What is the best way to 'break in' pointe shoes for ballet dancers?

Question

My sister is starting on pointe in a few months and I am looking for pointers for her on how to break in her new pointe shoes. Thanks!

PS: I won't be instructing her at home (she lives with me!) because I don't have any experience....but was looking for suggestions for her to take to her teacher to see if these were things that were OK to do and once approved work on them at home. She has a springwood dance floor and a ballet barre to help her with balance and technique. I am just looking for suggestions that might help. Thanks for all the information so far!!

Answer 1

Practice on "Demi-Pointe" this will make her ballet shoes so they are soft and flexable. She shold go up on pointe, then bend her knees, here this may help:



BREAKING IN THE SHOE
Pointe shoes should not be worn at home without the teacher's permission.

Brand new pointe shoes are unsuitable for wearing. Some "breaking in" must be done before the shoes can be worn comfortably. For new students, the "breaking in" should be done by or under the supervision of the teacher.

1. The box of the shoe needs to be "smashed" or flattened to help it conform to the shape of the foot. The shoe can be placed in the hinge side of a sturdy door -- between the door and its frame. The door is then gently pulled shut so as to flatten and widen the box. Another method is to lay the shoes on the floor and step on top of the box with the heel of your foot.

2. Bend the stiff, flat shank at the place where it will conform to the shape of your arch. This should be done at the very back of the shank -- NOT IN THE MIDDLE! To make it flexible, it is sometimes necessary to bend the shank back and forth several times until it bends easily.

3. Try on each shoe. If it gaps around the side of the foot, adjust the drawstring for a snug fit. Be careful not to pull too tightly. Tie the strings in a square knot, cut off ends to about 1 inch, and tuck them inside.

4. Put the shoes on, tying the ribbons correctly. Walk around on as high a demi-pointe as possible. This will be difficult and painful at first. But increased flexibility in that area of the shoe will make it much more comfortable to work in.


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Answer 2

You know your going to get a hundred answers and they could all be right in some way. Important question is , did you take your sister with you when you bought the shoes and what brand are they? When people say dont wear them at home this is wrong you can have her wear them at home putting socks over the pointe shoes (this helps to heat things up a bit so they can be "molded" and also protects the satin. OK heres a couple different methods used but yout sister basically has to do this with your help of course. First make sure she has toe padding (i recommend wool, not loose wool) after she's walked around a bit and slowly have her lift, rolling into slowly (very important) , a few times. The warm sweaty feet helps to mold the shoes a bit but you will probably have to take them off and step lightly on the toe box a couple times , do not stomp or drop all your weight on them this could break the toe box leaving the shoes no good. Have her try them again to see if the fit is any better. Some dancers before they wear their shoes will place the tips under warm water for a few seconds to soften up the paste so they contour easier. My best suggestion actually though would have been to buy pointe shoes from Gaynor Minden they are very comparable in price seeings these shoes seem to last twice as long generally and for the most part only a hair dryer is needed for softening up the toe box. Now the shank of the shoe also needs breaking in which can be done by gently flexing the shoe a bit. Also here you have to be careful as not to break the shank. You may also want to have two pairs of point shoes so they can be alternated. BUT I strongly suggest you buy a pay of the Gaynor Minden (awesome shoes) they are by far the most comfortable and easiest to break in. Hope this helps and tell your sister good luck and dont get discouraged, sometimes the sore toes and feet can make a person wonder why they are doing it lol.

Answer 3

I took Ballet back in the dark ages. In those days we felt it was better to darn the toes by hand rather than buy the shoes that had ready made toes.

Please do not let her walk around the home in the shoes.

You can't really break the shoes in for her because she needs to do this gradually with professional supervision. The teacher will instruct the class and also watch to be sure they do not overdo. You have no experience in this and you might wreck the shoes and also her feet.

Be sure she has plenty of wool to pack her toes and have the Epsom salts soaking baths for her feet. You can expect her to have some blisters.

Answer 4

The best pointe shoes to purchase are Gaynor Mindens. Once you buy these pointe shoes you can get up on pointe straight away and do a full class, theres no bashing of the shoes or breaking them in or smashing them against the door. They are a bit pricy though, I bought a pair in South Africa for R1100.

Answer 5

you're ought to target to locate the nearest dance keep round. (i understand it really is a discomfort, I had to pass a minimum of an hour away till a keep those days moved right here.) Pointe footwear want to be professionally outfitted, noticeably your first pair. it is the actually thanks to verify ideal placement on pointe. have self belief me, it really is on your best activity to stumble on a dance keep someplace and perceive it and the persons there.

Answer 6

by the time you break them in you need new ones. they only last for a month.

Answer 7

move them back in forth in the middle. also wear them and practice rolling up and dwon in them