By Judy Rice

Preparing the Shoes
Ideally, a dancer should have at least two pair of pointe shoes that are broken in “to performance-perfect condition.” The amount of molding and manipulation to get the shoe to this condition depends on the quality of the movement being performed and the strength of the dancer’s feet. For instance, if the dancer is performing multiple fouettes, she might need hard shoes to support her feet  while on pointe during turns. If a piece is largely petite allegro, a softer shoe is needed to assure articulation of the feet to enhance the execution of the jumps.

Dancers cannot expect to buy a pair of pointe shoes, sew on the ribbons, and have the shoes perform magic. Teach your students to become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of their feet and show them how to prepare their shoes accordingly. Manipulating the shoe is a specific technique that is difficult to explain in writing, but it is incredibly important to understand that molding the shoe to her foot is essential for the dancer to perform to her fullest potential.

If needed, the dancer should use Jet Glue™ or shellac to keep the shoes in performance-perfect condition. These products provide two ways a dancer can harden the shoe after it has broken down and thereby extend the life of the shoe. The more a pointe shoe is molded to the dancer’s foot, the more successfully she will be able to perform pointe work. Shellac can be purchased at a basic hardware store.

Like rehearsal pointe shoes, performance shoes must be broken in. The difference is that the dancer molds the rehearsal shoe, shellacs or Jet Glues it, wears it, and repeats this process until the shoe dies. The performance shoe should be molded, shellacked, or Jet-Glued until it is at the optimum hardness for peak performance level and then put away for the performance.

When breaking in pointe shoes for performance, I like to apply pancake makeup to soften the shoe and to provide a smooth, non-glossy appearance. The makeup softens the box, and helps make the shoe sound less klunky and more muted. Also, if marks appear during rehearsal, it only takes a quick touch of the makeup to bring the shoe back to performance appearance. I prefer Max Factor™ Natural #1. Be careful that the pancake does not get on the satin on the bottom of the shoe. This can make the shoe slippery.

Ribbons and elastic should be checked and reinforced to prevent a mishap such as a ribbon coming unsewn or an elastic popping off during a performance. I use double threaded dental floss to sew these on and pay particular attention to performance shoes. Put extra knots in the floss for security.

Once the performance shoes have been prepared, tell your students to put them away until dress rehearsal.

Protect the Dancers’ Feet
Dancers should take special care to protect their feet prior to a performance. They should know how to use first aid products such as   blister-preventing adhesives, corn pads, Ouch Pouches™, etc. If you know that a dancer is susceptible to a certain kind of blister, bunion, bruising, or corn, advise her to protect the affected area before it becomes infected. Get a “Foot Aid Kit” [see right] and teach your dancers how to use it well before they need it.

Performance Time
When it is time to don the perfect performance pointe shoes, remember these tricks to insure that the shoes look attractive on stage as well as function to the fullest. The dancer should know how to tie pointe shoe ribbons so that they are secure and unobtrusive: 1) Yank the ribbon up so that the shoe hugs the arch of the foot; 2) Make sure the knot lies in the nook between the Achilles tendon and the anklebone. This hides the knot without strangling the ankle and enhances the line of the leg. For performance, one or two stitches made in the knot with dental floss will prevent the ribbon from untying.

Sometimes a dancer has a problem with her heel slipping out of the pointe shoe. To prevent this, a dancer can dip her heel in rosin, put the shoe on, and run water from a faucet over the heel. Be careful not to let it saturate the box. Only the heel should be submerged. The moisture causes the rosin to become sticky and forms an adhesive to secure the shoe against the heel.

Without a Separate Pair of Performance Pointe Shoes
Some students cannot afford to have extra pointe shoes on hand just for performance. Pancake makeup can be used to cover blemishes and frayed edges of shoes can be trimmed. Dancers can remove dirty ribbons, wash them in soap and water, and sew them back on. They clean up quite nicely. You can bring old shoes back to life by using Jet Glue™ or shellac to reinforce areas that have become too soft.

Remember, after the performance, the pair can become a working pair for class and rehearsal.

Safety is most important. Only experience will tell a dancer when a shoe is truly too worn. If the shoe is too far-gone, injury can occur. Teach your students to inspect and evaluate their shoes in case a new pair is warranted. Having sound shoes is essential for a safe and stress-free performance.

Teaching your students how to properly prepare their feet and pointe shoes for the stage is as much a part of your job as teaching strong technique. Without having to worry about proper foot support, painful injuries, and unsightly shoes, dancers can focus their energy on the performance of the movement. Enjoyment of the moment of performance is, after all, what it’s all about.

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