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By Cedric Grosjean

Buying the first pair of pointe shoes is an emotional moment for every young ballerina, as it shows her readiness to move on to the next level of dancing. However, merely purchasing this kind ballet shoes does not mean that they can be worn straight away. There are several simple but necessary steps every dancer should make to prepare new shoes for dancing.

Bending and Breaking

Before you start practicing in your new pointe shoes, bend them at the arch a little bit. Stay away from bending the area between the arch and demi-pointe, as this might weaken the support of the shoe. Then, to widen the shoes and make them more comfortable for the toes, you need to break in the box of the shoes by gently pressing the top. Don”t apply too much pressure though, as this can definitely break the shoes. Usually just a little breaking-in is enough for the first class, dancing in the shoes will make for the rest of the adjustment.

Sewing the ribbons

There are several alternative methods for sewing the ribbons and elastic onto the pointe shoes, and this is just one of them. If it doesn”t work for you, keep looking for a suitable one.
1. Mark the inside of the shoe where the middle of your arch is; this is where the ribbons should go.
2. Pin the ribbons with a safety pin and do a few releves or other moves. The ribbons should support the ankle, so you might need to adjust them several times.
3. Double check that your ribbons work for you and sew them right below the drawstring. It is alright to sew through the satin, as it won”t be seen from a distance.

Sewing the elastic

1. First, sew one side of the elastic about one or two centimeters from the seam at the end.
2. Pull the elastic across your ankle and mark where it is most comfortable (Try wiggling two fingers under the elastic).
3. Sew the other side of the elastic. If you feel that the heels of your pointe shoes fall off easily, you may sew a double elastic that crisscrosses the ankles. Make sure that you don”t sew the elastic too far back or too tight, as it might pull at your Achilles tendon.

Tying the ribbons

Usually it takes some time to tie the ribbons on your pointe shoes for the first time, but very soon you”ll be able to do this with your eyes shut.
1. Place your foot flat or hold it in a flexed position. Cross the outside ribbon over the top of your ankle, wrap it around the ankle once, and hold it tight on the inside of the ankle.
2. Cross the other ribbon over the top of the ankle, so it crosses the first one in an X. Wrap it around the ankle once, and then around half the ankle, so it meets the other ribbon.
3. Tie the ribbon ends in a double knot, cut the ends about four inches from the knot.
4. Singe or apply clear nail polish to the ends to keep them from fraying
5. At last, tuck the knot and the ribbon ends underneath the ribbons, and you are done.

Preparing new pointe shoes for dancing is the art every ballerina should master. Simple as they are, these steps ensure the most comfortable, secure and enjoyable fit of your dancing shoes on stage and in the practice room.

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