The Perfect Pointe Book
I'm a big fan of Lisa Howell's Perfect Pointe Book, and not just for pointe work. Who doesn't want a more beautifully arched foot, stronger turnout, and better balance? All these things are vital for pointe work, but will benefit your other dancing as well - and you'll find… Continue reading
Sansha Futura Review
Flyte Pointe Shoes
The Flyte certainly sounds like a good pointe shoe in theory.
It was developed at the University of Wolverhampton and seven years of research went into its creation.
It's claimed to last longer, improve balance and give better shock absorption.
And as you can see in the photo above, it's… Continue reading
Grishko 2007 Pointe Shoe Review
Grishko 2007
The number of positive reviews for this pointe shoe on the Discount Dance website is amazing. There seems to be a lot of very satisfied Grishko customers out there! So what's so good about the shoe?
One of the reasons they're such a best-seller is they come in… Continue reading
Capezio Glisse Pointe Shoe Review
The Capezio Glisse was designed from specifications developed by Gine Chant. Gine is an ex-dancer herself and also had over 10 years' experience fitting pointe shoes before designing this shoe, and the results speak for themselves - it's one of the best-selling pointe shoes ever!
The Glisse features an extended… Continue reading
How Professionals Break in their Pointe Shoes
No matter how many instructions you may read about how to break in your pointe shoes, the bottom line is that everyone has a slightly different method.
I love this clip about three Australian Ballet dancers and how they break in their pointe shoes:
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Here is another interesting article… Continue reading
Gaynor Mindens – a User’s View
I found this personal viewpoint from a Gaynor Minden wearer interesting:
...mainly because it illustrates how vital it is to be fitted properly for GM's. Why do I say that? Take a look at this video of her dancing in the shoes:
If you didn't know better, this clip would… Continue reading
Capulet Pointe Shoes
Another specialist in the "high-tech" arena - but more readily available than the Flyte! - is Capulet.
Their Juliet d3o pointe shoe uses d30, a synthetic material that is normally soft and cushiony, but locks on sudden movements (e.g. landing from jumps) to absorb the impact.
The whole shoe… Continue reading
How Gaynor Mindens are different!
Gaynor Minden pointe shoes are very different to traditional shoes. This clip has a very good discussion on how, and why.
Gaynor Mindens are highly controversial - dancers seem to love them or hate them, and some teachers simply won't allow their students to wear them. Yet the Royal Ballet… Continue reading
