Is Your Dancer Ready for Pointe? Signs, Tips, and Shoe Advice

Is Your Dancer Ready for Pointe? Signs, Tips, and Shoe Advice

Making the choice to go en pointe is an important moment in any ballerina's journey. Since you’re here we know that you care about helping them navigate this decision with care. Pat’s Dancewear in Utah has been fitting dancers with pointe shoes for over 50 years. Our information has helped thousands of families navigate this transition safely. Today our goal is to focus on what’s important, your dancer's longevity AND keeping them excited about ballet (and their new shoes).

Signs Your Dancer Is Ready 

Your teachers are the best guide, so default to their advice. Our professional fitters are here to confirm readiness but can’t pass your child off to attend their first pointe class. 

Teachers are often looking for the following:

• Understanding of ballet fundamentals
• Knowing basic positions and the proper names of skills
• Good control of the body
• Strong turnout and jumps with fully pointed feet
• Ankle strength 
• releves and eleves on each foot/both feet
• Foot/metatarsal strength 
• High eleves and fully pointed feet
• Balance
• Consistent pirouettes and strong technique in center

Tips for Choosing Pointe Shoes

So your dancer looks ready… What now? Time to schedule a pointe shoe fitting. You want to look for a store that has multiple brands/styles of pointe shoes, qualified fitters, and cares about safety above selling a shoe. 

Some things to remember:

• The fit matters more than the brand or price
•  A good fit will keep your dancer’s feet safe and enhance their experience
• Trying on multiple brands is normal
• It can take a few tries to find the right shoe
• Knowing what your studio expects
• They may have restrictions on certain shoes or prefer specific accessories 
• There are no dumb questions!
• Pointe shoes are incredibly niche, and your fitter knows more than most people, so don’t be afraid to ask!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Your dancer will learn a lot breaking in and wearing their first pair of pointe shoes. It’s even likely they will pick a different pair of shoes at their next fitting. However, here are a few tips to help them find the best shoe early on.

Things to avoid:

• Rushing into a harder shank
• Buying shoes that are too big
• You can’t safely “grow into” pointe shoes
• Ignoring discomfort
• Buying shoes without a professional fitting
• Putting too much padding into the shoe

Pat’s Dancewear offers pointe shoe fittings Monday through Saturday 11am-4pm. Give us a call to schedule your dancers fitting. Not local? Check out this page to learn more about pointe shoe fittings or give us a shout with any additional questions. Celebrating this milestone with your dancer will be a memory you cherish forever and we are so grateful to be even a small part of this moment.

Thank you for trusting us with your toes. 

Love,

Pat’s