Pointe shoe guidelines

There are so many things to think about when it comes to pointe shoes. Are they the right fit for me? How do I get my pointe shoes to last? What accessories do I need? The questions are endless! It doesn't matter if you are a professional ballet dancer or just starting your pointe shoe journey, it's so important to make sure you are looking after your feet and shoes. If you need some pointe shoes to match your dance costume or just for everyday ballet class, in this blog I have put together some top tips and advice to help ballet dancers all over with their pointe shoe questions!

Tips to help dancers with extreme feet

Having super flexible feet can be a blessing but it can also be a curse too! Not having a strong enough shoe to support your foot can cause serious injury, therefore if you have really arched feet you need to choose a shoe with a stronger shank. Dancers with extreme feet need a shoe with a shank that allows the curve of their foot. We also recommend ballet dancers who have extreme feet to try a pointe shoe with a higher vamp and longer wings.

Three ways to look after your pointe shoes

1. As soon as you take your shoes off remove the padding and store both in a mesh bag separate from your dance bag
2. Once home remove from the mesh bag and lay flat on a hard surface
3. If you have back to back classes in a week we recommend rotating two pairs.

How to protect your feet in pointe shoes

No dancer likes wearing pointe shoes with at least some sort of protection. The most common form of protection for your feet in pointe shoes are toe pads, toe pads reduce friction and pressure that can cause pain. We recommend the Tendu Student Toe Pad but we sell many other great options such as the Bloch Pointe Cushion. Make sure to cut those toenails, this avoids common issues such as in grown or bruised toe nails. You want to be able to complete that ballet dance pain free! Use toe spacers if needed, Not every dancer is going to need spacers. Spacers can help reduce the growth of bunions, relieve pain, help with misalignment, and prevent inflammation.

Pointe shoe accessory checklist - our must haves for your pointe shoe bag!

✔ - Tendu Stretchy Pointe Shoe Ribbon

✔- Tendu Invisible Pointe Shoe Elastic

✔- Bunheads Pointe Shoe Stitch Kit

✔- Tendu Student Toe Pad

✔- Bunheads Toe Tape

We hope this will help you find your perfect pointe shoe but remember always go to get your pointe shoes fitted in real life before you decide!

To look en pointe for ballet class, shop our wide range of lovely dance leotards and dance shoes!

Need some tutu tips, have a read of our how to care for your tutu blog!

Move Dance xx

13/05/24