Pointe Shoe Fitting Guide (and an Amazing Shoe Hack!) | Kathryn Morgan
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- Pointe Shoe Fitting Guide (and an Amazing Shoe Hack!) | Kathryn Morgan
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Here is my guide to proper fitting pointe shoe. I was recently trained by Mark & Keri Suffolk, owners of Suffolk dance and legitimate pointe shoe masters. They taught me how to fit shoes properly and an amazing pointe shoe hack that will change your life! I take you through length, width, toe pressure, how to properly put on a pointe shoe, and what to expect during your fitting. Asking the right questions can make all of the difference. Don't be afraid to speak up!
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I am soloist with Miami City Ballet a former soloist with the New York City Ballet. When I was a young student, I was always looking for insights into the ballet world and how to improve my dancing as well as beauty and lifestyle tips. Now that I am a professional, it is my turn to share.
On my channel I make ballet, beauty, and lifestyle videos for everyone of all ages. My goal is help dancers improve and achieve their dreams as well as open up the ballet world to non dancers. You will see many different kinds of how-to videos here including makeup, hair, ballet workouts and exercises, Q and A sessions, lifestyle advice, and DIY on this channel. I hope you find all of my videos helpful!
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Is it weird that I don't find dancer feet ugly? Maybe it's cuz I'm a dancer, but I think it displays the hard work it takes to be a dancer.
not at all. i don't dance but i find ballet dancers' feet amazing to look at. people say they look scary but i think that yeah it shows all the hard work they've done over the years
I don't either. It really shows how hard dance is.
I totally agree with you! That girl has really pretty feet for a ballerina.I have seen very caloused and damaged feet, however they get by.I have another profession and my hands are calloused and damaged,but it, comes with the trade. Same for Ballerina's.
I’m just starting out after being away from ballet since I was 9. I never had a good experience at my ballet school and the kids around me moved me to quit. So I’m starting again after finding this channel and remembering how much I actually loved the dancing part. Thank you for reminding me just how much I love ballet.
This may sound really silly but I was just given the ok to go en pointe for the first time (I'm 20) but I am SO scared to go for a fitting. I feel like the fitter will be judging my technique and think that I'm too old to be at such a low level and just think I'm bad or tell me I'm not good enough to go en pointe even though my teacher said I was. Can someone tell me what exactly they ask you to do at a fitting? Knowing exactly what is to come will help with my anxiety lol
I have the same problem
You can check out people having their first fits on youtube. Just type "first pointe shoe fitting" and many will come. Hope it helps and good luck by the way~~
They will often ask you to do:
-simple rises in 6th position
-rises in second
-rises in first
-they may ask you to do other position but it ISNT hard because they know it’s your first time if you tell them !!
Make sure you tell them and all will be ok. If anything they love you even more because you havnt given up !!!
Don’t be scared ❤️
What this video says is very good advice! Be vocal and specific, and ask lots of questions. My advice as an adult dancer fairly new to pointe is to make sure you are getting fitted by a good fitter (ask your teacher for recommendations) and to make it clear that these are your first shoes (they may assume based on your age that you know how to pick your own shoe). Ask to try a variety of different brands and shapes. Show your teacher your shoes before you sew the ribbons on so you can return them if she doesn't think they're right. If they give you a hard time during the fitting, go somewhere else. They most likely won't, the two fitters I've seen didn't make me feel uncomfortable at all.
don't worry! i'm got mine fitted last year. i'm 17 that started ballet young but didn't take anything seriously till i was 15. this means my technique and flexible is terrible. my turnout and pointe aren't good at all either. the fitter didn't judge me, and only focused on whether i felt comfortable in my shoes.
i was asked to pointe in barefeet (with tights on), plie in second, rise in parallel, and couru (couru was only at my second fitting when i was stronger en pointe). the only time i felt conscious was during the plie in second because my knees were pretty turned in. other than that it was fine :-)
also try to pointe as hard as you can when you're in pointe shoes so that you can get on top of the box (something that's difficult for me without breaking in the shoes and was pointed out by my fitter) and since it's more difficult to pointe in a pointe shoe.
good luck & hope i helped !!
I’m wearing Suffolk sonnets right now. I wore Suffolk stellars before and they were too wide for me. My feet are very wide and I have very short toes but I needed a little bit of tapering to keep me up a bit. I love these shoes so much !!!
