Pointe shoe problems

When young dancers are new to pointe work there are hundreds of questions racing around their heads. However, there are some basic things to remember at the outset. When your pointe shoes are fitted by a specialist, they will work to the shape of your foot. The shoes shape will usually resemble the foot when it is flat on the ground. Most dancers with a square foot (three toes of equal length) use a broad style shoe (a broad platform or wider tip), and dancers with tapered toes (first toe longer) wear styles with a narrower platform. The body's weight is distributed more evenly over three toes of equal length than over a more fragile second toe, regardless of its length. If help is needed to even out the length of the toes, dancers can pad the big toe out in a broader shoe, making sure the compression rate of the pad does not flatten out when standing on pointe. If the second toe is longer and curls with the body's weight, a tapered style shoe may work better, as two toes are even, rather than one sustaining the work. Dancers of all levels of point work must always remember to 'pull up' out of their shoes through their core muscles. Pointe shoes will be fitted to accommodate the padding inside the shoe, and this may be done on the advice of the fitter or teacher. There is much debate within the dance community on what padding, if any, should be used; padding is a personal choice. There are a range of toe pad products on the market today to suit individual dancers' needs and not bulk the shoe to maintain the connection with the floor. Regardless, a pointe shoe does provide the support a dancer requires to stand on pointe and should fit like a second skin. As the pointe shoes are worked they begin the mould to the shape of your foot and enhance the shape and arch. Some dancers do this by hand rather than 'wearing them in' due to time constraints, and every dancer has their own personal method which works best for them. The shoes are weakened at the heel gradually in order to fit the arch effectively, aiding the dancer in 'getting over' on pointe if assistance is needed. It is of utmost importance a student is fitted by a professional who has been trained to fit pointe shoes and will be able to show certificates to support their training. They will be able to answer any questions and give you tips to look after shoes. It's also advisable to check shoes with your dance teacher before attaching any ribbons/elastics.