Pointe Shoes Part 1 of 2

As, I mentioned in other blog posts I am a dancer. I am studying jazz, tap, ballet, pointe and modern. I am here to answer some myths and give you a basic understanding  about pointe dancing and shoes. 

There is actually a myth that ballet is actually damaging and alters your body. The altering yes. The damaging no. Ballet does not damage your body IF your doing it correctly. Let me say that again. Ballet does not damage your body IF you are doing it correctly. If you do the moves incorrectly you can really damage your body. But if you listen to the corrections that your dance teacher is giving you you will be fine. Dancers (but ballet dancers particularly) are trained to actually turn out there legs and put all their weight in the balls of there feet. If you ever notice a dancer leaning forward slightly that's because they are putting there weight in the balls of there feet like they trained hours and hours to do. Normal people that actually don't dance ballet put there weight in there heels and therefor look normal. Ballet does alter your body in some little ways.
If I look at my arms I can tell that they do not look normal. But they don't hurt and work fine so I don't see a problem!! I will actually some times find myself standing in one of the six positions. I usually look at my feet and then smirk. Its kind of funny

One myth that seems odd to me is that people think that pointe shoes are made of wood. If they were made of wood they would hurt so much more and would be to hard to use. No they are not made of wood they are actually made of a paper mache material and each pointe shoe is made hand made all over the world that's why they are so expensive. My current pointe shoes are made here in the USA but other pairs that I have used were made in Thailand or even Brazil. 

How to Put on a Pointe Shoe

There are many things that a lot of dancers do to keep some of the painful pressure of of their toes like taping and various pads and things. This is how I do it!

I start with my normal foot of coarse.  

Then I add a toe spacer to keep weigh out the pressure.

Then my ouch pouch and/or put my tights over my foot.

And of coarse the pointe shoe! 

Tie them up!

{Little blurry}

Done!

So that's what I do for my pointe shoes! hope you enjoyed!! 

Part 2 will be about old and new pointe shoes. Sorry I have not been posting I have been really busy with school and life.

Note: Everything posted that is either written or a picture is mine. I ask that my pictures are to not be downloaded or used in any way unless stated otherwise.