POINTE+

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The Complete
Pointe Shoe Guide

Whether you’re a beginner or professional, our Pointe Shoe Guide is your go-to resource for everything from fittings, shoe care, foot and ankle health, and more.

FOR BEGINNERS

New to dancing on pointe or starting soon? Check here to learn more about what to expect and how to strengthen your body and technique for this next phase of your training.

HOW SHOE MANAGERS AT BALLET COMPANIES KEEP DANCERS ON THEIR FEET

Whether it’s pointe shoes, character shoes, or sneakers, a dancer’s footwear is crucial to their performance. Behind the scenes, shoe managers work to outfit artists with the shoes that will allow them to dance their best in the studio and onstage. Read on to learn more about how they ensure their dancers are equipped for success. arrow

Four rows of cubbies line the wall of a windowless room. Each cubby is full of brand new pointe shoes or ballet slippers in various boxes and plastic bags. A bench lining the entire length of the wall is underneath..
Pointe shoe manager Gregg Benkovich is shown in profile from the waist up. He stands next to a wall of cubbies with piles of pointe shoes or ballet slippers stuffed into each one. He wears a gray t-shirt and glasses.

FIND YOUR PERFECT FIT

Finding the right shoe for your foot can sometimes feel like a quest. Here are some tips for your next fitting.

POINTE SHOE TLC

Look here for advice on how to care for and extend the life of your pointe shoes.

DARNING

“Play with it, explore, find your groove,”says Jaiani. “And use a thimble, because that saves fingers.”

Why darn your pointe shoes? The Joffrey Ballet’s Victoria Jaiani finds that darning gives her shoes a slightly bigger platform and harder tip, and helps them last longer through demanding ballets. We asked her to share her secrets with us. arrow

FOOT CARE RX

Pointework can be hard on a dancer’s feet. Check here for advice from dance medicine experts on everything from bunions to bruised toenails.

TECHNIQUE & STRENGTHENING

Check out this collection of cross-training exercises for stronger feet, ankles, and more.

HISTORY

Pointe shoes, with their ability to elevate a dancer both literally and metaphorically to a superhuman realm, are the ultimate symbol of a ballerina’s ethereality and hard work. For students, receiving a first pair of pointe shoes is a rite of passage. The shoes carry an almost mystical allure: They’re an endless source of lore and ritual, with tips, tricks and stories passed down over generations.
The history of pointe shoes reveals how a delicately darned slipper introduced in the 1820s has transformed into a technical tool that offers dancers the utmost freedom onstage today.
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OTHER GREAT POINTE+ STORIES

Here are some of our most popular stories on our favorite topic: the pointe shoe.