Bloch Pointe Shoes
The Bloch pointe shoe is available in various styles, including Sylphide, Sonata, Suprima, Serenade, Aspiration, Concerta, Triomphe, and Alpha ¾ Sole. Beginner dancers will fit in Sylphide, Sonata, or Suprima. Sylphide has a wider range than other Bloch pointe shoes and helps beginners with uneducated feet to climb to pointe easily. Suprima will feel comfortable for beginners and advanced students as it offers good flexibility while maintaining good arch support. Note that some Bloch pointe shoes have a thin box and a flat heel that does not fit a wet foot. Shoes such as the Aspiration and the Alpha pointe shoe are designed for the elite student. These shoes offer better arch flexibility but should not be worn if you do not have strong feet and ankles.
Capezio Pointe Shoes
The Capezio Pointe Shoes incorporates several styles, each tailored to specific needs. The original Glissé features a hard shank, a sharp toe box, and a U-shaped vamp to allow dancers to roll and point. The Glissé ES offers the same, but with a heavier shank. Glissé Pro and Pro ES are aimed at more experienced dancers and feature a low side and high back, with a medium and hard shank, respectively. The unmistakable Demi Soft is based on the Glissé design and is designed for pre-pointe readers. Plié's style is perfect for dancers who need a vamp that goes beyond the toe. Plié I offers a medium shank, and Plié II puts on a heavy shank # 5. The Tendu style offers a medium shank and has a quick rest period. Tendu II has a wide box and a wide platform.
Aerial and Pavlova
Both Aerial and Pavlova shoes are characterized as Russian-styled tapered boxes. The Aerial is remarkable to support high arches, while the Pavlova supports a harder shank, longer vamp, and heel height.
Contemporary
Contemporary is a wide American style shoe with a long vamp and low heel. Freed Pointe Shoes Freed Pointe shoes are available in Classic, Studio, and Studio styles. The various lines are designed for a certain level of dance, as well as their physical needs. Classic handmade is designed specifically for the needs of an experienced or professional dancer. It features a deep, rounded vamp, but those who need more support will reap a deep vamp cut vamp with a powerful Classic Wing Block insole.
The Studio line is designed for the little dancer and offers extra support. The Studio II style features a wider platform and a lower profile than the original. Studio Pro is also designed for a small dancer but features a V-shaped vamp and ¾ shank for greater flexibility.
Grishko Pointe
Grishko Pointe Shoes The Grishko Pointe shoe line includes Eleve and Releve models. Eleve includes Ulanova I and II. These shoes are designed for dancers who are instructed to wrap with pointe.
Relive styles, Fouette and Vaganova, are designed to embrace the Russian style of the exit point. Ulanova I have a medium height vamp and a box with many activities for dancers with toes of equal or different lengths. Ulanova II has a deep vamp and is ideal for dancers with long toes or short feet. The Vaganova has a deep vamp and a tapered box. This style is especially suitable for four dancers with an elastic arch, longer toes, or narrow feet.
Gaynor Minden
Gaynor Minden Pointe Shoes Gaynor Minden Pointe shoes are different from most brands. While manufacturers often incorporate various styles, Gaynor Mindon instead created shoes in more than six options; shank, vamp, heel, standard fit, good fit, and size. Many variations may sound confusing, but the advantage of this type is that custom dancers measure their shoes. The entire line is designed to minimize impact shocks and to fit the entire foot type well.
Shank options range from flexible/minimal support to hard/adequate support. Arranged from flexible to solid shanks, Pianissimo, Featherflex, Supple, Extraflex, and Hard are options. A deep vamp is ideal for dancers with pronounced arches, while a smooth vamp is best for wide feet next to the ball and lowers the heel. High, regular, low, and pointed heels are available. Choosing between them is a matter of comfort. The standard size and low heel shoes only vary in width, but the heel and low heel options are available with Narrow Fit shoes.
Suffolk Pointe Shoes
Suffolk Pointe shoes feature a Solo, with a small tapered box and a long vamp. Available in shoe types, Standard insole, Hard insole, or Light insole. All but the Light includes a standard box that provides the same appropriate support for most dancers. The Light type is a flexible method designed to help dancers move on pointe easily. Heavy insoles are available with a full or full shank, so dancers choose greater flexibility and adequate support. Regardless of the difference, the Solo Pointe shoe shows a low profile to comfort throughout the metatarsal area without sacrificing support or performance.
Conclusion
How do you choose? No one shoe is considered better than the other shoe. It really is a matter of wearing the right shoe for your foot. Beware of other dancers ’recommendations because your feet will be different from theirs, and their shoes may feel uncomfortable to you. Now you know the great types of pointe shoes and their distinctive features. You need to understand what style of shoe and what product will fit your feet. I recommend finding a good dance shop that can repair shoes. Have them take you through the process of putting on a variety of shoes and check which shoe will fit your feet best. Anita Leembruggen is a dance teacher and an active dancer herself. She has written many guides and essays for young and old dancers alike. Anita spends most of her time helping students overcome obstacles on the way to successful dance.
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