I followed your tips yesterday during my first fitting and was able to find a shoe that feels and looks great in about 15 minutes, thank you for posting such helpful videos♡
wow... I've really researched into pointe shoe fitting, for myself and my daughter actually, but there are really stuff I haven't come across! Thanks for that! Also, the trick... mind-blowing!!!! And a small comment if I may... your feet look so much more beautiful and... fitting in these new pointe shoes. Your arch does look lifted plus it compliments your foot and leg shape so much. And you do have beautiful legs and feet. I am glad you found this pair, it really makes a difference to the spectator's eye, hopefully it equally makes a difference to the way the dancer feels !
I've worn Bloch Hannahs, Suffolk Spotlights, and Grisko 2007s. The first two pairs were fitted by a... not so good store. I recently went to a small store and was actually fitted by the owner, and it's the first time I've actually felt like a shoe fit me the right way. She even made notes of shoes she wants me to try as I get stronger. A good fitter makes all the difference for sure.
I’m curious how you can become a professional pointe shoe fitter. Do places offer seminars?
where did you get your bally show
sylvester cammeron ballet shoe??
a friend of mine is getting trained at the moment. for her, she's worked at a dance wear store for years and now their training her to be able to fit pointe shoes. they already had professional fitters, and now they're teaching her
@@sylvestercammeron3097 ballet shoe?
@@sylvestercammeron3097 bally show
Hey Kathryn! I JUST got my Pointe letter yesterday and love watching these videos!
Me too.
This makes me wish there was an experienced fitter within my region - the two shops that are there carry about three models each (Bloch and Griskho) in only few sizes. And there are no fitters, they just give you the pointe shoes and you have to decide for yourself if they fit. So this is extremely helpful, as I have to order online.
THANK YOU! I’m getting fitted tomorrow and my last pair didn’t fit at all. New fitter and hoping I will get a Better pair.
My last fitter didn’t do great fitting me at all, so I ended up with a bad pair for a while til they were dead, so now I’m hoping my next fitter will do good
This is beyond helpful! I would love to hear more about this! (Though this was entirely helpful, indeed) love love love all the pointe shoe knowledge! THANK YOU! 🙏💕
Did they happen to mention the best time to go get fitted? I know it sounds a little gross, but I have told my girls to go get fitted after class because they can measure while their feet are still warm and can accommodate for possible foot swelling. I know when I was up on pointe my feet would swell a significant amount.
That's what I forgot to mention! A good rule of thumb is to have the dancers warm up their feet before trying on shoes. Some people's feet expand and actually some shrink. So getting fit with warmed up feet is the best idea.
Kathryn Morgan I’m getting tomorrow after class and I’m taking a teacher with because if never done this before and I’m kinda new to ballet
This video is fantastic! Please continue to do more videos with the other specifics you have learned, especially with any tips you can give teachers to help students with pointe shoe problems if there is not a qualified fitter available. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!
"Your fitter will help you with this"
In my experience, that wasn't the case.
My feet are the following:
Broad all the way to the arch and narrow in sharply
Narrow heels
Slightly tapered toes (apart from the pinky toe, they are only about half a centimetre apart)
Low profile
Larger foot (UK size 8)
Low arch
Compressible when they are are warm and in pointe shoes
My feet have boggled my fitters so much that they couldn't find the right style and shank strength for me. So far, I've been in Bloch Triomphe twice, Aspiration twice, Gaynor Minden Classic Fit and Bloch Hannah. It has truly been a nightmare, but hopefully, I'll find the perfect shoe tomorrow. Some fitters didn't look at how I point my feet, some only went by how it looks rather than how it functions, and one sold me soft shanks despite wobbly heels. GM shoes were too wide at the arch point up and snapped my drawstring trying to tighten in just before a performance. When I got my second pair of Aspiration, I was truly done at that point with pointe. I wanted to give up so badly because the shank was so hard, I was not going over my box. Hannah had the worst problem ever - blisters between toes, first during a class where I had to do a lot of releves. It is a soft and flexible shank, so I sometimes could not get to 3/4 point without wobbling.
