Make sure you’re dancing on safe pointe shoes
How old are your pointe shoes? How many hours of dance have your gotten from them so far? Remember, pointe shoes are not designed to last forever and once they get too worn, they are no longer supportive and can become unsafe.
As both a qualified ballet teacher, and a trained pointe shoe fitter, I feel very passionately about safe dance and I know the role pointe shoes can have in this. Usually your ballet teacher will be able to tell you when it is time to get new pointe shoes, but in the current times, students and teachers are not dancing face to face so it is important for dancers and parents to know what to look for to know when they need new shoes.
A standard pair of paste pointe shoes will last anywhere from 10 to 20 hours. While this doesn’t sound like very long it is important to remember that most students will do somewhere between 20 minutes to 2 hours of pointe at a time. If you’ve just started your pointe journey, it is very unlikely that you will be getting through 20 hours of pointe work very quickly!
In the ballet world we often say a pair of shoes is ‘dead’ once it is no longer supporting the dancer. Certain parts of a pointe shoe can ‘die’ before others. Once one part is no longer supportive, the shoe is ready for a replacement.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
IS YOUR SHANK SOFT?
The shank is the hard sole of the pointe shoe. It is quite stiff when you first get your shoes and you have to work in your demi-pointe and your arch. If your shank has become too soft you may notice it by difficulty to rise or relevé onto your block. You may feel very pulled back in the shoe like the sole is trying to pull away from your foot – or you may stand too far over the box. Both of these in pointe shoes can indicate the shank is no longer supportive, which can lead to rolled ankles or pulled ligaments. It can also encourage you to compensate when you are dancing and doing things like bending knees to get onto your block, or leaning on the barre.
IS THE BOX MUSHY OR FLAT?
The box is the front section of your shoe, that your toes sit inside – just like the shank, its quite hard when you first get your pointe shoes – your box will soften quickly as it moulds to your feet, but once it starts feeling mushy it will no longer be supportive. If you feel like you sink down into it when you go en pointe its time for a new pair. The box is supposed to help you feel lifted. Another thing to look out for in the box of your pointe shoes is if it has flattened out excessively, leaving room once you put it on.
CAN YOU FEEL THE FLOOR WITH YOUR TOES?
If your box has soften at the front and you can feel the floor with the tips of your toes when you are standing en pointe, it’s time to replace them. Your toes are not designed to take your weight without the help of your pointe shoes.
HAVE YOUR FEET GROWN?
Pointe shoes need to be well fitted and unfortunately cannot be fitted with ‘growing room’ although you will get a little stretch out of the satin. If your toes are feeling scrunched up and buckled when you are standing flat, it is probably time to be fitted for new shoes. You may find that just changing the brand or model of the shoe may change the fit for you. If you can feel the heel digging into you and have already loosened out the drawstring, this could be another sign that you have grown out of your pointe shoes.
At Dancestuff, we have some customers who purchase 1 or 2 pairs of pointe shoes every term, and some that only purchase 1 pair of pointe shoes every 2 or 3 terms. It’s hard for us to tell you ‘how long these shoes will last’ because everyone grows at different rates and does different amounts of pointe work in their studios. The tips outlined here should help you to see if you need new shoes though, and we’re ready to provide you with a fitting when you need it.
If you’ve finished growing and are happy with the fit and comfort of your pointe shoes, you can simply call us for a reorder. If you’re still growing, or if you’re wanting to try something new, we’d love to have you in for a fitting.
To make an appointment call us on
9063 0723 for Asquith or
4322 8179 for Gosford
Or click here to request a booking online
Stay safe and keep dancing!
Alisa
