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Pointe Shoes Explained!

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Did you ever ask yourself the question: What are pointe shoes? Here are your pointe shoes explained!

Sansha 808 Premier pointe shoes

Pointe shoes are worn by ballet dancers to support their weight on the tips of their toes when dancing. It’s referred to as ‘pointe’, the French word for ‘tip’ or ‘point’. The use of French terminology in ballet is common because of the history and influence of French ballet on the art form.

Sansha Deco – Blue

Pointe shoes are a type of specialized ballet shoe that allows dancers to dance on the tips of their toes. They are made with a hard, supportive box at the front of the shoe, which is typically constructed with layers of glue and fabric, and a shank, or sole, that provides support and stability for the foot. The toe box is typically reinforced with a layer of paste and/or paper to make it strong enough to support the weight of the dancer on the tip of their toes.

Pointe shoes can be hard or soft. Softened pointe shoes are used for class – and not for going ‘en pointe’ !

Pointe shoes are worn by ballet dancers who have trained for several years and have developed the strength, technique, and control necessary to dance en pointe, or on the tips of their toes. Dancing on pointe is considered one of the most challenging and physically demanding aspects of ballet, and requires a great deal of discipline, practice, and dedication.

So what are demi-pointe shoes?

Demi-pointe shoes, also known as soft blocks or pre-pointe shoes, are a type of ballet shoe that is used by dancers who are preparing to transition to dancing en pointe, or on the tips of their toes. Demi-pointe shoes are similar in design to pointe shoes, but they do not have a hard box at the front of the shoe, and the shank is typically more flexible.

Sansha Partenaire pointe shoes
Sansha Partenaire pointe shoes

Dancers use demi-pointe shoes to develop the strength and technique needed for dancing en pointe. By wearing these shoes, dancers can practice balancing on the ball of their foot and strengthening the muscles and tendons in their feet and ankles. Demi-pointe shoes can also be used for certain ballet exercises and performances, where the dancer may need a shoe with a bit more support than a regular ballet slipper.

It is important to note that dancers should only begin to use demi-pointe shoes – and pointe shoes! – under the guidance of a trained ballet teacher, and only after they have developed sufficient strength, technique, and control to do so safely. The transition to dancing en pointe should always be done gradually and with proper instruction, to prevent injury and ensure the health of the dancer’s feet and ankles.

At our shop, we have a variety of pointe shoes for different stages. Please enquire if you’re in doubt. Pointe shoes should also be properly fitted and should not be bought at random unless you have already had a fitting before.

Dance your way to happiness!

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Did you know that dancing makes you happy?

Any form of exercise is known to release endorphins, our ‘happy’ hormones. When we move, after a class or sports session, or after some activity, we feel less despondent, happier.

A dancer making some expressive movements.

Dance is one such form of movement – whether it’s a vigorous jazz lesson or a ballet lesson. There is this idea that ballet is a ‘calmer’ type of dance. It isn’t. Ballet can be just energetic, including jumps, leaps and darts across the room.

Added to the exercise factor, dance is a form of art. Dance is a means of expression. Not only do we move and generate happy hormones. When we dance, we express feeling.

A dancer in a black-and-white Sansha camisole leotard

This is why it is important to move in a coordinated way. Our arabesques, our pirouettes, our springs. These are all executed with the right emotion. It could be a graceful, gentle movement, like a port-de-bras. Or it could be a sharp movement like a pirouette or grand jete’.

Look your best when dancing. Take a look at our leotards section, or browse our bottoms for that matching pair of pants. A simple change, such as new tights, can make all the difference to your appearance.

How do I sew on ballet shoe elastics or pointe shoe ribbons?

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I’ve created a short video on how to sew on ballet shoe elastics, which I did for a little girl’s ballet shoes. So, how do I sew on my ballet shoe elastics or pointe shoe ribbons?

By age 10 I knew how to do this for myself – even if a little messy. As I grew older I used the technique to sew on ribbons for my pointe shoes.

I even learnt to darn my pointe shoes – which I don’t think they do any more. I’m not sure. You work through pointe shoes very fast and often, it might not be worth the hassle.

The technique is the same – you bend the back forward to mark where the ribbon should stick, and slant the ribbon or elastic slightly forward. With elastics, you need to measure how much you need, as otherwise the shoe will fit wide.

Here is the video – created by me. Enjoy watching and make sure to leave your comments below!

How do I care for my dance shoes ?

Buying dancewear and shoes, Dancing - General Info, Uncategorized

Caring for dance shoes is important for the dancer – they are the tools of his or her trade.

Sansha Partenaire pointe shoes
Sansha pointe shoes

Whether talking of ballet shoes, jazz shoes, dance sneakers, show shoes, ballroom shoes – they don’t come cheap (even if we have good bargains instore! ) and they deserve to be treated well.