NataliaEnchantix I have hard feet too for a multitude or reasons but I also have strong and archly feet so I go through shoes like paper and it’s really hard to find the right size in my box bc I have wide ish feet with a hide profile and my toes shape like a diamond at my metatarsal and I have a big toe bunion and pinky toe bunions. I promise just keep trying and you’ll find a shoe.
maybe you already know this channel, but fi you want you can check it out for advice.. it's really amazing..
th-cam.com/channels/x476uTUgWw7HbMNB0KSoEQ.html
Hello, what you write reminds me very much of my feet! I have also started with Bloch Triumph and Gaynor Mindens and it was a complete disaster. I was struggling so much and got sooo frustrated, because I I thought I was just a hopeless case.
Russian Class (R-Class) Rubin changed the world for me! I put them on and started to dance, I almost cried 😂😭😍 because I was so happy
I know this comment is old, but if you live in the southwest US, you could get fitted by the Pointe Shop, they’re on TH-cam and they do really great fittings :))
I love this! So informative, thank you so so much for this! Those shoes looks so good on your feet!
This is so so helpful! When are you going to post the part 2 for the SAB video? I am going to the summer intensive and I want to soak up as much knowledge as I am looking for a year-round Balanchine school that I can attend before going back to SAB.
I live in a small town and very far away from a good pointe shoe shop. So I arranged an online fitting for them, and it was surprisingly easy! I took photos of my feet and drew a picture of them and measured everything, then we had a long phone call. They sent me a huge parcel with like 10 pairs, I put them all on and we had a nice video chat.
I ended up with Russian Points, and I‘m so happy, they are perfect for me. Great shoes for adult beginners! (First Rubin is very soft and good for bars to start with pointe. For center work I started with Rubin, which is the same shoe but a lot harder)
I love Suffolk's so much! I have tried on basically every pair of commercially available and the only shoes that work for me are Suffolk Spotlights. I am so glad that you got the opportunity to fit them.
I really love Suffolks, too. I wish I had worn them while I was with NYCB!
They were the shoes I started in. I tried Freed's for a while but they just did not work for my feet. In the end, I went back to Suffolk's and I am so glad that I did.
It’s my dream to be a professional pointe shoe fitter 😍 this video is so helpful!
i am so glad you made one of these!!!!! i love your videos they are so inspiring. thanks!!
I wear Grishko elite’s. I have INSANELY wide short feet, but a very narrow heel, and I could find nothing. I also have a pretty low arch and weak foot. My vamp is also very short. Grishko elites are actually the only show that decently works for me. I’ve tried everything. Loved the video Katie ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Some real Ah Ha! moments here! I never understood what the profile was, now I do. And to be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a fitter in a dance store actually talk about the profile of a shoe! Also, great advice for young dancers who want to wear the coveted shoe of their dance school. I was trying to help my niece find a better fit for her foot -she and her classmates seem to be rather swept away by the Russian Pointe shoe. She has always had a problem with the shank of her shoes twisting and shifting (too narrow maybe?). She has been poorly fitted in a shoe more than once. Having a master fitter clarifying these points is so important. Also many parents & students simply don’t know what to ask. And fitters sometimes are misinformed and lacking knowledge about the structure of a pointe shoe, let alone understanding the structure of each individual foot in front of them. Students have to be smart and informed. So important! Great video!
Love the suffolks on you!
I used to work at a dance store and fit pointe shoes. Everything that she is saying is what we would look for when fitting shoes!
mega valid point about shoe sizes ... I'm a UK 7 or 8 / EU41 / 42 in street shoes ... and i'm a 7 in my (Grishko) pointes ( ironically i've got wide feet and short toes due to certian , ahem, endocrine issues ... ) , and a 6.5 D in Bloch soft blocks...
Hi Katie, thanks for the awesome video! I help run a dance studio and this really helps us assess whether our students are in the right shoes. One question: are there any concerns regarding bulk along the sides and heel of the shoe? Are there guidelines regarding how the fabric should fit the back half of the foot? We have a beginner pointe student whose shoes seem to fit really well, but my director is concerned that there’s too much extra fabric along the outside of the foot and on the heel (the fabric wrinkles a bit on the outside of her foot). Thanks!
Kristen Cardinale i watched a...royal ballet video? maybe? Where another dancers noticed that the dancers pointe shoes had far too much fabriv through the arch and heel of the shoe. The dancer wound up really loving the new modification so from then on out her shoe was made with that modification to it. If i recall rightly though, the video itself showed enough of how to sew that mod so you could diy it.
