POINTE SHOE FITTING Pointe shoe fitting information

Figure 1: The five basic positions of dance. A. First position B. Second position C. Third position D. Fourth position E. Fifth position. (Reprinted with permission from Shah S. Determining a young dancer’s readiness for dancing on pointe. Curr Sports Med Rep 2009;8(6):295-299.2)

Pointe shoe design remains a highly skilled art and has not changed much since its inception. The first pointe shoe worn by Marie Taglioni was designed by a cobbler in Paris and consisted of soft satin slippers with flexible leather soles that were heavily darned at the tip.4 Today’s pointe shoes consist of an outer material (usually satin fabric), a toe box, a shank, and a flexible rubber or suede sole that is held onto the foot and ankle with elastic and ribbons (Figure 2). The toe box is constructed from layers of paper, glue, and fabric (usually burlap).2 The shoes must be strong enough to support the dancers on pointe, but also malleable enough to allow the dancers to execute movements articulating through the intrinsic muscles and joints of the foot and ankle. When first worn, pointe shoes are stiff, and dancers use a variety of methods to “break them in,” or soften the shoes to make them better suited for dancing. Eventually, the glue bonds break, resulting in a shank and toe box that are too soft to dance in. Some dancers may try to reinforce the shoes with jet glue to make them last longer. Some brands have used plastic to increase the longevity of the pointe shoes. However, these shoes tend to be stiffer and thus less appealing for many dancers. Often, principal dancers will go through several pairs of shoes in one performance alone, which becomes quite costly given the price of pointe shoes, which at the elite level start at approximately $60 per pair.

Fitting a pointe shoe requires an expert, especially for the novice pointe dancer. Often, dance stores that sell pointe shoes will have a member on staff specialized in fitting pointe shoes. Shoes vary in strength and stiffness, but dancers do not necessarily choose shoes based on these characteristics. Rather, they choose them based on comfort.5 Pointe shoes should be snug but not too tight, which can lead to blister and callus formation.

When choosing a pointe shoe, it is important to understand the basic construction and structure to assure the best fit possible (Figure 2). The top of the toe box, called the vamp, varies in length and width depending on the dancer’s forefoot length and width. The vamp should cover the entire length of the third phalanx and slightly beyond.4 The platform is the exterior, flat-end of the toe box which allows the dancer to stand on pointe. When fitting a pointe shoe, a dancer should perform a demi-plié in parallel position because this is the longest the feet will be in the shoes. The dancer’s toes should just be touching the end of the platform without bending. The shank is usually made of shoulder leather and is a narrow supporting spine that is glued to the back of the insole.2,4 The shank helps support the arch of the foot when dancing on pointe and can be reinforced by adding an additional layer for a dancer with a more flexible foot to slow the break down of the shoe. Dancers must sew their own elastic and ribbons. The elastic should wrap snugly over the ankle joint. When standing on pointe after the ribbons are sewn on, the toes should be perpendicular to the floor and should not curl.

There are more than 20 different manufacturers of pointe shoes, each with varying styles to accommodate different foot types. A good pointe shoe fitter will know the characteristics of the different shoes and be able to recommend shoes based on the dancer’s foot type. The peasant foot (toes are of even length) is the “ideal foot type” for weight distribution while on pointe. Dancers with a peasant foot will require a wider toe box. Dancers with a Grecian foot (second toe is longest) must find the width of toe box that feels most comfortable. Dancers with an Egyptian foot (tapering toe length) will usually purchase shoes with a narrower toe box. To this day, the majority of pointe shoes are handmade, so there is variability even within one specific brand and style. Thus, some dancers prefer to have their shoes made by a specific cobbler whose construction they are accustomed to.

Age

There is no specific age at which a dancer automatically becomes ready to dance on pointe.2 Often the age of 12 is chosen because a dancer usually does not develop the skill necessary for pointe work until then.2 However, determining when a dancer may go on pointe is multifactorial and requires at least the following: adequate strength, flexibility, postural control, proper placement, physical and mental maturity, balance, technique, alignment, and the ability to listen, learn choreography, and apply corrections.2 Prematurely allowing a dancer to transition to pointe may lead to injuries due to falls, missteps, and ankle inversions or eversions, to name a few mechanisms.

Grishko pointe shoes are designed to be fitted snuggly, this excerpt from an article, agrees with Grishko fitting principals.

Excerpt of an Article from Lower Extremity Review..Magazine of Sports medicine, Bio mechanics April 2010