Pointe Shoe FAQ

What are pointe shoes made of?

There are many different companies who produce pointe shoes, and therefore many ways of making them. Contrary to popular belief, pointe shoes are not made of wood or metal. The area around a dancer’s toes is called the box and is usually made out of a plaster-like material which is applied in several layers (Similar to the plaster/paper mâché-like substance that is used to create a piñata). A leather sole creates a sturdy back of the shoe.

How do dancers personalize their shoes?

Each dancer sews her own ribbons onto her shoe, to place them according to her preference. Also, most dancers darn or even burn the edges of the box (or platform) to give themselves better balance and decrease slipping. To make the sole and box more flexible, dancers may bend the shoes, and bang them on the wall or floor.

Do they hurt?

Yes and no. If a dancer is strong and trained well enough to dance en pointe and has the proper shoe for her foot, pointe work should not cause bleedina or disfigurement. However, dancing en pointe up to eight hours per day will wear on a ballerina’s feet. Some dancers choose to put small lamb’s wool pads over their toes. The amount of pain a dancer endures also depends on the construction of the foot itself. For example, dancers with toes that are relatively equal in length have the advantage of more support.

How long do they last?

Pointe shoes break down very quickly with frequent use. A ballerina made need a new pair of pointe shoes after each performance of a full-length ballet. In fact, Evelyn Cisneros, former Prima Ballerina at San Francisco Ballet, says that at least three pairs are required to get through Swan Lake. It is possible that a professional dancer will need a new pair each week.

How much do they cost?

Since pointe shoes are handmade and often imported, they can cost upwards of $90 per pair.

When does a dancer begin dancing en pointe?

It is important that a ballet student does not begin dancing en pointe too early, before the bones in her ankles have finished growing. Therefore, the age at which dancers begin pointe work varies. However, it is usually around 11 years old.

When did ballerinas begin dancing en pointe?

Marie Taglioni is attributed with performing a full-length ballet en pointe for the first time, when her father created the role of La Sylphide for her in 1832. However, her shoe was most likely just a satin slipper with a leather sole, darned at the ends. Without a firm box for support, dancers from this period must have relied heavily on their strength and suffered quite a bit. In some cases, wires were rigged onstage to carry ballerinas in a manner that resembled flight. The light, ethereal appearance of the ballerina en pointe effectively launched the Romantic Era of ballet.

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