I’m not a dancer but this NYC Ballet video talks about that about 2/3 of the way thru:
th-cam.com/video/YkNb_HQjsMg/w-d-xo.html
This video is so helpful to me! I had my first pointe shoe fitting this past June but they fitted me at my dance store with Suffolk Spotlights. The problem is they have long boxes and I have short toes. They are uncomfortable and I can't get over my box without trying really hard, so I'm just waiting for them to die so I can get my second pair. But for my second fitting, I'm really excited and this helps a lot.
Need that SAB part two video! Loving the content Katie!
Great video! I'm in Capezio Donatellas at the moment and I feel I wasn't forthright enough at the fitting; I have a naggy sense that I can't quite connect with the floor and I'm really looking forward to moving onto a better fitting shoe
The new Suffolks look really good on you. Very clean fit.
I'm so glad I found your channel! I can't wait to make my way through your library, what a great resource for teachers!
My first pair of point shoes were bloch... I have extremely tapered toes so I was sickiling ALL THE TIME it sucked, k went all the way to Sacramento to get fitted by a professional and she gave me a bad shoe ... now I'm in capezios and they are better but my left foot is still sickiling and need a higher profile for both feet.
This is the most helpful video ever! Thank you katie!!!
Katie I’m a dancer in Knoxville TN, but I don’t do professional dancing. I’ve always loved pointe, but I never asked to do it when I was little. I eventually forgot about it, but now I’m 14 and I’ve recently remembered my passion for pointe. I started taking pointe classes, but we really don’t do much in there and it’s only 30 mins long. It hurts to know that I’m not going to be able to excel and get to my full potential. This is something that I’m serious about and my parents don’t understand that. Theirs no professional studio near me, not to mention most won’t except a beginner at the age of 14 years old. Please give me some tips, an idea, ANYTHING
Sorry forgot to put this. I’m doing ballet videos from your channel and others, but without someone to tell me if I’m doing anything right, I end up doing the same wrong thing over and over.
Try to find a beginner class with your age and if there isn’t one, go one level up because you probably know a lot anyways. I did the same thing but when I was twelve and it works so yeah
I can agree
Snoop Dawg their are no beginner pointe classes near me that my father or step mother are willing to take me. I’ve tried contacting the closest serious looking ballet studio, but haven’t got a reply yet. High hopes! 🙏
Third haha! I love freed's so much, but I have to buy pairs from other dancers sometimes so my toenails are sore but they work! I can't wait to get re-fit.
I’m going to get my second pair of pointe shoes soon can you please help me out because my shoes right now hurt badly and I would like to know what I should do better this time
Hi Kathryn, I would like to be a fitter and would like to know how to find instruction? As usual, your video was very informative and your warmth and proffesionalism came through in your examples. You are a " national treasure for dancers young and old. Thank you for your generous spirit!
Katie!! I had to go back to the pointe shoe store 3 TIMES for my first pair!! the pair I ended up with are Suffolk Spotlight LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!! I feel so so stupid!! I didn't know what I was doin😂😂 it was my first pair and was so confused
Hi Kathryn. I love Your Chanel. Can you do a Gaynor review video please?
I have wide feet, but I LOVE my Grishko's! It's probably because when I point my feet my toes are very tapered! And I'm really experiencing the too high vamp thing. I just made an appointment with the pointe store, so I'm really going to pay attention to all this!
Ladydancealot K same, when i go up en pointe my feet squish together because of the pressure from the sides of the shoe so grishkos fit me perfectly. other wider shoes will cause me to sink into the floor which hurts so badly
I have very similar feet to you! Except that the vamp ( ln the Grishko 2007) is a good height for me.
Thanks for all the advice. Really useful and easy to relate. Like the paler shade of Suffolk pink on you. 💃
Hi, Katie!
Ive been auditioning this year, hoping to land a trainee or apprentice position. One of my most desired options was Joffrey Ballet. However, they said Im not a fit for the trainee program, and accepted me into the summer intensive. Ive gotten trainee offers from two other companies. But Joffrey is so reputable! Should I attend the summer intensive anyway, in the hopes they ask me to become a trainee? Or should I accept one of the other offers Ive gotten already? HELP!
Which one did you do?!?!
What did you end up doing??? And what are the other two companies?? Either way you are doing so well!
