Breaking in New Pointe Shoes

By Kayla Fields

Breaking in new pointe shoes is a crucial first step in dancing en pointe. New pointe shoes are stiff and often restrict the ability to properly roll through demi- pointe which can then cause dancers to compensate with poor alignment and increased tension, leading to injury. The way you prepare your shoes depends on your feet and where your shoes tend to break down the quickest. For example, my box is usually the first to go so I add some jet glue or shellac to the box to increase longevity. I also bend the shank back and forth and take the nail out (so it doesn’t come out when dancing!). By taking the time to prepare your shoes before class or a performance, allows you to focus on dancing, not discomfort, and helps protect your feet from injury!