Welcome Fall 2024 Pointe Cohort at Broche Ballet!

Complete your Registration below

The Pointe Cohort is not included on the Broche Ballet Membership. A significant amount of accountability and support with pointe shoe fitting is required for the pointe cohort. Additionally this program is private only to those who apply to ensure a small group of the same dancers throughout the cohort.

What’s included?

  • Letter to your prospective pointe shoe fitter about your unique feet and needs

  • 16 weeks of 2x weekly Zoom class

  • Recordings

  • Private community for support, shoe fitting questions, and accountability

  • Email access to Julie for support, questions, and issues

  • Certificate of completion

One-time fee $400.

This fee is non-refundable and non-transferrable to a future cohort. If you drop the cohort for any reason, you do not need to apply again, but the $400 registration fee will be forfeited. If there is anything we can do to ensure you are able to complete the program, please let us know.

Congratulations on your hard work so far! Let’s get en pointe!

This guide will cover everything you need to know about getting your first pair of pointe shoes.

  • Review the commitment to join the 16-week Pointe Program

  • Prepare your space with flooring & barre

  • Getting your shoes

  • Sewing your shoes

  • And more!

Step 1) Review the commitment

The beginning of the pointe journey requires dedication and commitment to build up the skills and strength required for pointe.

Because of this, regular ballet & pointe class attendance is very important to avoid injury while the class progresses through the beginner pointe skills.

Dancers who are accepted into a pointe cohort are required to attend live class weekly for the duration of the cohort with the expectation of catching up with recordings for missed weeks.

If you need to miss more than 3 weeks in a row without being able to catch up with recorded sessions, it may not be safe for you to continue with the cohort and you may need to pause your pointe training and wait for the next cohort.

After the 16 week program once you have a base level of strength, you can take small chunks of time off of pointework, but in the beginning while we build this strength and work up to more complex and challenging skills, it is critical not to skip weeks in the program.

Class Schedule:

The pointe cohort will run weekly from October 1 - February 1, excluding holiday weeks for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

Step 2) Prepare your space

-> Flooring

Wood/tile

If you have wood flooring or tile flooring, it is ok for pointework, but also a bit slippery. If you're able to do so, you may want to invest in a Marley mat since pointe shoes are extra slippery.

Carpeting

However, if you have carpeting, it is very unsafe to do pointework on an unstable carpeted flooring. In this case, you must purchase something like a Dot2Dance in the Grande size. You can achieve a similar result with plywood flooring and a Marley mat, but in the end, it’s unlikely to save you any money.

-> Barre

Make sure that you have something to hold onto that is tall enough that you don’t have to lean over while you’re on rélevé. Since we do most of our pointework facing the barre with 2 hands, it is much more convenient to use a real barre versus a chair or countertop. If you’re able, it’s a great time to consider investing in a barre. Vita Vibe is a great brand here in the US.

Step 3) Get your shoes!

Preparing for pointe is a very exciting time, and involves ensuring that we have the following supplies ready:

  • Properly fitted pointe shoes

    • Padding, toe spacers, tape, etc, based on your individual needs

    • Ribbons and elastics sewn on

  • Appropriate stable flooring with enough friction that you won’t feel like you are slipping

  • Stable and sturdy barre (or similar) to hold onto

We’ll cover each area below.

Getting fitted for Pointe Shoes

Why get fitted professionally?

When purchasing your first pair of pointe shoes, it is very important to get fitted in person by a professional. There are many different brands of shoes that will fit all dancers differently (Bloch, Capezio, Grishko, Gaynor Minden, Russian Pointe, etc). Consequently, it is important to get the right type of shoe to best fit your individual foot. When getting your first pair of pointe shoes, you will want to schedule a shoe fitting appointment to find the right shoes, padding, brand, size, etc. 

Where to get shoes:

If you have access to a local dancewear store, call ahead and ask for a fitting appointment so they will be prepared. These appointments typically take about an hour.

The Pointe Shop offers virtual first-time fittings. Josephine (and her coworker Gg) are amazing and fit many of our dancers virtually. Click here to schedule a fitting. In many cases, even if you do have access to a local store, The Pointe Shop has a deeper expertise and understanding of adult dancers than many local stores who may not have the opportunity to fit as many adult dancers.

Preparing for your fitting

  • Wear convertible tights.

  • It is important to trim your toenails in advance of your pointe shoe fitting. If you press on the tip of your toe, you should not be able to feel your toenail. If your toenails are too long, they will hurt during your fitting and make it difficult to tell if the shoe is the correct fit.

  • Consider what level of activity you expect to take part in before pointe class. Some dancers’ feet shrink and others swell after dancing or walking. If possible, schedule your fitting for the time you plan to take pointe class and take a barre or walk around beforehand. This way they will be fitting your feet as they will be going into the shoes!

