Things to keep in mind following your pointe shoe fitting

Breaking in shoes: Students should not attempt to break in their first pair of pointe shoes on their own, it can be as easy as walking around in them and doing gentle rises, allowing the shoe to mould to the feet. Extreme tactics to break in shoes should be avoided as these will only reduce the lifespan of the shoe and can easily break the shanks and overly soften the box.

Shoe care and maintenance: A pair of shoes can take up to 3 days to dry out after a pointe class. After wear, remove any protection or padding from the inside of the shoe. Shoes should be left in a cool, dry place to ‘air’ and never left damp in a bag, as the shoes will absorb the perspiration, which will weaken the structure of the shoe. To restore the box shape, gently pack the inside of the box with adsorbent paper, this will prevent moisture remaining in the box which can lead to premature softening of the box.

Alternating shoes: In many cases students may find they have one foot stronger than the other or that they favour a particular foot, causing one shoe to break down faster than the other. Pointe shoes have no left or right, alternating Pointe shoes in each class will help to balance them.

Changes to dance technique: As dancers advance in their technique, and perform more complex steps their shoes may wear at a quicker rate. This may also happen should the length of time spent dancing and performing increase. Advanced students should change their shoes after each class, or during a long rehearsal or performance. Buying more than one pair of shoes and alternating which pair the student wears, will give the shoes adequate time to dry out which may help in prolonging the breaking down process.

When to replace pointe shoes: The average life span of a pair of shoes is actually only 8 -12 hour hours of work but it can vary dramatically depending on type and fit of the shoe, foot strength and the level of pointe work. If the toe box or shank becomes mushy, soft, cracked or damaged in any way, it is definitely time for a new pair of shoes. When pointe shoes have reached the end of their life, injuries can occur so they need to be replaced promptly. An experienced dancer will know when their shoe is worn out.

Pointe shoes usually need to be replaced when:

• The platform is no longer stiff, and the dancer can “feel the floor”

• The toe box has become too soft

• The shank no longer offers the support needed

Students need to be aware enough to notice the following changes:

• They may start feeling pain in areas they never felt before

• Find they are able to push right over the box and feel the floor

• They may be falling off pointe when trying to balance, or falling out of turns

If you have any follow up questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. We're always here to help!