How to Choose the Right Pointe Shoes?

For every dancer, getting their first pair of pointe shoes is an exciting experience. However, when you are out buying them, you cannot just choose anything that catches your eye. In order to make sure your shoes are comfortable, supportive and will give you the best results when performing, there are many things to consider. Take a look at the following to figure out what they are.

Make Sure They Fit Right

When buying pointe shoes, make sure that the fit is snug and that your feet do not feel squeezed in. The box of the shoes should feel snug on your toes in order to make sure that your toes are not uncomfortable. Try slipping your finger inside the pointe shoe where the toes are. If you can fit your finger inside, then they are the right size for you. If not, you will not be able to dance comfortably in them. The wings along the sides need to be long enough to reach your big too.

Getting shoes with wings that are shorter and do not reach your toes increases the risk of injuries such as bunions. The heel of the shoes should not be too high or too low. Heels that are too high can cause problems with the Achilles tendon of the foot. If you choose a shoe with a vamp that does not fit right, you will not be able to do a demi point right and will not be able to rise properly. To find the right fit for your pointe shoes opt for those made by a famous designer who has experience in creating the shoes of the right measurements.

Fabric

Another thing to consider when buying pointe shoes is the fabric with which they are made. The main three types of material used to make pointe shoes are leather, canvas and satin. leather is usually for young dancers, as it improves the foot strength of younger performers, it is more durable than other materials and is also the most expensive choice of fabric.

Canvas shoes are usually used for split soles ballet shoes as it moulds to the feet of the dancer and helps to emphasis the arches.  It is less expensive than leather and is easier to clean too. However, its durability is lower. Satin is the material that is often used for performances including exams and competitions. They have more aesthetic appeal than the other two materials but wear easily.

Split Sole or Full Sole

Each sole type of a ballet shoe has its own advantages and disadvantages.  Split sole can flatter the line of the foot and allows its performer more flexibility and technique. It is more aesthetical when it comes to performances. A downside of using split sole shoes is that they have less arch support. A full sole ballet shoe has more resistance than a split sole shoe.

It is great therefore to build foot muscles and make the feet stronger for performances. However, they can easily hide bad techniques and foot work which means mistakes are hardly seen, which can risk them never being corrected.

Choosing the right ballet shoes are important not only to train well in the right techniques and perform well, but also to make sure that you will not have any accidents that can affect your movement.