The Pointe Shoe: The Unsung Hero of Ballet’s Magic
Ballet is an ethereal art form that captivates its audience with tangible artistry and deceptively effortless movement. Much of ballet’s breathtaking magic can be attributed to the delicate yet high-performance pointe shoes that dancers wear. Pointe shoes are a vital tool, enabling dancers to perform with elegance, strength and control. Ms. Eskin, an Upper School History teacher who has danced for most of her life, describes being en pointe as “beautiful and transporting.” Pointe shoes become an extension of the dancer’s shapes, helping to create an illusion of weightlessness and grace. While pointe shoes are an essential part of ballet’s history, they do not come at a small cost.
Pointe shoes have a storied past that dates back to the early 19th century. Originating from the desire to showcase the ballerina’s lightness and elegance, these shoes allow dancers to rise on the tips of their toes due to their structured toe box. Over time, various brands emerged, each offering their unique touch to the art form. The most popular brand of pointe shoes is Freed of London, while other notable makers include Capezio, Bloch, and Gaynor Minden. These various brands have all contributed to the evolution of pointe shoes each with their own unique style and design. Freed shoes, known for their peach-colored satin, are hand made using traditional materials like paste, specialized glue, and leather while Gaynor Minden shoes use synthetic materials such as polymers and elastomers.
When it comes to the prestigious ballet company New York City Ballet (NYCB), not just any pointe shoes make the cut. The institution, founded by George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein in 1948, is known for its neoclassical style. Many professional dancers at NYCB use Freed of London shoes, celebrated for their customization and craftsmanship. After countless hours of training for about 10 years, dancers are asked to join ballet companies as an apprentice and move up the ranks to become a professional dancer. The ballet company has stringent standards, and Freed’s shoes meet the high demands of the dancers’ rigorous performances.
The artistry and materials that go into pointe shoes make them a costly investment. Handmade shoes like those from Freed require hours of meticulous work by skilled artisans. The materials contribute to the overall price. Pointe shoes average around $100 a pair. Additionally, pointe shoes have a limited lifespan, often needing replacement after just one or two performances or rehearsals. When shoes are overused, the glue disintegrates and no longer supports the dancer’s foot, which could lead to injury. At an annual cost of almost $5,200 a year, pointe shoes are a financial burden for dancers and companies alike.
Given their expense, dancers employ various strategies to extend the life of their pointe shoes. Rotating among multiple pairs allows the shoes to air out and recover, prolonging their durability. Additionally, proper care, such as storing shoes correctly and keeping them dry, prevents deterioration. Some dancers use additional glues or materials to reinforce the shoe’s structure and maximize their longevity. Jamie Duclos, a sophomore and ballet dancer, “always use[s] jet glue (a specialized glue) on [her] pointe shoes before [she] wear[s] them so that they last longer.” These tips and tricks become second nature to dancers, ensuring they get the most out of their beloved pointe shoes.
One of the many mini-courses offered at Riverdale focuses on developing the necessary strength and technique to safely dance on pointe. Jose Valentin, a senior at Riverdale who takes the class, remarks that it is “a really good way to get immersed in [pointe] at first.” He emphasizes the importance of safety, mentioning that their teacher, Ms. Spagnuolo, “was always there to hold our feet if we were about to slip.” During the beginning of the course, they didn’t immediately go on pointe until they completed physical exams to ensure that they were ready. Eventually, he and the class bought their first pair of pointe shoes on a field trip to the Bloch store. Then they began their journey en pointe.
The School of American Ballet (SAB), a renowned pre-professional ballet academy based in New York City holds an annual fundraiser, The SAB Ball, to help raise money for their toe shoe fund. This fund was developed to help subsidize the cost of pointe shoes to make them more affordable to students. The school’s commitment to prioritizing talent above all else ensures that financial background doesn’t limit a student’s opportunity for success. This serves as an important model for dance schools around the world including Riverdale where ballet classes are available for everyone.
