Bloch Pointe Shoes
Bloch pointe shoes come in various styles such as Sylphide, Sonata, Suprima, Serenade, Aspiration, Concerta, Triomphe, and Alpha 34 Sole. Beginner dancers should try the Sylphide, Sonata, or Suprima. The Sylphide has wider widths than other Bloch pointe shoes, making it easier for beginners with untrained feet to roll up onto pointe.
Beginners and advanced students will find the Suprima comfortable because it provides good flexibility while retaining adequate arch support. Some Bloch pointe shoes have a narrower box shape and a snug heel unsuitable for a "fleshy" foot. Shoes like the Aspiration and Alpha pointe shoe are intended for advanced students. These shoes provide greater arch flexibility but should not be worn if your feet and ankles are weak.
Capezio Pointe Shoes
Capezio Pointe Shoes come in various styles, each designed to meet a unique requirement. The original Glissé has a strong shank, a wide toe box, and a U-shaped vamp to allow dancers to roll up to pointe securely. The Glissé ES is similar but with a harder shank. The Glissé Pro and Pro ES are designed for more experienced dancers and have a reduced side and back height and a medium and hard shank. The Demi Soft shankless shoe is based on the Glissé design and is intended for pre-pointe students.
Plié is best suited for dancers who require a vamp that continues beyond the toe. Plié I has a medium shank, whereas Plié II has a firmer #5 shank. The Tendu style has a medium shank and a short break-in time. Tendu II has a larger box and a larger platform. Both the Aerial and Pavlova shoes have a tapering box in the Russian style. The Aerial is better for supporting high arches, but the Pavlova has a harder shank, a longer vamp, and a higher heel height. The Contempora is a wide-platform shoe in the American style, with a longer vamp and a lower heel.
Freed Pointe Shoes
The Classic, Studio, and Studio Pro versions of Freed Pointe shoes are offered. The different lines are tailored to a specific degree of dancer as well as their physical needs. The handmade Classic was explicitly created for the needs of the seasoned or professional dancer. It has a deep, round vamp, but individuals who require additional support will prefer the Classic Wing Block's deep V-cut vamp and stronger insole.
The Studio line is designed for younger dancers and provides additional support. The Studio II model has a larger platform and a lower profile than the original. The Studio Pro is also intended for younger dancers, but it has a V-shaped vamp and a 34 shank for added flexibility.
Grishko Pointe Shoes
Eleve and Releve styles are available in the Grishko Pointe shoe collection. The Ulanova I and II are part of the Eleve. These shoes are designed for pointe dancers who are encouraged to roll up on pointe. www.balletdancestudio.com has more information on dancing en pointe. Ulanova I features a medium-height vamp and a versatile box for dancers with even or slightly varying toe lengths. Ulanova II has a deep vamp and is excellent for dancers who have longer toes or narrow feet.
The Fouette and Vaganova Releve styles are intended to accommodate the Russian style of springing on point. The Vaganova has a tapering box and a deep vamp. This form is ideal for dancers who have a flexible arch, longer toes, or tiny feet. The Fouette has a large platform and a broad box, making the shoe ideal for dancers with shorter toes or bigger feet.
Gaynor Minden Pointe Shoes
Gaynor Minden Pointe shoes are distinct from other brands. Rather than offering a range of styles, Gaynor Mindon makes shoes with six fitting options: shank, vamp, heel, regular fit, sleek fit, and size. The fact that there are so many varieties can be perplexing, but the beauty of this brand is that dancers can use virtually custom-fit their shoes. The entire collection is designed to reduce impact shock and comfortably fit every type of foot. Shank options range from flexible/minimal support to hard/great support. Pianissimo, Featherflex, Supple, Extraflex, and Hard are the alternatives from flexible to hard shanks. Regular, Deep, and Sleek Vamp variations are available.
A deep vamp is ideal for dancers with prominent arches, whilst a sleek vamp is perfect for feet that are wider on the ball and narrower towards the heel. Four types of heels are available: high, regular, low, and sleek. Choosing between them is primarily a question of preference. Regular and Narrow Fit shoes differ mainly in width, although Narrow Fit shoes have fewer heel and vamp options.
Suffolk Pointe Shoes
The Solo is a Suffolk Pointe shoe with a slightly tapered box and a longer vamp. It is available with various shoe kinds, including standard insoles, hard insoles, and light insoles. All but the Light have a basic box that provides uniform support for most dancers. The Light version is a versatile option to make it easier for dancers to move on pointe. Hard insoles are offered with either a full or 34 shanks, giving dancers the option of greater flexibility as well as ample support. The Solo Pointe shoe, in any variant, has a low profile to provide comfort throughout the metatarsal area without losing support or function.
How do you make your decision?
There is no single shoe that is deemed superior to all others. It truly is a matter of customizing the proper shoe for your foot. Other dancers' recommendations should be avoided because your feet will differ from theirs, and their shoes may feel quite unpleasant on you. You now understand the major pointe shoe brands and their various properties. You should clearly know which shoe type and brand will suit your foot the best. I recommend finding a good retail dance store with a good shoe fitter. Allow them to guide you through the process of fitting various shoes and determining which shoe will best fit your foot.
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