Pointe Ballet Shoes, YIKES!

[Darsa]

Wow... yikes, again I wish there were more dance shops in the area and I wish like crazy we could take a trip into NY! That's actually one of our stops along the Heritage Tour in February, I wonder if we'll have time to duck into some of the shops then Hopefully once she's fitted and finds some she likes, we can order them online to save some $$...

*sigh* Or maybe she'll decide she doesn't like pointe!

 

[Darcy03231]

Definitelty make sure she's properly fitted. I would also try some different dance suppliers. DD's most expensive pair of shoes was $120 and the least expensive (what she still wears ) is $65. As she progresses and her technique and muscles change so will her shoes.

I only ordered on-line once and the shoes never did fit right. I found it was best to buy from the store after she'd tried on several different pairs.

 

[mickeylove2]

I don't even want to think of what the cost of dance shoes will be for my DDs when they are at a higher level. Right now they are 6 & 8 and take ballet, tap and jazz. I think this year I spent about $300 just on shoes. Then in May for their recital it will be another $600 for costumes. Can't forget that they go through probably 10 pairs of tights- $6/pair, and a few leotards- $20 and skirts-$10-$12 each year. OK where's the fainting smiley?????

 

[MichelleinMaine]

The nice young lady at the Dance Supplies store quoted me anywhere from $110 to $160 for these shoes. I know there are people out there who don't even blink at the thought of hundreds of dollars for ANY shoes, but this made me choke! I'm only hoping that my DD's feet are done growing...

Okay, done venting... until I have to pay the balance for her costumes

Am I safe to assume this is at Finer Pointes? (Think it's the only place in these parts!) DD is a tapper, but a good friend has 2 girls in pointe shoes and I'm fairly certain she said she pays less than that. (I can't remember what she said, but it wasn't $100, something still ungodly though! I want to say $70.)

I hate to point out too, they aren't the most long last-ing shoes. She's down to FP at least once a month for one or the other of them- ugh!

It makes me glad DD taps- at least those will last til she out grows them! (And make for great handme downs. Pointes, not so much!)

 

[Green Tea]

AFTER you have had a proper fitting and tried the shoes to make sure they are going to be right, you can reorder from discount dance. But her teacher should take her for the first fitting. The shank, the box, the size.....way too many variables to think about ordering online initially.

Capezios tended to be about $60ish a pair. Some other brand she wore for a bit about $75, Gaynor Mindon's now about $100 or so.

Depending on how often she dances, they may or may not last long. The first pair never actually wears out, because you start off so slowly. Now-I've had her kill a pair in a day before. Once she says they are dead, they are dead. No calendar to follow. Once a month is something to plan for, but it could be longer, or a lot shorter.

 

[Deb in IA]

AFTER you have had a proper fitting and tried the shoes to make sure they are going to be right, you can reorder from discount dance. But her teacher should take her for the first fitting. The shank, the box, the size.....way too many variables to think about ordering online initially.

I totally agree with this.

Our DD's teacher took the entire class to the local dance store. Her preferred shoes were Prima Soft, but they are hard to find. The dance teacher and the store owner fitted each girl personally.

Another tip: Make sure your DD learns how to sew her ribbons and elastics. Our teacher did that too; she taught them all in the first pointe class. That way, they can take care of anything that needs to be re-sewn. And it is a lot less work for Mom!!!

 

[TinkInPink]

Take her to the dance store, have her fitted (it may be a small fee, ie $10 dollars) then go to Discount Dance. she will probably have a basic pair at first, 3/4 shank, wide box etc, shoes that are made for beginners. they tend to be cheaper, around $50 or so on discount dance.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Just wait til she starts going thru them 'cause of wear & tear - not growth & she has to have a couple pairs! UGH!

 

[surfergirl602]

Just make sure that she tries several pairs on before buying. You need to make sure they fit properly. All pointe shoes are made differently, and it depends on what type of foot you have for the proper fit. You can't just buy any old pair to dance in.

 

[sandramaac]

older dd use to dance, so I feel your pain over pointe shoes however try having a competitive figure skater my youngest dd is a figure skater and her boots and blades run about $1200 boots last about 10 months

 

[PlainJane]

Wow, I've never heard a figure like that. The shoes in my area range from $60-$100. Things like toe separators or gel inserts might hike up the cost slightly.

