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 […]
You know we’re obsessed with dancers’ pointe shoe prep. But without a strong articulate foot to bring it to life, a pointe shoe is just a shiny pink boot. Cue New York City Ballet principal Lauren Lovette in a behind-the-scenes video for Allure. Rather than talking about her shoe prep, she goes into detail about […]
Few things are as beautiful as a seamlessly executed grand rond de jambe: There’s something majestic about the high arc of the leg from front to side to back (or vice versa). But many pitfalls line the road to effortless grands ronds, especially in the tricky side-to-back and back-to-side transitions. How can you make this […]
Ah, pointe shoes: We love those beautiful, glamorous torture devices! But pointework didn’t always look or feel the way it does today. In fact, pointe shoes evolved over the course of several centuries—with many fascinating (and some straight-up bizarre) stops along the way. Here are a few highlights of pointe shoe history. 1796: French dancer […]
Six ballerinas discuss why they love their pointe shoes. Kajiya in Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker (Photo by Amitava Sarkar, courtesy Houston Ballet) Yuriko Kajiya, Principal, Houston Ballet Foot type: Wide and flat, with long toes Shoe: Capezio Tiffany Customizations: “I like my heels and sides to be lower than those of the stock shoes. One of […]
Super-hard shanks can make new pointe shoes feel like bricks on your feet. That’s why dancers have come up with tons of clever ways to bend, cut, score and tape their shanks—adjustments that can significantly improve a shoe’s performance. It’s a highly personalized process, and often a complete game-changer. Here are a few of the […]
Your teacher has finally given you the OK to go on pointe! As any experienced ballet dancer will tell you, your pointe shoes can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. The right fit ensures that you’ll be able to work safely and gives you a solid foundation for your pointe technique. Seeing […]
It’s truly inspiring when the dance community comes together to support people in need. After the devastating earthquakes in Nepal this spring, for instance, Martha Graham Dance Company principal Lloyd Knight directed Dance for Nepal, a concert to benefit the Disaster Recovery Institute Foundation’s Nepal Relief Fund. Now, other dancers are doing their part to […]