What did u choose?
What r u doing four yrs later
This was great! Very informative. Thank you for doing this 😊
I love these shoes.
I'd love a point shoe fitting for adults who buy their first point of shoes and very beginning pointe routine
This is so helpful tomorrow I am getting my first pair of shoes
I just got fit with the Sonnet and I love it!!! Also this video is super helpful and interesting!!
This video is the best! I'm stunned
Can you please post more on your 2nd TH-cam channel
I got mine yesterday! My feet are a lot like yours. My heel is kind of narrow but my toes are wider, I have short toes but a flexible arch. When I got my shoes I told my fitter that I had pressure on my right pinky toes metatarsal. She just said to give it time. I also sometimes feel like I might be going over the box. I still need to go get them approved at my studio but idk what to do.
I have the exact same foot
I really love your videos and ballet!
What can you do if there is no dance store in your area? I am glad now that the ballet studio I used to go to has a Pointe shoe fitting by The Pointe Shop. I currently am not doing ballet. I miss it a lot.
How do you fix reverse arching of the vamp? After a few hours of use, my left shoe always has reverse arch and it makes it difficult to get over the box when this happens.
thank you so much for making this video! this video will be very helpful ☺
My pleasure. :)
i’ve been waiting for this video!!!
I wish I had a fitter around me that knew all this. My first few experiences of pointe shoe fitting they asked my street size and kept handing me all different shoes. They didn't even look at my feet.
Anyone know of any good fitters in NRW Germany?
Hi there! I work for a mobile pointe shoe fitting company called The Pointe Shop (www.thepointeshop.com). We fit primarily across the U.S. but we also do Skype/Facetime fittings online. If you're interested in having one of our fitters look at your feet, feel free to send me an e-mail at jazley@thepointeshop.com. :)
Same
Yes! A bit late, but I can highly recommend Hacke & Spitze Dance Shop in Berlin. They are so so so friendly and patient and have all brands. Ask for Daniela or Jutta.
I’m getting my first pair on October 19th!💗
In the dance store I go to, the fitters are extremely sucky. They just ask what brand you has before and give you the exact same size. Because of this, the bottom part of the pointe shoe under you foot (I forgot what it was called) was completely off my heel, not even touching it. Any tips on how I can actually get professionally fitted?
Go to a different dance store, maybe if you happen to be out of town suggest to go.
@Blah Thank you for the advice!
Hey there! I work for a company called The Pointe Shop, and we do mobile fittings across the U.S. We're a group of professional fitters that can bring a variety of different shoes/brands to you. If you're interested, let me know! www.thepointeshop.com
Jazley Faith Thank you for your services to many dancers! As much as I'd love to work with you, I reside in the Philippines... Thank you for your kind offer though!
Wow. This was so helpful. Thank you for so much valuable info and thank you #Suffolk
I have a problem with the hardness of my shank. For the past 3 pairs I’ve been wearing different types of Russian pointes. I had 2 pairs of Rubins and a pair of Estrada Pros. They both at the time (I currently have the Estradas) fit perfectly everywhere, but my main teacher dislikes the hardness of my shank since it pulled me off of pointe a bit. I don’t have very flexible feet, but all of the other shoes I tried just do not fit me. Every time that I get refitted I always end up back in the Russian Pointes. Is there anything I can do to fix my problem?
A.G.A 188 what shank do you wear,
Lily HP I have the FM shank
Try the flex soft that's what I wore when I had not very good arches then I was able to eventually go to FM
Lily HP thank you so much. I’ll try that on my next pair
How about the gap at the back side of the pointe? You have also a little gap like mine and when you're on your pointe a small part of the fabric goes under your heel
The fitter at the company I worked for always asked the girls when he would fit them for their first shoes if the seemed uncomfortable he would ask them is it pain or pressure and thought it was the perfect way to help younger students who don’t know what a pointe shoe should feel like better enunciated what they were feeling.
My local dancewear store I believe they only have one kind of pointe shoe. They have only Bloch - ES0 160L Pink Pointe Shoes
I see you're wearing the Bloch split soles in more recent videos. wondering how often you switch or do you have specific use for the different types of shoe?
I'm 15 yrs old and I'm just starting ballet, I also have very flat feet. I was wondering if I will be able to learn point by the time I finish high school and if it would be possible for me to get into a company.
