Breaking in those shiny new pointe shoes

When non-dancers think about pointe shoes, they picture the scene from Center Stage where the dancers are bending, breaking, smashing, burning their new pointe shoes. If you have to mutilate your shoe for it to feel comfortable and work for you, you are probably wearing the wrong shoe for you!

*Disclaimer: If you are a professional ballet dancer, you have probably spent hours and hours over the years, going to fittings, trialing types of different shoes, making modifications to those shoes, and perfecting how to get a pair fit perfectly to your feet. You are likely going through dozens of pairs a season and you have learned how to get a new pair up to par as quickly as possible. You do you. These tips are meant for the novice dancer who is relatively new to wearing pointe shoes and is likely going to go through 1-3 pairs a year. 

Step 1: Walk around the house. Put on those new shoes and just walk around. Get your feet used to the shoes and get the shoes used to your feet. Do this for a few minutes a day for the first few days.

Step 2: From first position, step one foot to second and press through the platform of the shoe. Repeat while alternating side to side. 

Step 3: In parallel with feet together, cross one foot over the other and press gently through the front edge of the platform, giving a gentle stretch to the top of the foot/front of the shoe.

Step 4: While holding on to a barre or counter, perform pique to passe, coming on to full releve in the shoe for the first time. Perform several repetitions on both sides.

Step 5: In parallel with feet together, roll through demi pointe to full releve and slowly lower back down through demi pointe. 

Step 6: Repeat step 5 with feet in first position. 

Step 7: Perform a full barre warm up wearing the new pointe shoes. 

Step 8: Complete a full class in the new shoes but only one class that day in these shoes.

When steps 1-8 are complete, you are ready for these shoes to be your full time pointe shoes! Do not move to the following step until you feel comfortable and confident in the previous step. It should take you several days to move between each step.

Questions? Email [email protected] or check out @balanceddancept on instagram.

Need help with your shoes or another dance-related issue you have going on? Visit www.balancedptclt.com to schedule a free phone consult and see if Balanced Dance Wellness is the right fit for you!