Marilyn Monroe famously said, “Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.” That statement definitely applies to pointe shoes. The right pair of shoes can make all the difference to your dancing. Summer is winding down, and things are calm before the Nutcracker storm. That makes it the perfect time to learn about what’s happening with your favorite shoe brands. Dance Informa spoke to some pointe shoe experts to get the inside scoop.
Freed of London
Freed of London has been selling its famous handmade shoes since 1929. Working side by side with Chacott, Freed offers products from the UK and Japan. Julie Smith, retail sales manager and fitter at Freed of London, talked about the latest shoe from Chacott. The Chacott Progrés offers the same lightweight design as their Veronese style with a flexible “L” shaped insole for stability when rolling on and off pointe. The pleats are flattened for stability when standing flat, and they come in medium or hard shank. The color, Royal Pink, is a beautiful, light blush with a satin sheen.
Smith also spoke about the Freed handmade shoes in brown and bronze colors. The makers that are available in these elegant tones — B, R, D — are a regular stock item for the U.S. Other makers are available to order and usually arrive in about six to 12 weeks. Studio II and Studio Pro are now stocked in brown and bronze and are available in standard and hard shanks. Freed ribbon and mesh elastic in matching colors are available as well. Another fun fact: Freed has a female maker creating shoes in its UK factory using the “J” stamp.
R-Class
R-Class has been making shoes since 1991 in Moscow. Jennifer Fitzpatrick, fitting expert and sales and marketing director, was excited to share the third and newest collection by the company, Adaptiv. The collection has a plastic platform and a handmade box with all-natural materials. The glue is a proprietary blend called “Adaptiv” that molds to the foot. The design helps the dancer to find the proper alignment in the center of the platform. The innovative plastic platform doesn’t break down, and the shank materials allow for a smooth roll-through. The Soleia has a tapered toe, a higher crown, and the heel is made out of stretch satin that gives it an attractive and streamlined fit. The Astra, another shoe in the collection, will be available in October. It has the same specs but with a shallower crown for dancers with slim profile feet.
Dance Informa also caught up with Philip Martin-Nielson. Martin-Nielson is co-owner of Balletomania Dance Boutique in Poughkeepsie, New York. He is a master fitter and shared his top picks for this upcoming season:
Bloch
Bloch has been in the shoe business since 1932. The newest shoe, the Etu, is geared toward pre-professional and professional dancers. It features a traditional shank with a synthetic box. It was designed for dancers with high arches that need extended longevity from the shoe. There is internal padding for comfort and a new, streamlined, fitted heel for aesthetics.
Nikolay
Nikolay, known as Grishko outside of the U.S., has been making shoes since 1989. The Nikolay brand has two new shoes that are gaining popularity. The NeoPointe is built on the SmartPointe last and features a lightweight, miracle paste in the box with pliable shanks. It was designed to fit a broad metatarsal and has a generous platform for stability. An elastic drawstring allows the dancer to snug up the shoes for a sleek look. This shoe is helpful for dancers with lower arches. Tamara, another new design, is built on the reliable Fouette last. It has a tapered look and is perfect for dancers with a high arch. The platform is pitched, allowing one to go over more, and a double satin upper decreases wrinkling at the heel. The shoe features elasticized binding to ensure a snug fit with a V-cut vamp for a flattering look. Martin-Nielson is also a fan of Nikolay’s comfy moleskin toe pad. It provides relief for the beginner, as well as a non-bulky look sought after by professionals. It comes in a variety of sizes, ensuring a correct fit.
Merlet
Made in France since 1974, these handmade shoes are known for being lightweight and quiet. The LISA shoe has a plethora of choices as a stock shoe. This allows the dancer to customize without having to wait for a special order. It features options for two different length vamps — short and long — and the shanks are pre-arched. It offers multiple shank strengths that are interchangeable, so if a dancer needs something softer or harder, they can change it immediately. Additional shanks can be purchased separately to increase their durability. The Lena shoe features a slightly tapered platform with a broader metatarsal area. The platform is flat for stability and has a pleasing box shape that is slim and elegant. The heels have been rounded and shaped to reduce wrinkling. It also boasts a vegan microfiber tip with a pleatless construction.
Pillows for Pointes
Since 1992, this company has focused on what goes into your pointe shoes. Pillows for Pointes products offer comfort at affordable prices. Martin-Nielson is a fan of the brand’s stretch ribbon, elastic and wide variety of toe pads. The latest is a fusion pad called Lavender Gellows. It mixes fabric and gel and has a pleasant lavender scent. The Gel Tip Toe Pillows features a lambswool toe pad with a gel tip for maximum comfort. The All Gel Digital Toe Cap is designed to alleviate big toe pain without taking up too much room in the shoe.
All of those sound terrific. Get a group of your studio friends and schedule a visit to your local dance store. Try out all of those great products and post them to your social media. You can test out dancewear that is fabulous and new while supporting a small business. Slip into something different and see where your feet can take you.
By Mary Carpenter of Dancewithmary NYC.
Mary Carpenter is a former professional ballet dancer who began her studies at CCM, the official school for the Cincinnati Ballet Company, and was on scholarship at the David Howard Dance Center. Mary also holds a BA with high honors in dance from Butler University. She has danced for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Ohio Dance Theatre, Granite State Ballet, Maryland Ballet, Lexington Ballet and Charleston Ballet, and performed in numerous off-Broadway shows. Mary has contributed to the dance community as a dedicated instructor in ballet, Pilates and Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), and served on the faculty of Broadway Dance Center, the Ballet Hispánico School of Dance, Barnard College and The New School University. She is current faculty for Ballet Academy East and the world-famous Steps on Broadway. Her classes for adult beginners are available virtually on the Dancio.com website. With over three decades of experience, Mary has become a highly skilled pointe shoe fitter. She has worked with dancers from prestigious companies such as American Ballet Theatre (ABT), The Royal Ballet and New York City Ballet. Her expertise in fitting pointe shoes has led her to give lectures at renowned summer programs, including ABT/JKO, Dance Theatre of Harlem, NYSSSA and Oklahoma Summer Arts in Quartz. In 2015, Mary launched her YouTube channel, “Dancewithmary NYC,” where she shares her knowledge and expertise on pointe shoes through monthly segments. Her channel has become a valuable resource for dancers and teachers seeking guidance and advice.
Share this:
