POINTE SHOES

The foot is a complex structure made of 26 bones & ligaments, muscles, tendons and nerves.

This photograph shows a pair of pointe shoes worn for rehearsals.  You can see some of the customization carried out by the dancer – especially the vamp which has been cut into a v (often to make the shoe appear longer and to accommodate bunions) and then sewn to hold the shoe
together.  Toe pads of all shapes, sizes and materials are used inside the shoe to cushion the toes and elastics, which are sewn in to give security around the heel area, are used to stop the shoe from slipping off the heel (often a percieved fear rather than an actual one).

There are three types of foot – Greek, Egyptian and Peasant.  A Greek (or Morton’s) foot has a longer second toe and narrow width foot, an Egyptian foot has a long first toe and then the others taper with a narrow width foot, and finally the Peasant (or Giselle) foot has three toes the same length and is a medium width foot.

It’s worth mentioning here that it’s the dancers foot that makes the ‘pointe’, not the shoe.  Essentially, the pointe shoe is a covering for the delicate bones of the feet, to allow the dancer to extend their line and to jump and turn as the choreography demands.

Photograph by Bex Singleton.

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Back view of a “traditional” pointe shoe.

 

Top view of a “traditional” pointe shoe.

Irrespective of brand, pointe shoes are typically composed of the same parts. We have illustrated this section with pictures of Capezio Pavlowas:

• Most shoes have a stiff box – or block – made with layers of fabric, paper and glue (very much like papier-mâché), whose stiffness will vary depending on the shoe’s model, width and length.

• As the box extends over the toes, it encases them and gives them a supporting platform upon which the dancer stands.

• Halfway into the foot, the box’s upper layer of satin, leather and/or canvas forms the upperwhich is joined to the outer sole by a series of pleats.

• The area covering the toes is known as the vamp. The edge of the shoe can be lined with adrawstring to help adjust the foot.

• The inner shoe is lined with canvas.

• Underneath the shoe,  a small thin leather sole allows for flexibility. Most models have a full sole, but some have split soles or soles combining leather and fibre to increase shoe pliability and improve foot articulation.

• Between the outer and the inner soles a hard spine made of leather or a more resilient synthetic material – the shank – forms the shoe’s core. A full shank runs the length of the sole. Ideally it should be hard yet supple and conform to the dancer’s arch.

 

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