How to Properly Fit Pointe Shoes

How to Properly Fit Pointe Shoes

Different brands make different shapes and types of pointe shoes for different people and needs. This can be very complicated for those who are buying for the first time, so if you can, have your dance teacher or an experienced dancer come with you to the fitting. Fitters in different stores can be extremely good or very bad, therefore it's a good idea to ask someone you trust for the name of a good fitter.

It's a good idea to know what to look for and feel for yourself, even if the person who fits your shoe should check all of these things. The fitter can see how the shoe looks from the outside, but only you can feel what's going on inside.

If you can, ask your teacher to come with you the first time you get your pointe shoes fitted so they can make sure they fit. If they can't go, always check the fit of the shoes with them before you sew on the ribbons, break in the shoe, or dance in them. If you wear them about the house and get them soiled, you might not be able to return them to the retailer, which can be quite expensive.

There is a name for each section of the pointe shoe. Before you go to the store for the first time, try to memorize the names of the different sections of the shoe. If the fitter asks, "Is that vamp too high?" you'll know what she means. You may find a lot of help online.
Always try on the shoe with any padding or "Ouch Pouches" you will use while dancing, and check the shoe in each of the following positions.

A) Check the fit of the box. The foot should fit tightly in standing, and the toes shouldn't be too squished in (They should be able to lie flat). When standing, the skin should not bulge over the top border of the shoe. The top of the box should touch the skin on the top of your foot. You should be able to slide the tip of your finger over your toes and into the shoe. There will be extra space here if the box is too round for a flat foot. You can make the box a little flatter, but it will also change the breadth.

B) Check how long the wings are. The wings should reach the side of the big toe joint. If they are excessively short, the box will pull the big toe in at an angle, which could cause a bunion to grow. If they are overly long, it could be hard to work through the demi-pointe.

C) Look at where the shoe's heel is. The satin on the heel should go approximately 7/8 of the way up the heel bone. If you go too high, you can have problems with the connection of your Achilles tendon. If you wear them too low, the heel of the shoe will pop out when you stand up, which will annoy you.

D) Pay attention to how long the vamp, or front of the shoe, is. You won't be able to rise through the demi-pointe well if the vamp is too long. But if it's too short for long toes, you'll feel like you're tumbling out of the front of the shoe.
E) When you plie in a wide seconde posture, your foot is at its longest and widest. This means that while you are dancing, you need to make sure that there is adequate room in the shoe for your foot. Your toes should stay long in the shoe, and at the depth of your plie, they should just touch the end of the shoe. If your toes are really short, you may need to add padding to the inside of the shoe box to get a good line and fit.

F) Before putting any weight on the shoe, you should check to see if it fits when standing up. Put the front of one shoe on the floor and your weight on the other foot. To see if the box fits, push down a little. The foot should be supported in the box and not sink too far below. Look at how much satin is on the back of the heel. If the shoe is too big and the foot has moved forward, there will be more satin. If the top of your foot is sticking out, the box is too small. The wings should support both the large and small toe knuckle joints. If they are excessively short, the tops of the wings will cut into the shoe and make an ugly line on the toe.

G) To check the length of the shoe, take the satin off the heel and fold it back under the shoe. Put the foot back on pointe and see where the sole ends. The end of the sole or shank should be directly below the end of the heel. If the shoe is excessively long (as in the picture on the right), the satin at the back of the shoe may bag because it is cut to fit around the heel. But if the shank is too short, the foot will move around more, and the satin will draw too low. When you go from demi to full pointe, the back of the shoe commonly pops off, which may be very annoying.

H) When the foot is en pointe, check to confirm that the shank is in line with the sole of the foot. If the shank of the shoe is turning, first make sure the foot is in the right position. The box should be fine as long as it is level and the foot is in the right place. The shank not fitting the contour of the arch is often what causes the shoe to twist. You can fix this by breaking in the heel of the shoe before wearing it. But if the box is too thin, the shank may also twist on the foot, so examine this area again.

Once you have a satisfactory fit, you can try putting weight on the shoe by stepping up onto pointe. Put one foot en pointe and hold on to the back of a stable chair or bench. Put some weight on that shoe, then lift the other foot up onto its point. Make sure your toes are long in the shoe and that there aren't any spots where the pressure is too much on any toe. If you can, you should avoid using particular padding in the shoe to fix isolated regions of pressure. Instead, you should try to have a good fit.

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