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Beginng pointe, maintaining your pointe shoes, and more to come!
1) It is essential that pointe shoes fit your feet PERFECTLY, or it will cause a lot of unnecessary pain, discomfort and/or injury. Make sure your shoes are fitted by a knowledgable expert before you buy them. The shoe should feel snug; tighter than any other shoe you've worn, but not painful. You shouldn't be able to wiggle your toes, but your toes should be able to flare out at the sides.
2) Allow for a LOT of time, frustration and trial and error for your first pointe shoes fitting. When I bought my first pair, I had to try on six different pairs about five times. A fitting can take anywhere between half an hour to two hours, depending on the size of your foot and what is available in stock. Make sure you schedule an appointment with your local dance shop for a pointe shoe fitting before going into the store, so they can make sure they have someone to help customers while the fitter works with you.
3) Do NOT buy pointe shoes asize larger than your foot, with the thought you will later "grow into them." This is one of the most common, and the most harmful mistakes. The pointe shoes should fit the dancer as snug as possible without being tight, this is the only way to dance in them safely. If a little girl's feet are growing and the parent is worried she will outgrow them within months, it is best to either buy another pair of shoes once her feet have grown; or wait until her feet have grown to almost their full extent before buying shoes.
4)Some studios require that you have your pointe shoes approved by your teacher. In some cases, a fitter may come to your class to fit you and your classmates, or your ballet teacher will come with you and your parents to the fitting. In any case, see if your teacher needs to O.K. them before you sew on the ribbons and elastics.
1) Have some clear nail polish handy to paint on the ends of the ribbons, to prevent a lot of fraying.
2) "Centre Stage" was not the best movie to learn from with respect for caring for pointe shoes. Banging your shoes repeatedly on the floor or using a door to bend them is not a good way to work them in so they fit your foot, and they also won't last as long if you do that! Instead, break them in through lots of barre excersizes - this will ensure that they mold to the shape of your foot.
3) After each class, let your pointe shoes sit in a ventilated area to dry out. This will prolong the life of the shoes.
