POINTE SHOE FITTINGS

Our fitters in Danse Boite are experts in all areas of pointe shoes. Our knowledge of ballet and our 15 year history of fitting pointe shoes set us apart. We understand how pointe shoes are constructed and how different types of pointes react to the individuality of each dancer. 

 

We use the best accessories in our fittings to maximize comfort without compromising the ability to feel the floor. 

 

 

WHAT TO DO BEFORE COMING IN FOR A FITTING:

 

1. Schedule the Appointment: We require an appointment for all pointe shoe fittings. (Pointe shoe fittings incur a PHP500 fee, which is waived upon purchase of a pointe shoe at Danse Boite) Coming in without an appointment does not excuse the pointe shoe fitting fee and may risk travelling to our fitting room without a fitter available. Booking an appointment will ensure your travel and time is not compromised.

 

If you have been fitted before and do not need to be re-fitted, you may drop-by our location to pick-up the pointe shoes, but PLEASE CALL to check size availability. 

 

2. Provide Ample Time: Please allow yourself ample time for a fitting. First time pointe shoe dancers can take up to 2 hours and in some occasions 3 hours to find the right comfortable pair! Most fittings average to about 45 minutes to 1 hour. 

 

3.  Prepare your feet: To avoid discomfort or bruising during fitting, toe nails should be short and feet should be clean. 

 

4. List of things to bring: Convertible tights, Pads, Spacers, and last pair of pointe shoes. (If you want to have padding in your pointe shoes, then this will need to be worn while we fit them.  If this is your first pair of pointe shoes, then we can select padding appropriate to the size and shape of your feet.  If you are coming for a replacement pair of pointe shoes, then please bring your old padding with you.)

 

5. What to wear: Wear your convertible tights. Please avoid tight jeans or skirts. Fitters need to see the bare feet of the dancer. Dancers to be fitted need to be prepared to conduct various positions and steps. 

 

6. Ordering: It is best to be fitted every time your old pointe shoes have worn out. However, if you are over the age of 18 years or if your feet have not changed for at least the last 2 years, you may contact us to place an order. If you are 17 years old and under, you should schedule for a fitting appointment to be re-measured and refitted in case your feet has grown or changed. 

 

7. Ribbons and Elastics: Check your pointe shoes with your teacher BEFORE you sew the ribbons and elastics on.  

8. Returns Policy: No return policy is strictly followed. You may exchange your new pair if this has not been worn or sewn. A receipt is then requested for this procedure. If your teacher does not like them for any reason, have the teacher write down a letter stating what was wrong with fit, bring the receipt and the paperwork and we will refit for a new pair. 

 

IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE FITTING POINTE SHOES:

 

"One should not start a child on pointe before a minimum of 75% ossification, and then only 10-15 minutes at the barre for 6-8 months. At that pointe, you can work up to 30 minutes at the barre only. Then at age 13-14, with normal development, if the fusion is 100% then you can start to work in the center and gradually over another year work up to 1 hour on pointe.

 

How Can I Be Sure?
The only way to know if your child is at the correct stage of ossification is to have x-rays. After these are complete a radiologist can tell you whether the bones are at this 75% minimum level. No one, no teacher, can tell you this. Yes, some children develop more quickly, and some less. So, your child's bones may well be ready for this beginning work, or they may be even less ready. Some do not have the necessary level of ossification until they are 14.

The point that I and others are making is that children should not be put at risk like this. The chances increase dramatically of bone malformations, bunions, hammertoes, and crippling effects in old age when these guidelines are not adhered to. Though many will tell you that they've been on pointe for several years with no problems, these problems are not necessarily seen until later, often much later, unless you examine the bones under x-ray." 

 

References

There is so much research available regarding bone ossification, and too many teachers putting children on pointe prior to a minimum 75% ossification. At age 10-11 this is between 50-60 percent in most children. This information has been available for many years - one of the first, and in my opinion best, writings on this was in 1949 Anatomy and Ballet by Celia Sparger.


First Reference from Anatomy and Ballet by Celia Sparger (fifth edition-1976)

 

FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT COME IN FOR A FITTING:

 

  • You may opt for an estimated fitting here, but please be aware that trace fitting is not as accurate as actual fitting. Thank you. :-)