For ballet dancers seeking to appear to float and hover just above the ground?€”spinning in improbable circles?€”quality fit Pointe Shoes are vital.
To ensure a quality fit start by measuring the length and width of the feet, using either a traditional Ritz Stick, or by improvising with a well-traced drawing of the feet on paper.
There are six other elements to consider when choosing a perfect pair of pointe shoes to ensure a good shoe fit. These are the box, the shape, the vamp, the length,the profile height, the shank size, the shoe strength and the fit.
The Box is the hard area situated at the front of the ballet shoe that protects your toes and enables dancers to stand on pointe. It should fit comfortably, neither tight or lose, to avoid rubbing that can lead to blisters.
The Vamp is the area on the outside front of the shoe meant to cover all toes completely. For short toes a short vamp will do. If you have long toes then it calls for a longer vamp.
The Profile of the pointe shoe is the view from the side of the shoe and must cover the arch entirely. High arches call for high profiles. Low arches call for lower profiles. The Shank is the inside bottom lining of the shoe that also protects the arch. They come in three-quarter and full lengths. Fit will determine proper length.
The Strength of the shoe is dependant on both the arch and the dancer’s overall foot. Pointe shoe strengths come in light, medium and heavy. The Fit should be snug but not tight. Put pad or lamb-wool wrapped toes in the shoe’s box and carefully fit the slipper’s sides.
Now pull the back snugly up over the heel. Point the shoe into the floor and arch, making sure no excess space exists. Finally, stand fully on point. If these particular Pointe Shoes aren’t perfect, one of the many other styles available will be.
There are several brands and manufacturers of pointe shoes and each has a different fit and style features. It is important to find the make and style of pointe shoe which suits your particular foot anatomy. Everyone is different. What suits one dancers won’t always suit another. It is a process of trial and, hopefully not to much error,which will eventually result in you finding just the right pointe shoes for you.
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