One of the most special days in a dancers life is the moment she gets her first pointe shoes. In order to have a positive experience as well as a successful outcome, there are a few things we suggest to help you prepare for your fitting. We will also discuss what to expect during your fitting as well as suggested after care for your feet and shoes.
Before
Discuss your fitting with your teacher.
Your teacher is the best person to know if you are ready for pointe shoes or not. Have a discussion with them about that readiness, your teacher may also refer you to a Physiotherapist for a pre-pointe assessment.
Your pre-pointe assessment should be completed by a physiotherapist who specialises in dance medicine. The assessment is individualistic and will take approximately one hour to complete, the result will be a roadmap of all strengths and weaknesses that may need to be worked upon in order to reach pointe readiness.
Here at Showtime we recommend the lovely Weronika Tobolska at Tempo Physiotherapy.
Book a fitting.
Before coming into store for your pointe shoes it is essential to make a booking. Pointe fittings are a thorough process and requires a generous amount of time to complete (usually between 30-45 minutes).
By booking your appointment it allows us to schedule the appropriate staff so that we may best serve you.
During
How pointe shoes should feel.
Remember no two feet are the same, and what works for one person will not necessarily work for you, everyone is unique.
Your pointe shoes fit differently to all other shoes, they should fit snugly around the foot. You should be able to wiggle your toes, but there shouldn't be any space for your foot to move inside the shoe. For the best possible fit it is always best to be fitted by a professional.
We also used specialised accessories that allow us to maintain and protect the alignment of your feet. This is important for the health and wellbeing of your feet now and into the future.
Communication is key.
Throughout the entire fitting process communication is vital, your fitter will be asking you lots of questions during your appointment and your feedback is required to achieve the best fit possible.
Following your fitting we recommend having your shoes approved by your teacher before sewing in case any adjustments need to be made.
After
Sewing your shoes.
Find your step by step guide to sewing your elastics and ribbons onto your pointe shoes at the links provided and in the 'How To' section on the Showtime Website.
Looking after your shoes.
Pointe shoes are hand made and finished with a soft satin, it is recommended to use suede toe caps to help protect the tips of your shoes and potentially extend the life time of your shoes.
Pointe shoes are not designed for outdoor use, and should only be used in a studio setting.
Pointe shoes do not take kindly to moisture, so air drying your shoes after use will maximise the lifespan of the shoes.
It is important to remember that there is no set time frame on the lifespan of your pointe shoes, every shoe, every situation and every dancer is unique.
Looking after yourself.
Now that the big moment is over it is important that you remember to look after yourself especially during those first few lessons on pointe.
It is common to experience some discomfort and a luke warm epson salt soak can help alleviate some of the built up soreness in your feet.
Don't forget that everyone moves at their own pace, enjoy the journey, live in the moment and soak up the experience.
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