Are these the shoes you had done when you were at the conference a few months ago?
can you do a video dedicated on tying your shoes (all kinds)flats and piontes
Hi Kathryn, if you need different widths or whatever in your shoes for each foot, do you need to buy two pairs or can you "mix and match" a pair of Pointe shoes?
nessagirl1911 I think it depends on the store...
Yes there is no left or right in pointe shoes. You just have to buy both pairs but you end up having two sets of shoes. I have to do it for length I have a whole half size difference between my feet.
Pointe shoes come in twin pairs that don't designate left or right until you break them in! People usually buy two pairs with different specs, then mix and match. If you need help with a fitting, let me know! I work for a professional pointe shoe fitting company called The Pointe Shop. If you're interested, please check out www.thepointeshop.com :)
Hope to see a ballet technique class soon. Really miss them. 😄
Definitely working on more. Coming soon!
can you make more beginner pointe training?? btw I totally love your vids
I will work on it! And thank you!
Hi Kathryn! Thank you for your video, it is very helpful! I am new to pointe, and was wondering if it is normal for my big toe to feel like it is constantly pushing on the top of the shoe. I even feel this while walking flat footed. It is not unbearable, but it is a little uncomfortable with just a tiny bit if pain. When I had my pointe shoe fitting the larger pointe shoes made my foot slide forward and the shoe would pop off. This shoe I had to slightly stretch to put on, but it stays on once the ribbons are tied. Just was not sure this is the way pointe shoes are supposed to feel. Thank you for your help!
Kathryn I had surgery on my left foot to remove the bunion and bone spurs. Now one foot has a large bunion, and the other one has no bunion. I’m going back to pointe after 1 year off of wearing pointe shoes. I’m now at least 1/2 size larger. Any hope that I can find shoes to fit my unusual feet? I always wore Capezio Tendu II and then Grishko Elites for many years. I need a very low vamp and soft shank. Thanks!
If you go to a fitting and you have two shoes you like but you can only get one what is a way to decide which one to get?
Kathryn, if you had the choice to go to multiple single brand stores, or one all around dance store, which one would you do?
I wish I knew that trick to put on shoes when I was dancing. No matter how hard I tried I always looked a little sickled and I think the way I put my shoes on was the reason. I just put them on and didn’t even think how I put my shoes on had an effect on how they looked on my feet.
Thank u so much for this!... what happened to your feet btw..is it because of the pointe shoes.
Hi Kathryn! My toes hurt ALL THE TIME and I don’t know why. I didn’t use to have pain every time I went on pointe. Do you have any tips for reliefing toe pain, or can you tell why my toes hurt so much?
Elisa Kotilainen not a dancer AT ALL but i watch a lot of dance related videos and i know quite a lot about physiology in general. If you dont already use them it might be a good idea to try ouch pouches. Also, if you are having pain in specific toes you likely don't have enough physiological support for that toe. Using toe spacers may help you get the support that you need. From what i can see, it seems to me that one of the goals when fitting and adding cushioning and such is that you are looking to make your first 3 toes take and bear as much of the weight as possible so that you dont only have 1 toe bearing all your weight because that can lead to injury. I hope some of this helps. Keep dancing and doing what you love. Ballet is such a beautiful sport.
Kristin Arrington Thank you so much! I think I probably will try the toe scapers, and I already have the ouch pouches. Only my 1st toe hurts, but i don’t really feel anything in the other toes. And also, what does ”psysiological support” actually mean? Haha I’m finnish so I don’t quite understand. I hope the toe scapers will help, thanks!
Elisa Kotilainen physiological support meaning how the bones, ligaments , and tendons support your feet and toes
I know i am late but i would like to know can you make a video on how to get back into ballet when you haven't been in it for a while? I danced when I was two to five but quit ballet and now i am 11 and would like to get back.
