Since the day you pulled on your first leotard, you have no doubt been dreaming of the day you would attend your first pointe shoe fitting. Going on pointe is a rite of passage as a ballet dancer, and the result of years of hard work. But what happens if you are passed over for […]
Josephine Lee, resident pointe shoe expert at The Pointe Shop in California, has found perfect pairs for quite a few men. Are you a male dancer hoping to try pointework? Here are Lee’s tips for your first pointe shoe fitting appointment. Make sure the shank is hard enough. “Men typically weigh more than women, which […]
Like many professional dancers, New York City Ballet’s Gilbert Bolden III is totally used to sharing pics and vids of his dancing on social media. But in the fall of 2018, the corps de ballet member hesitated before posting one particular clip. “I was extremely nervous the first time I posted a video of me […]
Master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee of the California-based The Pointe Shop touches base with Ballet West principal Beckanne Sisk to hear all about her pointe shoe hacks, from Jet Glue to her preference for extra tight elastics. Plus, what she wears instead of toe pads (hint: it’s paper towel).
From biscuits to bananas, feet are the first thing dancers notice. They’re great fodder for humorous Instas and can make for some mesmerizing lines. But on a more serious note, foot shape can impact you and your dancing in many ways. DS turned to the experts for insight into how everything from the length of […]