Just about every little girl who sees the Nutcracker at an early age has dreams of floating round the stage in pointe shoes, dressed in a sparkling tutu, with a lovely smile on her face and a handsome prince holding her hand. Most girls who grow up taking ballet have a strong desire to go on pointe, but very often the reality is hard to take. I like to prepare my dancers in the best possible way to help them through those difficult times and transitions in the world of pointe.
When I feel a dancer is ready both physically and mentally to start working in pointe shoes, I will meet with her and her parent so that everyone understands what is involved. I like to make it clear to them that at one time or another, there is going to be some pain involved, but that by following certain guidelines we can certainly minimize those occasions.
En Pointe: Preparation
I always insist that the dancer be seen by an orthopedic surgeon and recommend a foot X-ray before she can begin. I like to know from a doctor that the student’s feet are ready from the inside as well as the outside. Once I receive the go ahead from the doctor, I ask them to get fitted for pointe shoes. It is really important that the people doing the fitting are extremely knowledgeable not only about all the different options in pointe shoes, but also in the anatomy of the foot. It is not always easy to find a store that employs someone of this experience. If you do have one in your area it is well worth cultivating him or her, as you will almost always have your students fitted correctly.
I ask the students to bring the shoes to me so that I can see them on their feet and make doubly sure that they are right for them. Once they are approved, I am able to show the dancer how and where to sew on the ribbons and, if necessary, the elastics.
At the beginning I give all my dancers who are on pointe a detailed list with all the necessities to help them keep their feet in the best way shape. If you can train them from the beginning to pamper their feet, they will have fewer issues as they do their pointe work.
GUIDELINES FOR THE CARE AND PROTECTION OF FEET
FOR DANCERS WORKING IN POINTE SHOES
1. Make sure that toenails are kept short. They will bruise less and are not as likely to become ingrown if they are trimmed in a straight line with rounded edges. A good pair of nail clippers is a wise investment.
2. Keep feet clean and use foot powder to reduce the chance of blisters.
3. Regularly moisturize feet, especially in cold weather, as skin can crack and bleed if not kept supple. Massaging petroleum jelly into the skin and toenails is recommended at night.
4. Keep an eye on callous buildup on the soles of the feet and also on the toes. Soaking feet in warm soapy water for at least ten minutes and then rubbing the callous gently with a callous remover should prevent major buildup.
5. If you have sensitive or delicate skin, it is a good idea to tape up toes prior to putting on pointe shoes to prevent blistering or tearing of the skin. A lightweight cloth athletic tape is recommended. Make sure skin is clean before applying small amounts of tape. Avoid wrapping the toe too tightly. New Skin, a liquid bandage, can be really effective: it protects while it allows the skin to breathe as it heals.
6. Keep a resistance band with your pointe shoes as there are a number of excellent and easy exercises that can help to warm up the feet and Achilles tendon.
7. Make sure that you have antiseptic ointment on hand and some blister kits. Once a blister has formed it is important to treat it as quickly as possible.
8. Bandaids are not always a good idea as they can become dislodged and cause additional friction at the site.
9. Padding for blisters, corns and bunions is also important for a dancer to keep on hand. Commercial pads and moleskin found at local pharmacies all work well.
10. Last but not least, toe caps for dancers who have uneven toe lengths can be very helpful. These need to be made professionally and are not available at all podiatrists. One expert who has designed and created these toe caps is Dr. Alan Woodle of Seattle, Washington.
En Pointe: Practice Makes Perfect
I find that all of these suggestions need to be reinforced and checked fairly regularly. I check my dancer’s shoes once a month to help keep them aware of how important it is for them to do the same…each and every time they take their shoes off. Ribbons and elastics can pull loose with wear and it is always better to keep on top of it in order to prevent unnecessary injuries such as a twisted ankle.
Students sometimes are upset and afraid of the way pointe shoes feel on their feet, so it is important to go over the different areas of the shoe and their function, to help them understand how it all works. I also like to give my students combinations that involve little or no pointe technique, but that help them work in the shoes. Across the floor combinations that require them to move smoothly with steps such as balances and runs give them a better feeling of working their feet within the structure of the pointe shoe, so that when they are on pointe they understand that the feet and the upper body can work exactly the same way as when they are in flat shoes. Taking some of the mystery and mystique out of working on pointe will result in better understanding of what is needed to be successful.