I would also like to work my way up to pointe. I really hope you see this
There is some great information in this video, but as a teacher there are some really important points I think that you should add. First of all, different brands and makes can have a slightly different fitting process; what you look for and what the proper fit will be can really depend on the fitter understanding the brand and the model -- there is not one fit that works for all brands and models. There are general rules of thumbs (i.e., shanks twisting means shoes are too narrow), but subtle differences that greatly affect proper fit. The other point that is really key is understanding fitting feet prone to bunions. While a good metatarsal fit is essential in ANY dancer, dancers with feet susceptible to bunions need a toe box that is wide enough to allow the big toe to stay in proper alignment with the foot. If the metatarsals fit, but the box is too tapered, the big toe will be pressed towards the middle of the foot, taking it out of alignment -- this is a sure-fire recipe for FHL tendon issues (your big toe literally cannot fire properly when it's out of alignment) and the development of bunions, and any dance physiotherapist will verify this. The dancer prone to bunions also often needs a toe spacer to make sure that the big toe cannot migrate out of line when in the shoe. If a dancer takes their foot out of the shoe after being en pointe, and their big toe is pressed in towards the middle of their foot (i.e., not in a straight line anymore), the toe box is too tapered. So, with all due respect, although these shoes hold your metatarsals beautifully, I would actually worry that these shoes are too tapered in the toe box for you, since your big toe appears out of alignment when you are out of the shoe.
How do you know if the shoe you're wearing is the best match? I've been on pointe for 1 year and im on my 4th pair. I really like the shoe but what if there is another pair out there that is better? Should I just go to my fitter and say I wanna try some more things?
I've watching this video so many times, there are incredible tips and you helped me a lot, thanks Katy
I have been in Pointe for a year and a half now and have only used one pair of shoes that whole time. I'm planning on getting new ones because they feel too small now but am I doing something wrong? I work very hard in class working through my whole foot but everyone else seems to be going through more shoes than me. Also I'm supposed to get a fitting every time i need new shoes right? Thanks 😊
Any advice for getting fitted by someone who really isn't very good at it? I live in a pretty rural area and there is only one store that sells pointe shoes anywhere near me. But they've given me the wrong shoes before, they've given others I dance with shoes that are so wrong she couldn't even wear them... The thing is we don't have any other options.
Leah Wilton you should travel to be fitted in pointe shoes. it's the best option. it'll be worth it, because buying the wrong shoes equals a huge waste of money and so much trouble.
fries Honestly I've considered it but I'm scared that the same thing is going to happen - I'm going to end up with someone who doesn't really know what they're doing.
hi, I have quite tapered Egyptian feet with small bunions and wide metatarsals. I recently got fitted into the Capezio Glisse but I'm having doubts. I got fitted at my local dance shop & she didn't really study my feet & I didn't do any plies or even go on pointe in the shoes. I tried them on at home & have found that i've got pain in one of big toes. I also tried on the Gamba 93 in the store. Help please!?
My country is not really that big on Ballet so my options when I started pointe were really limited, I went to the single store we have for a fitting, and after 4 years already since that day I'm just coming to realize the shoe I got fitted in was an awful fit, overall the sizing was pretty good, but the profile was awful (After the end of the box my arch would bulge up), and they died because the box softened, my shank was almost NEW (medium-hard) and my progress as a dancer stalled hard since that day, I would constantly get told I don't practice enough or don't put enough effort while I would struggle to even do demi pointe (even when the shoes were dead)
While my options are very limited, specially when it comes to shanks (probably have to keep using the same hardness) I'm considering moving from my SoDança Anne (fit me horribly) to either Bloch Serenade (they only offer C width at the store and I was a D in SoDança, so I'm really hoping their scales are different because otherwise I'll feel really sad) due to their higher profile. My other option were Freed Classic Pro Hard due to their low vamp, and I'm doing a order-refund fitting at home due to not being able to travel again to the store so I'm really really hoping there's a shoe for me
For the record I have "wide egyptian" feet, my feet are rather wide but my box area is really compressible, my profile is rather high since my foot instead of looking like a banana it looks like a triangle, not particularly flexible and I have pretty short tapered toes (no disappearing heel though, although my heel area is narrower than my "box" area when laying flat)
Hey Katie I loved this vid! It was great! Im doing a variation at YAGP next week and i am very worried about how my variation will go. Could you please tell me what I can do to make my variation look amazing? Any tips ? Thanks I’ve always been inspired by you.You help me so much 😍
Too bad, I ordered a new pair of pointe shoes a few days ago and after seeing this video, I find out that my pointe shoes are too narrow. I‘m not sure if I can send the shoes back..
xLisalein you can send them back if you haven’t sewed any ribbons on them or wrote your name in the shoe.