 

[disneygals]

And you'd best look away when she gets new ones down the road... it's somewhat appalling what we'll do to our brand, shiny new slippers to make them "right." (My standard routine: cut the satin off the tip of the toe box, wrap the toe box in damp papertowels, then hammer the heck out of it to soften it so I could better feel the floor. Then I'd snap the shank to get a prettier arch, remove the inside footbed liner and stuff some brown paper bag bits into the toe box. Yes, to those very expensive shoes. They'd generally last me a couple performances, then become rehearsal and class shoes until they were toast.)

I have to leave the room when my girls "fix" their pointe shoes! Makes me and my credit card ill.

My girls feet have finally stopped growing, but I still won't risk buying pointe shoes online. Some dance shops have coupons or pointe shoe clubs, buy a certain amount get one free.

OP...over $100 is still way too much!

 

[cabanafrau]

OP, I think the quote you got is way out of line. Once your daughter is established dancing on pointe, decides which brand/size of shoe is for her -- guaranteed she will, they start to feel it's part of their foot -- then you can seek out cheaper online sources.

DD's teacher met them at the dance shop for their first fitting. Of the five girls there at that time, all wore size 9 street shoes, all but one have very narrow feet. Every single girl wound up w/ a different shoe & many different types of inserts. One girl who was particularly difficult to fit went into a shoe the teacher doesn't like beginners in. She happens to be one of the weaker dancers. Never did have success w/ the shoe & finally went to be specially fitted for the custom Gaynor Mindens. Very expensive for initial shoe, but it's really helped her. Another girl who didn't have a great fit option still has her original shoes! She has foot/ankle issues & doesn't dance strongly on them & they're only beginning to be broken in.

My heart sunk last night when I saw DD's shoes, which were purchased two weeks ago. Last weekend was our Nutcracker benefit & her shoes look like she was out tarring roofs & pouring concrete. She swears she can get another month out of them. Suuure. We had already had the discussion that next time she needs to go get fitted for the Gaynor Mindens. It will cost me more upfront but I think they will last longer on her. She has very strong feet & according to her ballet teacher, "million dollar arches ideal for ballet". That's all great and fine and wonderful -- unless you're the parent buying the shoes that she "breaks in" within 15 minutes & can wear out in the blink of an eye.

OP, comparison shop where you can and buy the first pair carefully for fit & feel. If your daughter fits a couple, three shoes pretty well she'll probably be able to give a preference about how one feels. Go with what feels "right" to her foot. She may change it later and that's okay. I'd guess after about a year on pointe she will know what her preference is and you will know what you need to seek out online. I sure hope she enjoys it as much as my DD has.

 

[taximomfor4]

I don't have any kids in ballet, but do have 3 girls who Irish Dance. Irish dance hard shoes start at $135 so I know where you are coming from!! If it helps at all, I sell my kids' shoes when they grow out of them, and put that money all aside for when they need more shoe. (Actually, I do it with wigs they don't use anymore, dresses, etc, too). It all goes into the "Irish Dance" account, that way I never have to dip into the pathetic household budget to keep them in dance supplies. Oh, and if I run across a great deal in shoes "the next size up" I buy them and stick them in the closet to wait for foot growth.

 

[cabanafrau]

I don't have any kids in ballet, but do have 3 girls who Irish Dance. Irish dance hard shoes start at $135 so I know where you are coming from!! If it helps at all, I sell my kids' shoes when they grow out of them, and put that money all aside for when they need more shoe. (Actually, I do it with wigs they don't use anymore, dresses, etc, too). It all goes into the "Irish Dance" account, that way I never have to dip into the pathetic household budget to keep them in dance supplies. Oh, and if I run across a great deal in shoes "the next size up" I buy them and stick them in the closet to wait for foot growth.

All the ballet moms are gonna send you coal for Christmas now! Pointe shoes are a completely different thing, even from all the other types of dance shoes. Moreso than any others, those are shoes that can only be worn by one person -- besides which no one would be willing to come in contact with a ballerina's used shoes, assuming there's anything left of them beyond a few threads of satin & some mushy "cardboard".

 

[Kitzka]

DD went on Pointe this summer and has already gone through 3 pairs of shoes. They have all been different styles and brands to see what works best for her. I think she has foud her 'soul' mate.

