Preparing Pointe Shoes For Performance
By Judy Rice

Preparing the Shoes

Ideally, a dancer should have at least two pair of pointe shoes that are broken in "to performance-perfect condition." The amount of molding and manipulation to get the shoe to this condition depends on the quality of the movement being performed and the strength of the dancer's feet. For instance, if the dancer is performing multiple fouettes, she might need hard shoes to support her feet while on pointe during turns. If a piece is largely petite allegro, a softer shoe is needed to assure articulation of the feet to enhance the execution of the jumps. Dancers cannot expect to buy a pair of pointe shoes, sew on the ribbons, and have the shoes perform magic. Teach your students to become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of their feet and show them how to prepare their shoes accordingly. Manipulating the shoe is a specific technique that is difficult to explain in writing, but it is incredibly important to understand that molding the shoe to her foot is essential for the dancer to perform to her fullest potential.

If needed, the dancer should use Jet Glue™ or shellac to keep the shoes in performance-perfect condition. These products provide two ways a dancer can harden the shoe after it has broken down and thereby extend the life of the shoe. The more a pointe shoe is molded to the dancer's foot, the more successfully she will be able to perform pointe work. Shellac can be purchased at a basic hardware store.

Like rehearsal pointe shoes, performance shoes must be broken in. The difference is that the dancer molds the rehearsal shoe, shellacs or Jet Glues it, wears it, and repeats this process until the shoe dies. The performance shoe should be molded, shellacked, or Jet-Glued until it is at the optimum hardness for peak performance level and then put away for the performance.

When breaking in pointe shoes for performance, I like to apply pancake makeup to soften the shoe and to provide a smooth, non-glossy appearance. The makeup softens the box, and helps make the shoe sound less klunky and more muted. Also, if marks appear during rehearsal, it only takes a quick touch of the makeup to bring the shoe back to performance appearance. I prefer Max Factor™ Natural #1. Be careful that the pancake does not get on the satin on the bottom of the shoe. This can make the shoe slippery

Ribbons and elastic should be checked and reinforced to prevent a mishap such as a ribbon coming unsewn or an elastic popping off during a performance. I use double threaded dental floss to sew these on and pay particular attention to performance shoes. Put extra knots in the floss for security.

Once the performance shoes have been prepared, tell your students to put them away until dress rehearsal.

Pointe Shoe Care Kit Adhesive strips such as Band-Aids to wrap blisters Adhesive tape BFI Powder™ Ouch Pouches™ & Toe Spacers™, such as those by Bunheads Corn Pads Extra Lambs Wool Anti-bacterial cream such as Neosporin™ Scissors Second Skin™ or blister gel pads Tincture of Arnica, an external use herbal preparation that is helpful in reducing the pain of bruised toenails (see your pharmacist). These products can be found at pharmacies and some dancewear stores.

 RE008 ©2006, Rhee Gold Co. All rights reserved.