When I was a little girl, I read that some ballets are so tough to perform that the leads will sometimes wear out 2, 3, or more pairs of toe shoes doing just one performance. Is that still true, or do they make stronger shoes now?
I have to give kudos to all of you ballerinas...I know pointe-dancing HURTS!!!!
2007-02-14 23:45:13 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Dancing
Oh, and have toe shoes changed much over the years? Have they used any different materials which might have made or be making the shoes more comfortable?
2007-02-14 23:48:08 · update #1
It is definitely the norm to wear out at least one pair of shoes in a performance. They're just made from paste, burlap, paper and a little satin.
Ballerinas will also go through many more pairs of shoes during class and rehearsal throughout the week. A typical shoe will average 24,592 releve cycles before giving out (that's not a lot!) Typically, a company will give each of their dancers 4 pairs a week.
The newest shoes out are the Gaynor Mindens which utilize the latest technology. You no longer have to break in the shank or the box, you can dance straight out of the store! They have more of a tennis shoe material for the box which is sturdier and makes it easier to spring onto your pointe...and its QUIET! Actually, some dancers just replace the satin on these shoes instead of buying a new pair!
Gaynor Minden also makes special inserts for her shoes to compensate for the different lenghts of toes and spacers for in between your toes so that your toes don't smush together.
Gaynor Minden designed her shoe because she thought pointe shouldn't hurt! With my Gaynor's pointe doesn't hurt anymore.
2007-02-16 09:59:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sure that over the years the making of pointe shoes has changed some, but not a lot. In order for the shoe to do what it needs to do it must support the foot properly and cannot be softer, nor can it be less pliable. Each person "breaks" in their shoes to fit their personal needs. I believe that perhaps today's shoe can be used a few times in a class, but rarely worn more than one performance when doing a full ballet. Of course, those wearing their shoes for just a short time during a performance are different. It is when the shoes are worn for a full length ballet that they often are not good for another performance because the "box" becomes weakened. There are tricks that dancers do to help strengthen the box to get a little more use out of the shoes.
Dancers are athletes of a sort, and when anyone is pushing their body to the extreme there are aches and pains, but if properly trained dancing should not "hurt". Those who hurt are not dancing properly.
2007-02-15 08:00:44 · answer #2 · answered by dddanse 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pointe shoes are similar to how they were back then. You could easily wear out your shoes if you are always on them. First the pointe shoe needs to be broken in (box is hard and you need to find your arch in the shoe.) You should have that pair of shoes for 3-5 months while just using them in a class. When you feel the floor (your box has weakened) it's time for a new pair of shoes. Ballerinas during a performance use a few pair of pointe shoes, but they are all broken in. Being en pointe does not really hurt. It is painful, yes, but it's all about self-motivation to overcome the aches and pains and to perform your best.
2007-02-15 17:06:24 · answer #3 · answered by ktskins 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes that is still true but only occasionally it also depends because some ballets dye their shoes to match their skin color or costume. but they do make stronger shoes now it all depends on the type of shoe you buy though. It can be very difficult and may require 2 or 3 pairs of toe shoes or she might have broken the shank on one and has to change it. there are probably many times when a professional ballerina wears 2 or more shoes at one performance. i have read that too in a book and it amazed me. i guess the shoes just get worn out or they break and she has to wear new ones. btw Thanks pointe dancing does hurt!!!
2007-02-15 16:40:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a practice pair and a performance pair. my practice pair has holes in the Satan, and my performance pair is a little dirty. lol. after 2 holes in performance shoes i will buy new ones, but they do make them a lot stronger especially capezio and Bloch (brands). they use a different sole than a lot of other shoes. I hope that answers your question...and YES POINTE SHOES KILL! lol.
2007-02-16 16:23:53 · answer #5 · answered by Tess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