/r/pointe

Photograph via snooOG

Love ballet and also excruciating pain? Congrats, you're in the right place. Submit questions, stories, pictures, articles, videos, or anything pertaining to dancing En Pointe.

Welcome to Reddit's Pointe community!

Submit questions, stories, pictures, articles, videos, or anything pertaining to dancing En Pointe.

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Tagline shamelessly taken from Pointe Magazine.

Related Subreddits:

/r/ballet

/r/dance

/r/pointe

1,626 Subscribers

2

Fixing shellac bleeding

Is there any way to either fix or disguise shellac that bled to the outside? I didn’t realize there was a fabric gap between the box and the vamp edge, so some shellac bled through that gap.

4 Comments
2024/12/02
22:06 UTC

2

Fixing shellac mishap?

I was shellacking the inside of the box to harden it and accidentally got some shellac on the outside! Help, is there any way to fix this?

10 Comments
2024/12/02
22:04 UTC

2

Sansha Recital

I have been wearing Merlet Divas for a while, before that Freed Studio pros. I thought I would try Sansha and bought some Recital II online which in itself is probably not the best idea. They fit ok but I cannot imagine dancing in them. The shank is super hard and demi-pointe is impossible. I haven't even tried to break them in. My feet are strong but not strong enough to bend the shank at the demi-pointe. I have softened the arch a bit. I guess I'm a bit spoilt by the Merlets, because they were easy from the start. Cost is a factor and the Sanshas were a good price. Any suggestions, please?

0 Comments
2024/12/02
10:24 UTC

7

Elastic ribbons: thoughts?

I just discovered elastic ribbons which seem so much easier than tying traditional style ribbons every time you wear your pointe shoes, and it seems much more comfortable/adaptable to your movements. Thoughts on these?

18 Comments
2024/11/29
07:59 UTC

19

Toe pads

Hi, I am an adult performing en pointe for the first time in many years. I had been using silicone gel toe pads that are probably 15 years old by now, but the pointe shoe fitter suggested some fabric ones that are taller. I've tried a couple different types of toe pads now but none feel as comfortable as my old ones. The only issue is they barely cover the bones on the sides of my foot so the box breaks lower than I want. The newer toe pads go up higher so I feel like I am not sinking as much, but my big toe hurts, even when I tried Pillow for Pointes Gel X. I don't know if this is because I'm out of practice or what, but I miss the comfort of the gel pads on my big toe! Is there a specific toe pad you recommend? Or is this the purpose of the big toe gel caps? Should I put something in the tip of my shoe and wear the Gel X? Or do something to the wings on my box? Thank you! -a rusty ballerina

4 Comments
2024/11/24
16:18 UTC

3

Looking for pointe recommendations

I'm looking for pointe shoes that help with Diappearing heel High arch Short toes Strong foot Medium-hard shank. I've been on pointe for about 2 months and I started very late in my career

3 Comments
2024/11/13
18:15 UTC

10

started pointe 2 weeks ago

like the title says, i started pointe for the first time 2 weeks ago. i have had 2 pre-pointe classes since, and starting a bit at the beginning and worsening by the end, my big toes start to hurt. i wear gel coverings on my big toes, toe spacers, and a toe pad. that feels fine, although my teacher said it might feel cramped with all that stuff in there. i have a greek foot but still my big toe seems to be putting in all the work.

then theres the issue of the shank shifting to the side when i'm en pointe. is that normal? is that how it breaks in? im wearing nikolay smartpointe with a hard shank because i have very flexible feet according to my teacher.

i was talking to some higher level girls in my studio about pointe shoes and fitting and stuff like that and they mentioned that the store i went to to get fitted has a reputation of not fitting people correctly sometimes. i'm a bit worried about that because we only went through about 10-12 shoes before deciding on these ones. idk if that's a normal amount for a first time fitting but yeah.

are these things normal? also if there's anything i'm doing wrong in the video technique-wise, please lmk

12 Comments
2024/11/08
21:09 UTC

4

Better video of the Nova Flex

Here’s a better video of the Nova Flex. I do prefer softer shanks as the shank actually goes into the arch right away.