As PP have mentioned i would try to find another dance store. The shoes at my store are about $90 but there is a discount so i actually only pay about $68. I will prob buy from discount dance when DD is older and is going through 5-6 pairs a year. Prob at 13 she will need more as she goes through summer intensives and such.But i will continue to patronize my local dance store as having them around is invaluable to me and will do what i can to support them.

Lara

 

[cabanafrau]

DD went on Pointe this summer and has already gone through 3 pairs of shoes. They have all been different styles and brands to see what works best for her. I think she has foud her 'soul' mate.

As PP have mentioned i would try to find another dance store. The shoes at my store are about $90 but there is a discount so i actually only pay about $68. I will prob buy from discount dance when DD is older and is going through 5-6 pairs a year. Prob at 13 she will need more as she goes through summer intensives and such.But i will continue to patronize my local dance store as having them around is invaluable to me and will do what i can to support them.

Lara

Very, very good point about the local shops. Of course, that bit me in the butt a couple years ago when DH was out running errands with me and I popped in for tights, only to be greeted with, oh hi, Mrs. Cabanafrau, what were you looking for today? DH kind of stopped, then gave me "the eye" when I said the girls needed ballet tights and she turned around & pulled the correct sizes and styles off the rack without another word. Heaven help me if he could have been a fly on the wall when I called a few months back to check if they had gotten in a new supply of DD's pointe shoe, "Your voice sounds familiar. Well, my daughter X -- oh, yes, the Bloch Serenade, we have two pairs at the counter for her." Come to find out they now hold 2 pairs at the counter w/ her name on them at all times. They even bring in the dual-shanked style or whatever it's called, especially for her now. No extra cost to me, just trying to make her shoes last longer. Where can you get that kind of online service?

Both DD's are now instructed that dad is to remain in the car if he needs to run them up there for anything.

 

[kafitty]

If it helps at all, I sell my kids' shoes when they grow out of them...

yeah, you really can't do that with pointe shoes...they're VERY customized to the dancer after they're bought, and those things get GUH-ROSS after some wear & tear...

Very, very good point about the local shops. Of course, that bit me in the butt a couple years ago when DH was out running errands with me and I popped in for tights, only to be greeted with, oh hi, Mrs. Cabanafrau, what were you looking for today? DH kind of stopped, then gave me "the eye" when I said the girls needed ballet tights and she turned around & pulled the correct sizes and styles off the rack without another word. Heaven help me if he could have been a fly on the wall when I called a few months back to check if they had gotten in a new supply of DD's pointe shoe, "Your voice sounds familiar. Well, my daughter X -- oh, yes, the Bloch Serenade, we have two pairs at the counter for her." Come to find out they now hold 2 pairs at the counter w/ her name on them at all times. They even bring in the dual-shanked style or whatever it's called, especially for her now. No extra cost to me, just trying to make her shoes last longer. Where can you get that kind of online service?

Both DD's are now instructed that dad is to remain in the car if he needs to run them up there for anything.

wow, great service!! and a funny story...


good luck OP, i remember how thrilled my single mother was when i decided to add pointe...

 

[Darsa]

Am I safe to assume this is at Finer Pointes?

Actually we go to the DanceWear House which is closer to us; they know my daughter and know she works with Mr. Scott, which is REALLY cool. She always feels so special when she goes in. I can't wait to see her face when she opens that gift certificate, she'll be so excited! Well, until she finds out that she's going to have to use the whole stinkin' thing on just the shoes

 

[taximomfor4]

All the ballet moms are gonna send you coal for Christmas now! Pointe shoes are a completely different thing, even from all the other types of dance shoes. Moreso than any others, those are shoes that can only be worn by one person -- besides which no one would be willing to come in contact with a ballerina's used shoes, assuming there's anything left of them beyond a few threads of satin & some mushy "cardboard".

LOL! I didn't mean to imply that pointe shoes can go from one person to another. Actually, some hard shoes for Irish can't either...especially in the most competitive levels, the kids break in the shoes so that they can dance properly in them, and then in no time at all, the shoes are TOO broken in and need replaced. But when I sell OTHER dance stuff (kick pants they outgrew, soft shoes that they grew out of before stretching out too much, wigs we had for a few competitions but ended up not liking, etc) THAT money goes into the "Irish Dance Account" too. We are lucky right now, that each of my girls have 2 dresses each (team dress and solo dress), 2 pairs of shoes each (soft and hard), and enough poodle socks to last a while. Oh, and they all have wigs in nearly new shape. So our dance account won't be emptied out this month,lol.