Ballet shoes and pointe shoes, being the lightest in colour, are probably the most delicate. These should not be worn outside – unless that is part of the performance.

To clean ballet shoes, simply wipe down with a moist cloth with some gentle soap if you like but then wipe down again with a rinsed cloth. While regularly using leather ballet shoes, I would also sometimes use expired moisturiser on the leather, to keep it soft and supple.

Sansha Dynamo black and blue sneakers

Never use a damp – or worse, wet – cloth on pointe shoes, whether canvas or satin. These are made of layers of cardboard and resin, and baked. Definitely, they should not be cleaned with a wet cloth: you cannot really clean these shoes at all.

Canvas ballet and jazz shoes cannot be cleaned with a wet cloth, either. Black canvas ballet or jazz shoes can be sprayed with some suede spray. This gives them back their vivid black colour. They will need to be left to dry thoroughly so that the dye does not leak onto socks or tights. There still is a danger that sweaty feet will cause the spray colour to leak – you’re warned!

Leather jazz shoes and sneakers can be wiped down in the same way as leather ballet shoes. Again, one may use black leather shoe polish. Care should be used: the colour may leak if the feet are sweaty or in humid temperatures. Do this carefully as when being used, the sweaty feet can cause colour leak. Suede sneakers can be sprayed with neutral suede spray – your safest option.

Ballroom shoes can be cleaned very much like normal shoes. Water is still not really an option. However, it might be safe to clean the soles with a slightly damp cloth, especially if the shoes have rubber soles.

I used to wear my dance sneakers to hang out. I figured that the rubber soles made it ok to do so. However, the truth is that the rubber on dance shoes isn’t really made for street / outdoor wear. The rubber will wear away pretty fast. Try to avoid doing that.

In short – dance shoes are the tools of the art – or of the trade. They should be properly cared for and used only as appropriate . This means, on the proper dance flooring and during class.

Keep an eye on our pages for more care tips!

The new scholastic year has started

Buying dancewear and shoes, Dancing - General Info, Jazz Shoes, leotards, Pointe Shoes

… and ballet, jazz, tap, hip hop classes have started again.  People are turning up to classes in numbers that seem like normal and COVID seems to be a thing of the past.

At The Ballet Shop, we have most of our traditional items in stock.  From pointe shoes, to dance sneakers, jazz pants, leotards, ballet shoes jazz shoes….

We have had some issues with receiving goods from outside the EU, so bear with us.  We had sufficient stock so far, but items are running low and we are trying to source alternatives rather than procure the more expensive stuff.  Please watch this space!

 

 

 

How old – or young – do you have to be to start ballet lessons?

Dancing - General Info

How old must my daughter be when I send her to her first ballet / jazz / other dance class?

I am 15 years old, am I too old to being dance classes?

How young were you when you started ballet?  I was 3 years old – I could dance as soon as I could toddle.  And there began a lifelong – if rocky – relationship with the art form.  That was ballet.  Many ballet classes are available at the age of 3.  Usually called Babies  Class, the one before pre-primary.  Sometimes there is Baby Ballet – for the real toddlers in their terrible two’s. I ventured into other forms of dance as well – ballet remains my personal favourite, but other forms work well for me too, especially neoclassical / jazz.

You are never too late to begin to dance – in any shape or form, and any discipline.  You may still have a chance of working your way up to a very advanced level if you have what it takes – and that includes perseverance,  as I was always told. Perseverance is the determination that keeps you going in the face of all adversity, and the will and energy to keep going, to get better and to learn.  Because, like life, dance is a constant journey of learning.  When we stop learning, we grind to a halt.

 

 

A little girl in a tutu
Sansha little girls’ tutu

 

To my mind, ballet is the basis for all other forms of dance: you first learn the rules before you can break them. Ballet gave me suppleness, a sense of rhythm, strong legs and a dancer’s back.  Not that I’m any form of ballerina, but the stance never leaves you.  I still remember wearing a crown on my head with Ms Jenny Delicata, my first and most loved ballet teacher, wearing a tutu for the first time with Ms Alison White, going en pointe for the first time with Ms Joanna Rummolino and performing at the Manoel for the first time ever in full ballet tutus, sylphides and so on with Ms Brigitte Gauci Borda.

With other forms of dance, it is common to start later – say aged 7 or 8.  This is when the young dancer begins to discern between different types of dance, favourite forms of movement, and preferred modes of expressing their artistic talent. Children should be allowed to experiment, but we still think that ballet forms the basis for most forms: and that those students who have a ballet background have an advantage over those who don’t.

In short – starting as young as the age of 3 gives the proper stance that will last a lifetime, whether or not they continue to dance.  Of course, starting later is an option – and with other forms of dance, it’s probably the way to go as classes would not be available at such an early age.

Whatever the age, our shop provides a wide range of dancewear, and you can always contact us if you don’t see what you want.

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