Ballet pointe shoes sizes - 9XX, 3W, 4B, 7C???? I'm lost! Can anyone tell me of a site that explains all this?

Answer 1

I believe the number refers to the shoe size (i.e. how long the sole is) and the letter refers to width of the shoe. It is brand -dependent, but it looks like Bloch goes by the following lettering for the width: A (very narrow) B (narrow) C (average) D (wide) E (very wide) and Capezio goes by "Medium", "wide" and "WW".
XX probably also refers to to width in some other brand.
http://www.allaboutdance.com/s.nl/it.I/id.5/.f

I hope it is a curiosity question. I don't think it can be explained well enough on-line how to fit pointe shoes properly, especially if you are buying your first pair. You need to be fitted at a store.

Answer 2

If this is your first time getting point shoes you deffinetly need to get fitted believe me getting the wrong pointe shoe can be painful and bad for your feet go to your nearest dance store and get fitted by a professional! You will be very glad you did! i have been dancing on pointe for 4 years and i still don't know what any of that means beacause I get fitted every time you feet are always changing. in short GET FITTED!