Ballet dancers and pointe shoes
Here’s an article on the laborious and idiosyncratic complexity of the relationship between pointe shoes and the ballet dancer. The shoes are hand-made (and for professional ballet dancers, custom-made) but they are not worn as is. There is a lengthy process of personal shoe preparation that varies from dancer to dancer but is absolutely necessary in order to perform.
When you watch ballet, it’s probably something you don’t think about; perhaps it’s best that it remain that way. But I find it fascinating, having been through my own version of it, although long long ago.
In fact, I used to dream about pointe shoes quite often back when I was dancing. I would dream I had found a new brand and put them on, and suddenly I could spin and balance with enormous precision and flair. I had found my magic and transformative shoes!
[NOTE: I’ve written about pointe shoes before, here.]
“When you watch ballet, it’s probably something you don’t think about; perhaps it’s best that it remain that way.”
Whew, I don’t feel so bad now.
Question: Neo, is it okay if I am paying particular attention (to the exclusion of most everything else) to the physique of the female dancers?
Footwear is really involved?
(pardon me, I am teasing. Am fully aware and very much appreciate the footwork.
Hi Neo…got tickets to Swan Lake at PA Ballet in March…bought the music(cd) and have been “learning it”…that music is FANTASTIC!
Then, all I have to do is sit back and enjoy the dancing, as I’ll already know the music and will be looking forward to it…
Never would have tried this had I not read of it on your blog…John Hinderacker for target shooting(never tried that before either…it’s fun!)…Neo Neocon for Ballet…got all my bases covered now!
Paul R:
Wonderful!
“Swan Lake” is among the greatest of musical scores for ballet.
In the old days, when skates were made out of mostly leather- there was a very painful break in period- one of the methods was to sit in the bath with your skates on, and then let them dry around your feet. Nowadays skates are mostly plastic- you bake ’em before you skate on them.
Neo, you are actually gonna’ fall for Paul R’s tactic?
Seriously?
I’d have thought you would have seen that coming a mile away. And Paul should be ashamed of himself…
Hold on….gotta go turn the album over.
Act II, Scene 13, “Danses des Cygnes” just concluded and on to, Act III, Scene 16, “Danses du Corps de Ballet et des Nains”. Then to get my handkerchief…my eyes are still damp…
I danced for almost ten years. I still have all my toe shoes. When I knew I was going to give it up, I got one more pair, just to wear a couple of times, so I would have one pair that looked pretty. Because none of the others looked pretty by the time I got them to feel good. Reminded me a little of dirty pig snouts. The one pair was the one I always hung on the wall; the others stayed on my trunk with all my dance costumes, and other memorabilia from my youth.
I loved my little rabbit fur thingies. I found the rabbit fur comfy for other uses. Used foam ones, too, but the edges were uncomfortable. But then, considering how painful it was to cram your get in to such tiny footwear, how much discomfort did/could the foam toe pads add? I wore size eight and a half normal shoes — point shoes were a five. I keep thinking, if they still make the rabbit fur thingies, maybe I’ll get a pair. They were great in boots for keeping your toes warm.
Thanks for the memories!
Lee:
Dirty pig snouts—that’s good! Mine were so soft by the time I was done with them that they looked more like dirty old thick pink socks (not that I had any thick pink socks).
The bunny fur, though—that was a no-no according to my dance teachers. We weren’t allowed to use it because it was too thick, and it didn’t let you feel the floor. I liked to customize my lamb’s wool anyway—you could adjust the size and shape depending on how you were feeling that day.
I wore a size 6 and a half regular shoe and a size 3 to 3 and a half pointe shoe (C or D as I recall), depending on the brand.
A couple of other things:
I used Capezios with leather toes, mostly. I used neats foot oil on the soles. My feet are so ugly, but I think because I was not that dedicated, nor did I really dance for that long, they’re not nearly as ugly as they could have been. But I have calluses that are unbelievable. They were, as one of the girls mentioned, desirable. Helped protect my feet.
I wish I’d know about sewing tucks in the shoes themselves. Don’t know why that never crossed my mind. I guess the shoes start of so pretty, but the get so brat up so fast — just so they can be danced in. I guess I didn’t want to uglify then any more than necessary.
My feet were so beyond pain, they couldn’t feel anything much less the floor!
So, pointe shoes, when fitted properly, well-worn in, etc. are like Keds were for kids my age – they make you run faster and jump higher, except pointe shoes make you do all that dance stuff better. Did I read that right?