How Do You Break in Pointe Shoes?

When you buy a pair of pointe shoes, it is a big investment and they need to last for years. The longer you wear them, the more comfortable they will be. However, how long they last also depends on the dancer, so it is important to break them in properly to ensure a long life for your shoes.

How do you break in your pointe shoes?

The first thing that needs to be done is to get your new pointe shoes properly fitted. This is a very delicate task as they have to fit your feet correctly while still being comfortable and flexible enough for pointe work. Getting the shoe perfectly fitted will allow you to do all of your ballet exercises and moves in them without discomfort.

Once you have your pointe shoes fitted, you need to wear them a lot. This is especially important in the early weeks of wearing your shoes as it will soften them and help to mould them to your feet.

Performing simple grand plies and rolling up to full pointe regularly will make the shank of your shoes bend with your foot as you roll through the exercise, helping to soften them. This can be very painful, but is necessary for them to gradually soften and become comfortable.

Molding your shoes to your feet is a very essential part of the process and can take time, so be patient! To speed up this process, some dancers use a heat activated paste called TMT(tm) Paste (Thermo Morph Technology), which is available exclusively from BLOCH. This heat activated paste helps to accelerate the breaking in process, allowing you to mold your shoe to the unique contours of your feet from the very first wear.

Shaping the box of your shoe is another very important step in the break-in process. Some dancers find that closing their shoes in a door frame is very effective, while others prefer to simply move through demi-pointe and pointe exercises on a barre to shape the box.

This can be a pain at first, but it is an excellent way to help the box of your pointe shoes soften and mold to your feet. Once the box is soft, you can then begin to wear your pointe shoes around the house on demi-pointe and slowly work up to fully pointe.

After you have worn your pointe shoes a lot and they are still very stiff, you can dip them in water or rubbing alcohol to soften them up. You can also apply a light coating of this liquid to the top of your shoes to further soften them up and increase their comfort.

You should also air your shoes out after wearing them as this will help to dry out the sweat and moisture that can build up in them. This will lengthen the lifespan of your shoes and prevent them from going mouldy and squeezing out of your feet.

Finally, if you are struggling with the pain and stiffness in your shoes, it is a good idea to see a professional. They will be able to diagnose the problem and advise you on how to proceed.