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Pointe Shoe Care |
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The First Pair The day of being fitted with your first pair of Pointe Shoes is an event eagerly awaited by all dancers. Unfortunately, the initial excitement can often change to dismay. The first pair are likely to feel unusual as well as uncomfortable. With no previous experience of Pointe shoes the dancer will be unsure of the correct fit. It is therefore essential that the fitting is supervised by an experienced fitter and the Dancer remains patient allowing the fitter time to identify the best shoe for the foot. The Importance of a Good Fit The bones of the feet do not complete their final hardening and joining until a dancer is in her early twenties. It is important not to impair their future growth pattern for obvious reasons. Since working 'en Pointe' puts the foot under considerable stress, fitting shoes 'to grow into' should always be avoided. The shoe must fit snugly to avoid calluses, bruises and bunions yet give maximum support to prevent permanent bone damage. Shoes that are too large or too wide make it impossible to achieve proper support and balance and will result in considerable pain. Preparation Make sure toe nails are cut and you are wearing dance tights. Be aware of the size of your current Pointe shoes or ballet shoes if it is your first pair. This will give the fitter a guide as to the size to start with. It is always helpful to pass on any views your teacher has since the teacher will have seen you dance whereas the fitter will not. The Fitting Pointe shoe fitting is not an exact science since the majority of Pointe shoes are handmade with no two pairs being identical. It involves a great deal of trial and error with the dancer needing to be patient and relying on the expertise of the fitter to find the correct shoe. During the fitting various shoes will be tried. The shoe must fit like a glove providing the necessary support to stop the foot from buckling. Please listen carefully to the fitter and answer any questions as fully as possible. Preparing Shoes for Wear The majority of Pointe shoes are still made by what is known as the 'Turnshoe' method, i.e. inside out. The block is constructed from natural fibres and paste which will break down and mould to the foot giving a shock absorbing effect.There is no obvious left or right shoe since this would distort the dancers balance. However, the dancer should mark each shoe so they can distinguish between them. Alternating the shoes can often increase the lifespan but if the feet are considerably different this may not be possible. A certain amount of experimentation will be needed. To provide better traction and protect the satin on the toe from fraying it is recommended that the shoes are darned. Mercerised cotton should be used with the darning covering the entire toe of the slipper, underneath the shoe and the tip of the end. The darner should start as close to the leather sole as possible and stitch a series of bars back and forth across the extremes of the platform. Starting at the sole again, blanket stitch over each bar of thread. The rows are then connected by pushing the needle through the loops of the row below, continuing until all bars are covered. If required, the darned areas can then be covered with colourless Shellac for further strength. To attach ribbons, fold the back seam of the shoe against the sole and towards the front. The ribbons are then placed inside the shoe in the angles made by folding the heel forward. The raw edges should face the lining of the shoe. A light pencil mark can be drawn as a sewing guide. The ribbons are sewn forward as this allows them to lay flat on the instep. Breaking In Shoes Many experienced dancers will often feel the need to 'break-in' a new pair of Pointe shoes. They are looking to maintain sufficient rigidity in the shoe to ensure support yet have the flexibility to allow fluent movement.Whilst the shoes can be softened by gently moulding them in the hands the most sensible method is to walk around in them and rise from quarter, to demi, to three-quarter Pointe, allowing the shoes to mould to the feet. This should be repeated over time. However, if you are new 'en Pointe' then please only wear your shoes when you are being supervised by your teacher.Finally, we would not advise the extreme tactics used by some dancers to soften shoes. This will only reduce the lifespan of the shoe and can easily break the backs. Caring for Shoes After wear, shoes should be put somewhere warm and dry to 'air'. The block should be packed tightly with 'tissue paper wrapped in plastic'. This will ensure it does not lose its shape and that the shoe dries out through the surface and does not simply remain damp inside. If the shoes are not allowed time to dry between classes then their lifespan will be considerably reduced.Extending Shoe Life If you are to get the most from your shoes then they must be well cared for. Please ensure the steps above are taken. If you have more than one pair of Pointes, alternate them between classes as it can sometimes take up to three days for a shoe to properly dry out. Incorrect Fitting Shoes The dancer will find that the feet will need a certain amount of time to harden to working 'en Pointe'. However, many common problems can be avoided by ensuring the correct shoes are being worn at all times.If shoes are too wide, too short, too long or too narrow, problems will result. The common signs are blisters, corns, bunions and soreness around the heel and Achilles tendon. If this is not rectified quickly then it could cut short a dancers career as well as causing long term damage. The simple answer is to have your shoes checked regularly by an experienced fitter. |
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