11 Comments
2024/11/06
04:15 UTC

2

Bleaching Gaynor Mindens?

I have a brand new pair of GM's in the shade "Cappuccino" but I would like them to be lighter. Is it possible to somehow lighten or bleach the satin without ruining the shoe? I don't want to pancake them because I want the sheen, and dying over a dark color doesn't make sense, so I wanted to try to lighten them first!

I purchased them from a private party on Poshmark because they were American's and in my size....IYKYK.

9 Comments
2024/11/05
21:05 UTC

5

Nikolay NeoPointes vs Nova Flex?

Hello, it’s me, the compressible feet gal who has repeat posted over the last few months for fitting help. :D

I got 2 pairs of pointe shoes, one each from a different shop. The fitters at each shop basically pulled out half their inventory trying to find something in my size that was not square, anything square was immediately painful. So right now I have the NeoPointe 2.5XX H shank fitted with only a spacer (red leggings), and the Nova Flex 3XX M shank fitted with Bunheads pro pad (thin) and spacer (black leggings). What are your guys’ thoughts?

Personally the NeoPointes are more comfy and I think I get over the box better, but I’m concerned about sinking. The Nova Flex has more roll through/control in the shank and is more supportive, but I think pulls me back a titch. So I’m a bit torn between either of them.

11 Comments
2024/11/05
16:00 UTC

6

Pointe shoes hurt more than they should

I'm an adult in my second year en pointe and have been struggling with pain (more than an acceptable amount) from day one. I've been fitted into five different sizes and/or styles of shoe but each one brings its own problems.

I have very tapered toes and compressible feet, so when I go en pointe I often sink in the shoe and my big toes suffer for it. Currently I'm in Grishko NeoPointe 5 XXXX and I really enjoy the higher wings and the hard shank, it's the first shoe that's actually supported me under my arch and reduced the sinking, but with these shoes I'm getting horrible pain on the tops of both big toes between the toenail and knuckle joint, to the point where it hurts to walk in my shoes after 20 minutes. When I take my shoes off my toes are purple and numb in that one area.

Usually I wear a gel sleeve over my big toes with toe spacers and toe pads. I tried dancing without the gel tips (I added lambs wool) which was very painful, and doing without the toe pads didn't help things either. My one teacher loves these shoes whereas the other says they are too big and I need a box profile that's lower in height. Either way I'm in pain and can start to feel myself sinking more now that the shoes have been worn for a week or two.

Any suggestions or ideas on what to try or how to proceed? I've been working towards this goal for decades and now that I'm here, it's been nothing but pain and frustration.

21 Comments
2024/11/03
01:54 UTC

3

Can Demi-pointe shoes die?

I’m an adult returner on a getting back to pointe journey, and as a part of that journey I’m taking pre-pointe classes in demi-pointe shoes. These didn’t really exist back when I went en pointe the first time (back in the Dark Ages) so I only have a reference point for when actual pointe shoes are dead. By that metric, my shoes would be almost there (box and wings are very soft to about half an inch from the platform) but I also know that since I don’t actually use the shoes to get en pointe, it may not matter?

Does anyone have thoughts? Will I need to get a new pair, or will I be okay to continue in these shoes until I get cleared by my teacher for pointe shoes?

6 Comments
2024/11/01
00:00 UTC

10

Adult Beginner Pointe

Hi All!

I just had my first pointe class this week! wahoo! I have been doing ballet for a year and a 1/2 consistently and have also received training in lyrical, jazz, and hip hop in high school/college. I received approval for pointe by my teacher this year.

I am wearing the bloch euro balance width XXXX. I noticed from my first pointe class that my right big toe is digging into the shoe causing pain when doing bourrees or springing into single leg releves/retirés. Is this normal? My left big toe is completely fine!

The video attached is mirrored/selfie mode!

Please also give me any critiques/tips on how to improve!

