Pointe Fitting Info
Why they are so special!Pointe shoes are unlike any other shoes, and must be fit much more carefully and precisely. They must fit "like a glove" in order to properly support the feet, and individual models must be chosen to best work with a dancer's unique feet and technique.
The body of a pointe shoe is formed on a last, a mold specifically designed for only one or two pointe shoe models. Layers of gauze and special paste are built up around the toe area to form the firm and supportive toe box. The sole of the shoe is mostly leather or suede, with a harder layer sandwiched between the insole and outsole. The hard layer is the shank of the shoe, providing stiffness and support for the arch when a dancer is on pointe. It is traditionally made of "red board" (a type of cardboard) but in more recent designs may be made of other fibers.
Traditional pointe shoes are handmade in many of the stages of construction. Each cobbler, or maker, constructs shoes slightly differently, and even a single maker does not create every shoe identically. So, no two are exactly alike even if they are the same size and style. Therefore, every time you need a new pair of shoes you should try them on carefully, even if you aren't changing models and you are sure that your feet haven't changed at all!
The importance of choosing the right pair
The typical life expectancy for a pointe shoe is about eight to twelve hours of wear. When they start to break down, they no longer provide the support you need, and must be replaced. There are ways to enhance this short life expectancy, but no pointe shoe is made to last forever! Pointe shoes must NEVER be fit "to grow into," because a loose shoe can be extremely dangerous to the dancer. Hard shanks should never be chosen in hopes that they will last longer; shank strength must be chosen to meet a dancer's technical and anatomical needs, and on some feet harder shanks will actually break sooner than softer shanks. Ignoring these basic rules of pointe shoe fit and wear may lead to serious injury. It is simply not worth trying to get by with improperly fitting or "dead" shoes.
A properly fit pointe shoe
At your first fitting, you may be asked to try on a few very different pairs of pointe shoes, so that the fitter can get a general idea of how your feet sit in the shoes and which shapes are best for you. When your choices are narrowed down to one or two models, you will be asked to try them on with the toe pads you plan to wear. (Check with your teacher ahead of time to see if she or he has a preference.)
Pointe shoes will feel different from any other shoes you have worn. Your fitter will ask you man questions about how your toes feel. In the right shoes, you will feel a snug fit across the knuckles of your toes. There should be no room to fit your finger between the box and the top of your foot. You may feel the tip of your toe on the end of the shoe, but your toes shouldn't be pressed hard against the tip. Your toes should be held firmly so that you can't wiggle them around, but not pressed painfully together, and you should never feel as if your toes are crossed.The front of your foot should be held firmly, but you should never feel as if the bottom of your foot is being squeezed and creased. In other words, a pointe shoe should hug the foot snugly, without squeezing it painfully. This fit should be accomplished before the drawstring is used. The drawstring is only for "tweaking" the fit, and using it too soon can disguise a too-loose fit.
It is normal to feel as if the sole of the shoe is too short, and hits in a funny way under your heel. Some dancers feel as if the shoe is quite tight around the back of the heel; this is OK as long as it's not painfully tight. It's also normal to feel the hardness of the shoe around the toe joints; this usually feels better after the shoes have been broken in. When you stand on pointe, your weight should be distributed evenly. This means that all of your weight shouldn't feel as if it is on your big toe. Make sure you tell your fitter if you feel your toes curling when you are pointe.
You've chosen your shoes - now what?
You will need to take your new shoes to your teacher for approval. It is VERY important not to sew the ribbons onto the shoes or wear them at all, before your teacher has approved them! Remember, no matter how carefully you have chosen your shoes, your teacher is the one who sees you dance regularly and should have the final say. Once you are sure you will be keeping the shoes, you can sew on the ribbons and elastics.
Next, you may want to "break in" the shoes. There are several good ways and hundreds of bad ways to do this! Never close them in a door or run water over them, or let a friend bend the shanks for you. (You may have seen these things in the movies, but those movies usually show dancers in companies who get their shoes for free!)
To properly break in your shoes, you may press the palm of your hand into the toe box to help it relax. You may also roll the last two inches of the sole over the barre to help it mold to the arch of your foot. The best way to break in shoes, though, is to wear them in class. Your teacher will led you in special exercises that help soften the shoes and mold them to your feet. Don't worry if your new shoes are loud or even squeaky! The hard box can make a lot of noise, and the small nails used to hold the shank and outer sole together sometimes squeak against the leather sole. Pointe shoes usually become quieter as they soften.
Taking care of your pointe shoes
Because your pointe shoes are made of glue and gauze, much like paper mache, it is essential to keep them as dry as possible. Your feet can put out four tablespoons of water in one day! So, it is really important to allow your shoes to dry as much as possible, to preserve their lifespan and shape. Pointe shoes should never be left in a dance bag overnight - not even a mesh bag. In fact, one night in a typical dance bag can cut the life of the shoes by 50%!
After each use, remove all padding and set your shoes out to dry overnight. They can take up to three days to dry completely. If your feet were extra moist or warm in your shoes, you can use crystal cat litter (clean, please!) in a mesh bag or old panty hose - place inside the shoes as they dry. As performances approach, remember not to wait until right before a show to replace your shoes. You could end up with fresh, painful blisters before the show! Instead, break in a pair or two of shoes in the weeks before the performance, getting them "just right," and then wear them again briefly just before performing in them.