. Personally, I think any dancer could use it for years of practise and improving, repeatedly at different levels.

So, I didn't answer your question I'm afraid, since I don't have any experience with Gaynor Minden's! Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

All the best, Dianne

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

QUESTION: Even though you haven't ever worn Gaynors do you have a biased opinion? If so, what is it?

Answer
Hi Rachael. This is starting to sound like an interview for a school project....which is fine, I don't mind.

No, I have no bias for or against Gaynor Minden's. I simply have never worn them myself. My favorite pointe shoe brand is something else. The shoes I chose were best for my type of arch and ankles. Since I loved them, I didn't look further. Most dancers would say something similar. They find a shoe they can work well in, and they stick with it.

I hope this helps you out.