How should pointe shoes fit?
Pointe shoes must fit perfectly, “as a glove” to your feet. A loose pair of shoes greatly decrease the control of your movements and increase the possibilities of injury. The reason why pointe shoes should not be bought “to grow into.”
Be prepared to be asked plenty of questions when trying your new point shoes. This may help to see whether the shoes are too tight or simply snug in an unfamiliar way. Keep in mind that they must never be so tight to cause pain.
A number of the signs that the shoes are too tight are:
- pinching of the little toes;
- toes not lying flat;
- squeezing or creasing of the sole;
- blisters at the heel;
- feeling that the big toe is jammed or stubbed.
On the other hand, a properly fitting shoe should allow you to have all five toes flat against the insole, and the big toe at the end of the box, without creating any sorts of discomfort when doing a plié. The heel is snug when you stand flat; on pointe, there is a little “pinch” in the heel fabric.
When on pointe, the dancer’s weight is evenly distributed on the toes, keeping the balance from the centre of the platform, and the feet do not sink into the box. The entire body should follow an imaginary vertical line, drawn from the head to the toes, without any noticeable “breaking” angles, especially the metatarsal area or ankle.
So, what is a perfect fit in pointe shoes?
First of all, for a perfect fit, the pointe shoes should match your foot shape and fit snugly but not painfully tight, work well technically, and of course the desired appearance. Keep in mind that a proper pointe fitting is an essential part, to avoid injuries from pointe work. When shoes fit properly, the dancer performs at her best and dances with maximal safety.
The Model
As mentioned before, the pointe shoe model must be chosen accordingly to the shape of the foot, this involves evaluating the relative sizes of the heel, metatarsal area and toes, as well as toe length and toe taper.
Size and Width
On the other hand, a properly fitting shoe should allow you to have all five toes flat against the insole, and the big toe at the end of the box, without creating any type sorts of discomfort when doing a plié. The heel is snug when you stand flat; on pointe, there is a little “pinch” in the heel fabric.
What happens when “the shoes are too small…”
Pointe shoes should never be tight enough to cause pain. Signs of overly tight shoes include pinching of the little toes, toes not lying flat in the box, squeezing or creasing of the sole, and blisters at the heel. Feeling that the big toe is jammed or stubbed can result from either pointe shoes that are too tight or a toe box that is too wide so that the toes aren’t staying straight.
What happens when “the shoes are too big…”
Wearing loose pointe shoes is a recipe for disaster. Sprained ankles and dangerous falls are likely, as are abrasions from the foot moving around in the shoe. In earlier years, many dancers had trouble finding shoes that were appropriately snug because there was so little variety in the available pointe models. Some had to wear pointe shoes that were painfully tight to have the correct function of a snug shoe. Today, every dancer should be able to find a pointe shoe that fits like a glove, moulding to her foot without any painful pinching or squeezing.
If you have any questions or are not sure which type of pointe shoes is best for you, drop a message at info@dancingzone.no or contact us via Facebook or Instagram. We will be happy to assist you! …we might even be able to personally assist you!