Hello, Kathryn! Thank you for this video! I have one question that's been bothering me for a while. When I go en pointe I have this really sharp pain on my big toe that hurts like crazy! But I found these gel toe caps and they help dull the pain, but it is still there. But that is only when I wear this really thick toe pad with it.. together they work to make the pain not so intense. However, now I feel like my feet are always crowded because I also have to wear a toe spacer. I currently wear Suffolk Stellars and I love them! Except for that one problem... Before I wore Blochs and I had a really bad sinking problem, before that I wore So Danca, which I also was sinking in a little bit. Suffolks are the first shoe I have worn wear I feel both really lifted and on top of my shoe... Do you think I need a new shoe, or am I doing something wrong in my Porte work? I have long toes, and a low profile. My feet aren't the prettiest, but I've worked really hard to make them strong and I've stretched them to the point that now I have a straight line from the shin to the foot, which makes me really proud🙂
Maybe you are sinking in. There could be a few reasons for that:
1. Your shoes are too wide in general. Maybe you should try shoes that are a little narrower.
2. Your toes are more arched than the box of your pointe shoes is made for. So maybe the box of your current pointe shoes are better for more square shaped or at least less tapered toes. So maybe you should try some pointe shoes that are more tapered towards the tip of the toes.
3. Your shoes are too long so going en pointe makes your food slide and sink into the box which may cause pain especially on your big toe.
Also double check the length of your pointe shoes in general:
1. If your shoes are too short, they will (obviously) compress your feet which will make your big toe hurt badly.
2. If your shoes are too long, the case I described before will arise.
Maybe I could give you some advice... 🙈
Naomi Schulz u might have an ingrown toenail... you might want to see a doctor or just dig it out. Also, you might have cut your toenail too short. It could also be your shoe, but try letting your toenail grow out or dig it out first so ur not spending a lot of money on new pointe shoes.
Hi, I haven't tried these but I was looking into toe pads a couple of nights ago and came across these molded ones called PerfectFit Pointe, you use a putty to make an insert for your shoes that filles the negative space around your toes. Not an ad I just legit thought these looked amazing. Good luck~ perfectfitpointe.com/
possumguts I also want to try them :)
Naomi Schulz I had the same problem. My shoes were too wide
I've been watching all these fitting videos only to slowly realise that I've been wearing the wrong point shoes for ages. And it's so frustrating because I always thought it was my feet.
Kathryn, in your video your heels were really red, why. Also this was super helpful
My heels are always that red. No idea! and I'm so glad this helped!
Because she goes on point a lot
Kathryn, could you assess the problem of clawing toes? Mine are like that naturally, because my feet are the opposite of flat, the toes claw and it's not possible to correct except with surgery. My left foot claws a lot more than the right ones... It's a nerve wracking problem. You any tips for that? What's the length of the shoe? If the length is perfect when I'm flat on the floor, it could happen that on pointe I will feel like the shoe should be one size smaller. But smaller it's too short when flat...
Help when I'm on flat it's too small and when I'm on pointe it just right idk what to dp
Recently my dance teacher told me to start with point shoes (Im 12). But the shop diddn’t have my size so i waited in three weekes to get them. But they never texsted me if they got my size or not. So i went to another shop and i got my shoes the same day. My mom soe the ribbons, But i so much bader than the other girls on the dance. What your best practicing tip? (Sorry Im not good at english, Im norwegian)
I also have a question I homeschooled myself for dance when I was 7 and started doing ballet at 16 how many years would it take for me to begin en pointe?
I want pointe shows and I cant get them 😫😖 They r so expensive and I dont know my size. I wanna dance soo badly but, i just cant 😭😭😭
I just bought my first pair of pointe shoes and I'm not even sure if they are ok, because is my first time just feeling those shoes I wasn't even sure of how it should feel. I think my toes are flat but idk, with the toepad on my feet feels a little bit tight and when I put on the shoes feels like that but I don't know if they are flat or not.
What do all the Xxxxx’s in the size mean? I’m just trying to buy shoes on discount dance and there are no fitters within 100 miles of me. Maybe farther
Ok so I do dance and I need pointe shoes and we went to the store and they are so expensive so I have to get them online so what do i have to do to measure please please reply
It’s weird I have very wide feet and Grisko works fine also they are pretty square but Bloch are too square in a weird way xD and the shank is actually shorter than my heel but they don’t stick out what should I do??