Preparing for a First Fitting with Pointe Shoes

Sizing, Proper Padding, and More for Your First Pair of Pointes

Jul 7, 2009

Getting the first pair of pointe shoes is an exciting time for a ballet student, at any age. Dancers should keep in mind that there are some guidelines for pointe shoes.

Please remember that you should only purchase and wear pointe shoes if your dance instructor has approved you to dance "en pointe". It is possible to cause serious injury or long-term damage to your feet by wearing pointe shoes without proper instruction and training. Even after you are approved to wear pointe shoes, you should only wear them in the studio under the supervision of your instructor. With this in mind, here are some guidelines for your first pointe shoe fitting.

Make an Appointment

Once you are approved by your teacher, you should call a local dance supply store to set an appointment for your fitting. By setting an appointment ahead of time, you can be sure that the person helping you has been trained in pointe shoe fittings, and that they will have a variety of styles and sizes in stock for you to try. Expect to spend at least an hour for your first fitting, as the store's fitter will need to measure and assess your feet and find the best possible style and size of shoe to meet your needs.

What to Wear

What you wear while trying on the pointe shoes is important. You will want to wear what you would wear to a class (tights and leotard), or at least something that is comfortable to move in. Being able to see your body placement while wearing the shoes will be important, so you and the pointe shoe fitter should have a clear view of your knee and hip placement.

Sizing a Pointe Shoe

The fitter will first measure your feet. He or she will measure the length and width of each foot individually. Even if you know your regular shoe size, your feet may individually be different sizes or widths. Pointe shoes are made to fit snugly on the foot, so they will fit differently from your regular street shoes or your other dance shoes.

The fitter will also look at the overall shape of your feet. Some dancers may have tapered toes, a second toe that is longer than their big toe, or spaces between their toes. The fitter will also look at your instep and arch, and may ask you to rise on demi pointe barefoot. All of these qualities will provide information to the fitter to help them decide what styles of pointe shoes will work best with your feet.

Trying On Pointe ShoesAfter your feet have been assessed, the fitter will bring out a large number of pointe shoes in different styles and sizes. At this time, you will be trying on pointe shoes without padding, because different types of padding will alter the way a shoe fits.

All five toes should lay flat in the shoe, and the tip of your longest toe (whether it is your big toe or the next one) should just barely touch the end of the shoe. If your toes are buckling in the shoe, then the shoe is too short. If your toes are squished together or overlapping, then the shoe is not wide enough. At this point, you will need to tell the fitter how the shoe feels, or you may end up with an improperly fitting shoe.

Once you find a shoe that you think fits well on your toes, the fitter will ask you to put one foot up on a step or platform, up on your toe. The fitter will want to see that the shank (the wooden sole of the shoe) is straight. If it is twisting off to one side, then you will need a wider shoe. If the fabric at the back of the shoe is baggy, you will need a narrower or smaller shoe. There should be about a pinch of room at the back, meaning that the fitter should be able to slightly pinch the fabric at the back of the shoe without touching your heel while you are up on your toe.

The fitter will finally ask you to hold onto a shelf or barre in the store and ask you to rise up on both feet into pointe. He or she will then recheck all of the fittings, now that the entire weight of your body is on the shoes. When you have found the pair of shoes that correctly fit in all angles, then you will be able to select padding.

How to Choose Padding for Your First Pointe Shoes

The store should have samples of padding that you can try with your shoes. You should try as many types of padding as possible, to make sure that you are getting the most comfortable combination. Some dancers use loose lambs wool, wool pads, gel pads, gel pouches, silicone pouches... there are many options, and it will depend on the dancer and the shoe.

Once you have the shoes and padding, take everything to your instructor to let him or her see what you have chosen. When your shoes have been approved by your dance teacher, you can sew the ribbons and elastic on the shoes, and start using your shoes in class with the supervision of your instructor. Congratulations!

The copyright of the article Preparing for a First Fitting with Pointe Shoes in Ballet/Jazz/Tap Dance is owned by Terry Finch. Permission to republish Preparing for a First Fitting with Pointe Shoes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.