Ah, pointe shoes: They are our forever frenemies. Much as we’re obsessed with them, even the most serious bunheads can have difficulty figuring them out. That’s where The School at Steps’ Pointe Shoe Workshop and Fair comes in. Part advice panel, part shoe sale, the annual event brings together experts from all corners of the […]
Nothing compares to that magical moment when your teacher says you’re ready for your first pair of pointe shoes. We asked four A-list pros to recall the moment they learned they could start pointe. Angelica Generosa, Pacific Northwest Ballet Angelica Generosa on Instagram: “Happy Friday! 📸 @angelasterlingphoto @pacificnorthwestballet @label.dancewear #jete#pacificnorthwestballet#pnb#lovemylabel#worldwideballet” “I was 9 years old […]
Behind-the-scenes pointe shoe videos are the stuff of bunhead dreams. There’ve been many lovely additions to this category over the years, all of which shed light on how intricate and involved the process of crafting the shoes really is. (via YouTube) But National Geographic took it a step further with their short film, “Ballet Shoes: The […]
Ever wonder what the heck to do with that pile of old pointe shoes you’re sick of staring at in your closet but too sentimental to throw in the garbage? Here’s some inspiration, courtesy the Cary Ballet Company of Cary, NC: Make them into a fabulous art project. To be fair, CBC’s 60-odd pairs of […]
Whether it’s your first pair or your 50th, picking out the right pointe shoes can be difficult. Dance Spirit talked to Victoria Lyman, owner of Allegro Dance Boutique in Evanston and Barrington, IL—the Joffrey Academy of Dance’s shop of choice—to get the lowdown on the latest shoes. These picks are comfortable, flexible and quieter than […]
It all started with a question in an old issue of Pointe magazine: “I feel bad sending all of my dead pointe shoes to a landfill. Is there any way to recycle them?” When Katarina Jakimier read the answer—“Currently, there are no specific pointe shoe recycling programs”—her mind started to churn. “I really care about […]
We all know that “nude” colored leos, technique shoes and tights have a woefully limited definition of “nude.” Dancers with darker skin tones are hard pressed to find something that works for them, since regularly available colors only work for people with light, pink-toned skin. Everyone remembers Michaela DePrince‘s mom in First Position, talking about […]
Every ballet dancer has a pointe shoe prep process that’s akin to a sacred ritual. And while some modifications are meant to make feet look prettier, the most critical tricks help those precious shoes last as long as possible—because at $60 to $100 a pop, they have to. We rounded up some of the best […]