What to expect in a fitting: 

Whether you visit Josephine or a local shop, be sure to check out the videos below to get you ready for your first fitting.

  • Measure feet (make sure you know your true street shoe size in case they ask!)

  • Barefoot assessment (static and dynamic)

    • Special considerations- bunions, compressibility

  • Talk about dance goal

  • The fitter will pull a few pairs of shoes 

  • If virtual, your fitter may decide to send you a few different sizes/models and might have you ship back the shoes that don’t work. 

  • Now the fun part- trying on the shoes! 

    • They will bring padding and the shoes

    • You will step up onto pointe, usually with a barre. You may also be asked to plie. 

    • The fitter will ask you questions about how the shoes feel

Padding

  • Padding is ultimately your decision and preference, but your fitter may have a type of toe pad they prefer. 

  • Toe pads

    • Gel

    • Ouch pouch (fabric/gel)

    • Lamb’s wool

    • PerfectPointe

  • Toe spacers

  • Box liners

  • Cushions

  • Toe sleeves

  • Padding can also be used to change the shape of the foot so that it better fits the shoe, but this should be used only in case of a difficult fit. 

  • It is a general rule that you should not be feeling excruciating pain while on pointe. Your padding should provide enough cushion to alleviate major pressure points but not prevent you from sensing the floor or your foot’s connection with the shoe. 

  • Toe tape

  • Corn pads/moleskine

Costs

  • A typical pair of pointe shoes will range from 60-120 USD. 

  • Toe pads range from 

  • Additional accessories (toe spacers, additional padding, ribbons/elastic)

  • You can expect to spend around 200 USD

  • If cost is a concern, you might want to request being fit in a synthetic shoe (like Gaynor Minden) that will provide you more longevity.

What pointe shoes should feel like

It’s very important to note that if you get your pointe shoes and you feel like you want to cry from pain, or your shoes make you feel like you’re not cut out for pointe work, YOU’RE IN THE WRONG SHOES. Return them and get re-fitted for different padding or a different pair.

  • Pointe shoes should feel like a tight hug. 

    • Remember traditionally made pointe shoes will stretch and become slightly wider as they break in. 

  • Standing on flat

    • You should not feel any toes curling up or pressing the edge of the box when standing

      • In plie, it is okay for the shoes to make gentle contact with the inside of the box.

    • It should not feel like your toes will go numb if you continue to wear the shoes.

    • You should not feel any toes overlapping

  • Standing on releve (full pointe)

    • Sinking feels like…

    • A too tapered or narrow box feels like pressure…

    • A supportive shoe provides a sensation of length to the leg while also sustaining a connection to the floor.

  • Pressure should feel evenly distributed, not like one toe/joint is taking the brunt!

  • You should feel like you are able to point your foot when standing en pointe.

    • If your shoe is pulling you back, it may be too hard or the wrong shape. 

  • It is very important that in the first pair of pointe shoes you are able to get over the box so you learn the correct place to balance and how to properly work in the shoe. 

Questions to ask during your fitting & how to answer questions they may ask you

Please tell your fitter if you are experiencing undue pain or pressure. Be as descriptive as possible when they ask you how a pair feels. You can use our discussion about how pointe shoes should feel as a guide for what to communicate with your fitter.

 A good fitter will provide a chance for you to answer simple “yes or no” questions during your first fitting. 

If you aren’t sure if something you are feeling is normal, ask. The fitter is here to help you and they have no way of seeing what is going on inside the shoe!

Watch a Broche Dancer get their First Pointe Shoes

Sewing ribbons/elastics

If you do go to a local store and they offer sewing services, it’s extremely convenient to have them do it for you. 

If not and if you need to sew the shoes yourself, check out this video for how to sew the shoes.

Expect to spend about 2-4 hours sewing your first pair of shoes. Seriously!!! It does take less time as you practice sewing more shoes, but the first time is always pretty laborious, especially if you don’t have much experience sewing.

Breaking in your shoes

We all see the videos of elaborate breaking in rituals….

If you’ve been fit in a synthetic shoe, such as a Gaynor Minden traditional break-in methods do not work. The shoe you get in the fitting is how it will be for the remainder of its wear time. 

For your first pair of shoes, I would avoid mimicking what professionals do- slamming in doors, ¾ shank, stepping on the box, using water, etc.. All these processes will drastically change the shape and fit of your shoe. 

The best way to break in shoes is by wearing them for class. You can also walk around on demi pointe to break in that area and press over the box to break in the shank at your arch. Using methods where your foot is manipulating the shoe is the best way to make sure they will break in the correct spot to support you. 

If you feel after some time in your shoes they are still not moving with your feet, there are methods to break in shoes by hand. Julie or I would be happy to help guide you in that process!

Remember that once you modify a pointe shoe, there’s no way to change it back!

See You in Class Soon!!