I got professionally fitted and my shoes were fine in the store. Now in class, the vamp is digging into my foot in demi-pointe and the heel is sliding off. Is it the size, the width or both? —Mandi
Master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee of the California-based ThePointeShop dives into pointe shoe sinking: what it is, why it happens, and what you can do to avoid it. Plus, Lee shares some thoughts on toe pad thickness.
This week, master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee of the California-based ThePointeShop answers another of your pointe shoe questions: "How come my pointe shoes fit perfectly at the fitting and don't anymore at home?" Lee explains the ways that your feet change throughout the day and the year, and the importance of trying your shoes on under different conditions.
Working with dancers in the pre-professional division at Ballet West Academy, master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee of the California-based The Pointe Shop shares all of her best tips for fitting dancers with long, tapered toes.
Earlier this summer, we followed master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee of the California-based The Pointe Shop as she made her on a pointe shoe fitting tour around the West Coast and California. Now she's back, this time on a 45-day tour from California to Chicago, educating students on all things pointe shoes and helping them to find their perfect fit. Lee's making stops at top ballet companies and academies across the country, interviewing school directors and chatting with professional ballerinas to find out how they customize and break in their pointe shoes. Below, check out Lee's first stop: Nevada Ballet Theatre. She touches base with company dancer Caroline MacDonald, and academy director Anna Lantz. Stay tuned for more!
Your feet may be the envy of your studio, but having flexible feet and ankles isn't always easy. Master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee outlines the risks of hypermobility and how to combat them.
For the pros and cons of inflexible feet and ankles, click here.
Stretch or non-stretch ribbons? Mesh or traditional elastics? Master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee of the California-based The Pointe Shop explains the differences between four different types of ribbons and two different types of elastics to make sure that you're getting the most comfort and support possible out of your pointe shoe.
Master pointe shoe fitter
Josephine Lee of the California-based The Pointe Shop encourages dancers, if possible, to get a professional pointe shoe fitting. But just making an appointment isn't enough—you have to come prepared!
With dozens of different brands and hundreds of different models, choosing the right pointe shoe can be a daunting task. Master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee of the California based The Pointe Shop is here to guide you through figuring out what kind of box, shape, crown , length, width and shank will be best for you.
Have you been told exactly which pointe shoe brand you should choose? Do you look at a wall of options and have no idea where to start? Master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee of
The Pointe Shop is here to help. As she says, "Your feet are like thumbprints. They're unique to you, and they're different from everyone else's."
How to Choose the Right Pointe Shoe Brand For You
www.youtube.com
Nadia Randall performing a pointe shoe fitting at The Shoe Room. Photo by Sonja Seiler, Courtesy Randall.
For many dancers, the quest for the perfect pointe shoe is a long one, littered with years' worth of rejected makes and models. With countless options out there, how should you navigate the many brands and trends to find your ideal pair? We spoke with Nadia Randall, general manager and fitting specialist at The Shoe Room—the official store of Canada's National Ballet School—about everything from online ordering to DIY customization.
What are some of the top mistakes dancers make in finding the right shoe?
Prioritizing the aesthetic of the pointe shoe over the functionality. The shoe's support should be foremost. Dancers may disagree, especially when they have been told by teachers that the shoes should look a certain way. But an ill-fitting shoe will look worse on a dancer's foot as she breaks it in incorrectly. It's about making your feet look the best that they can based on their shape. You can't change anatomy.
