when a dancer gets new pointe shoes...is there a break~in period or other technique that gets them adapted to the contours of the feet before theyre ready to work with full scale? Or is it right from shoe box to rosin box?
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New York City
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Re: break~in period
Sun, February 1, 2004 - 3:02 AMwell, hello again....
Most dancers, I believe, have to somehow, in whatever individual way, have to break in their point shoes. Some whack the hell out of them! Some soak them, some heat them up, some hammer them, some tear shreds of material off of them or from the inside, some have to do a little step-work and really break them in when few....only so few can just get in them and go. They really need to be comfortable and form to your feet. They have to move with you and be able to roll right into pointe along with you. etc etc....well, maybe that will help a little. I LOVE how you are curious about that!! -
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Re: break~in period
Sun, February 1, 2004 - 7:49 AMwelll now that Im *here* I finally have a chance to learn and ask these things. Annnnd you know how ~*especially*~ interested I am in things pertaining to pointe ;)
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Unsu...
Re: break~in period
Sun, February 1, 2004 - 2:43 PMjust out of curiosity, are you actually intending to soemday take pointe? Cause I have only known of 1 guy to attempt pointe-and it's hot;) good luck with whatever you choose :) -
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Re: break~in period
Sun, February 1, 2004 - 4:36 PMnope...my knees would never tolerate ballet...possible meniscal tears being evaluated...I just think pointe is mind blowingly sexy...and I want to know every little detail about it. I love knowing what makes a dancer tick.
I know a burlesque performer whos acts frequently involve pointe...Id let her use me as a footrest if she asked me. I got to watch her tie em on one night and I was just awestruck.
Thanks for the wishes of luck...most kind :)
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Re: break~in period
Mon, February 2, 2004 - 8:14 AMthe box is really really hard...when you get a new pair they never fit upon first wear. You've got to put them on, feel for the tough spots where it's not giving, then beat the shit out of 'em then put 'em back on, feel for tough spots, then beat 'em again. It depends on the brand, the style and everything else on the beating method. I know that there is a newer substance that they're using for the box which can be softened with a blow dryer and then you can mold how you wish. These shoes also, or so i've heard, have the longest life of pointe shoes, which really isn't very long if you area serious dancer and need quality support for daily pointe excercise/performance...I've heard company's that invest hundereds of thousands per year in these manufacturers to keep their dancers in decent shoes....really! -
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Re: break~in period
Mon, February 2, 2004 - 10:25 AMIm loooooving this thread...I love this kinda knowledge.
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Re: break~in period
Mon, February 23, 2004 - 12:58 AMThere's a lot of factors that go into the breakin time for a shoe.
It largely depends on the brand of shoe and the dancers feet, and what role she is dancing.
For myself I use a few different styles of shoes depending on the role I'm performing. Generally all I do to break it in is press on the vamp (the part that covers the top of your toes and metatarsals) to soften it up for demi-pointe work and rolling through. Then I press the wings of the shoe (the sides of the box) between my palms. Then I just wear them for a barre in class and they're usually perfect.
If I'm doing a role where there is a lot of adagio work and I need to be able to roll through the shoe effortlessly then I work in the arch and metatarsal-demi pointe areas a little more to get them really maluable. If it's a piece that has lots of pirouettes, jumps en pointe, or fast releves and foot work I like the shoe a little more stiff...for the extra support in springing onto pointe.
