Getting Fit

Pointe, June, 2008 by Brewer, Jennifer

Professionals share the secrets behind finding the right pointe shoe.

Finding the best possible fit in pointe shoes ia crucial for both technical development and injury prevention. Professional fitters have the experience to navigate the sometimes overwhelming sea of shoe models, sizes, vamps and shanks to find the perfect fit for each dancer.

Nadia Randall, store manager and footwear specialist for The Shoe Room at the National Ballet School in Toronto, begins a fitting by considering a dancer's foot and selecting an appropriate pointe shoe model. "We look at foot structure in bare feet, including the shape of the feet and length of the toes," she explains.

The shape of the toe box must be compatible with foot structure and the padding that a dancer will use....

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