Product Care & Protection - Pointe Shoes

1. How to sue pointe shoes

The following pictures show the most basic method of sewing ribbons and elastics to a pair of pointe shoes .Because every foot is different, every dancer must determine the positioning that is right for her– more angled, less angled or with your personal good luck number of stitches per side. As the dancer becomes more advanced, she may develop her own preferences and needs for one of ballet’s tedious but dearly cherished rituals

Stretch the heel of the pointe shoe and fold it all the way forward.

Mark the inside of the shoe along the crease with a pencil – this line will correspond to the position of the back edge of the ribbon and ensure that the ribbon is angled.

Place the ribbons and follow the slant of your pencil mark. This will ensure the correct angle for the ribbon as it passes across the foot when the shoe is tied on.

To attach the ribbons, fold the bottom of each ribbon for extra strength. Then, lay the folded end along the pencil mark you have made, so that the back edge of the ribbon is along the line. Choose thread that is strong but not coarse enough to fray the satin texture of the ribbon as well as a matching color – many dancers prefer dental floss!

When you sew, you may pass the needle through only the lining of the pointe shoe, (Some teachers do not have a preference if you want to sew straight through the satin to the outside of the shoe).
Some dancers sew in one or more straight lines across the ribbon, while others sew in a “box” – around the square shape that they made when folding the bottom of the ribbon. Many dancers think that the “box” method provides the most security. Whichever method you choose, make sure not to sew through the binding that holds the drawstring (if your shoe has a drawstring).

After sewing is complete, you might want to trim the ends of the ribbons. Make sure to tie the ribbons as you touch the floor(flat foot position), with the shoe on the foot, before trimming. As soon as you trim the excess length of the ribbons, singe the ribbon ends to keep them from unraveling. Leave plenty of extra ribbon for tying the knot and tucking in the ends. Remember that the “inside the ankle” and “outside the ankle” ribbons on each shoe have different distances to go as they wrap around the ankles.
Τhe length of the long (inner) ribbon is approximately 55cm and the length of short (outer) is 45cm.

Sewing the elastics

Many dancers use elastics and The primary purpose of elastics is to keep the pointe shoe heel secure, to add a touch of extra support throughout the shoe but they can also give a more form-fitting appearance.

You can sew the elastics either near the ribbons, which helps conceal them once the ribbons are tied, or at the back of the heel, to prevent chafing the Achilles tendon.
Usually, elastics should be sewn across the front of the ankle about a centimetre away from the back-seam and should be angled slightly away from the seam. It’s helpful to sew one side first in a square pattern and carefully measure the length of elastics required to hold the heel of the shoe firmly to the foot without too much tension. Its length should be approximately 18-20 cm.

Some dancers prefer two elastics, crossed over the instep (top of foot). This placement both holds the heel secure and helps pull the shoe close to the foot to highlight the arch. One end of each elastic should be placed near the heel, while the other near the side seam of the shoe.

2. How to tie pointe shoes

Tying pointe shoes sturdily is very extremely important for any ballet dancer, but fortunately, it’s fairly easy to do. With time and experience, even a beginning pointe dancer can learn how to securely tie their pointe shoes every time.

Firstly, put on your pointe shoes. Make sure you have some proper fitting pointe shoes with the ribbons sewed on. Make adjustments to your shoe as necessary (tightening the pointe shoes’ drawstring, etc.). Be sure that you are wearing your toe pads and any other accessories that you use while wearing your pointe shoes.

Sit on the ground and have your foot flat on the floor. Your leg should be bent at the knee, creating a 90° angle between your ankle and your leg. This ensures that when you tie your pointe shoes, your ankle is flexed, giving the ribbons slack when you actually stand up on the pointes.

Start with the inside ribbon. Wrap the ribbon from the front by passing just above the protruding outer ankle bone. Continue by brining the ribbon across the back of your ankle (over your Achilles tendon), take another turn and finish just above the protruding inner bone of your ankle. Make sure you pull tight enough on the ribbon so there aren’t any folds or gaps when the ribbon crosses your foot.

While holding the inside ribbon in place on the inside of your ankle, use your other hand to wrap the outside ribbon around your ankle in the same way. As you wrap, bring the outside ribbon just over the inside ribbon you are holding in place, and continue until you meet its end above the protruding inner bone of your ankle.

Tie a double knot in the hollow area between the ankle bone and the Achilles tendon. Never tie ribbons on the Achilles tendon, at the back of the ankle, because this can damage the tendon. Finally, tuck the ends of the knotted ribbons under the wrapped ribbons, for a neat appearance. The knot should be invisible: if it makes a bulge when you tuck it in, trim the ribbons. However, leave enough ribbon that you can easily tie your pointe shoes in the future. Remember that the “inside the ankle” and “outside the ankle” ribbons on each shoe have different distances to go as they wrap around the ankles. If you haven’t yet decided which pointe shoe you will wear on the left or right foot (or if you choose to alternate feet), and you trim too much, you could end up with one ribbon that is too short on each foot.
Finally, you can use hairspray or even sew the knot into place with the ribbons for added security.

Table of Contents

1. How to sue pointe shoes

Sewing the elastics

2. How to tie pointe shoes

4. How to clean pointe shoes

3. How to darn pointe shoes

5. How to care and protect pointe shoes and my feet

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