9 Comments
2024/10/31
23:52 UTC

5

Ankle strengthening?

My daughter recently started pointe and she said she needs to strengthen her ankles. Is there something I can get her to help with that? I’m thinking Xmas gifts and would like to get her something for pointe. Any ideas? Even if there isn’t something out there like that, what is something else I could maybe get her?

6 Comments
2024/10/24
20:44 UTC

3

Does jet glue make the box sweat proof?

Does jet gluing the box basically make it sweat proof? And sweat is what breaks the shoe? So does jet gluing actually make the box invincible? Can it still die if jet glued right after breaking in?

Of course I understand the shank can die but I am asking about box. Can a jet glued box soften with use or does it mostly stay the same?

I am still on my first pair so I haven’t killed any shoe yet just looking out for signs of when my shoe is dead.

3 Comments
2024/10/24
07:16 UTC

3

pointe shoe sizing too tight/wide

I wear the Grishko starpointes and neopointes, and both have been really great in terms of support/ease of dancing. The only issue is, my feet fall just between the starpointe width X and XX. The XX is a little too wide, so I start to sink and feel pain after one or two classes, and I haven't had the courage to get X to mold it myself because when I tried it on at the store, it was very tight and squishing my feet. the neopointe XX is out of stock everywhere, and XXX (which I've worn for the past couple months) is also generally quite wide and I start sinking after 1-2 classes. Is there any way I can use home methods to tighten/widen the pointe shoes? I've heard of wetting the shoe to let it shrink and thus tightening the shoe, but some people also say that wetting the shoe widens it.

5 Comments
2024/10/23
01:17 UTC

2

I started pointe about two weeks ago, and when I try to go up on releve on one foot at a time I really can’t do it without the help of the bar, so any tips and advice would be great!!🤍

6 Comments
2024/10/03
02:16 UTC

6

Which shoes have high wings?

5 Comments
2024/09/19
02:01 UTC

8

How come the heels pop off when rolling down?

I’ve just got the Bloch Etu shoes. They’re comfy, I don’t sink, it’s great, except that the heels keep popping off when I roll down! This length is the shortest I can go without being too short and jamming my big toe. I’ve tried moleskin, heel grips, elastics, tightening the drawstring, and all of them together still can’t keep the heel on! I kept having to adjust my shoe during class. Why does the heel keep popping off?

30 Comments
2024/09/19
00:31 UTC

2

Trying wider box shoes and need padding advice

I recently switched from grishko 2007 pro flex to Bloch balance European. They are better for a whole bunch of reasons that I won't go into here but I chose to get more control over my shoes at the cost of comfort due to being less lifted out of the shoe (I was almost floating in my old ones). I'm looking mainly for padding advice and asking if anyone can relate.

4 Comments
2024/09/14
22:16 UTC

3

Online fittings

Hello. I'm having problems with my shoes and I think they're not suitable for my feet. I can't get fitted or even get a different model of shoes because there are no fitters in my country and there's only one model of pointe shoes available for purchase. Should I try a virtual fitting? If so, could you recommend any fitters? Thanks in advance.

1 Comment
2024/09/09
17:34 UTC

3

Chicago fittings

Where is the best place to get fitted for pointe shoes in the Chicago area?

7 Comments
2024/09/09
10:59 UTC

3

Pointe shoe fitters, what is it like, and how much do you make? Any advice for me?

Hello!

I'm an afab teen who got hooked on ballet, pointe shoes, and pointe shoe fitting about a year ago. Currently, I'd consider being a pointe shoe fitter my dream job. But I have no idea how to get there, considering I only just took my long-awaited first ballet class last week.

With that context, here are my two questions for pointe shoe fitters on this sub:

  1. What's your yearly salary as a pointe shoe fitter? What's your location? How long have you been a fitter? How long have you worked at your current place? What's it like being a fitter?

  2. Any advice for me and how I could get more involved in pointe shoe fitting/become a pointe shoe fitter?

Thank you!

8 Comments
2024/09/06
22:38 UTC

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