Pointe Shoes Through Time

Ballet pointe shoes allow ballet dancers to perform moves ‘en pointe’, or on the very tips of their toes. Pointes were originally created to meet the desire for ballerinas to look weightless and sylph-like throughout their movements, and ballet pointe shoes allow dancers to touch as little of the floor as possible when moving. They are mostly worn by women, and whilst they are available in a range of colours pointes are traditionally created in pale pink, with ribbons that are tied around the ankles.

Ballet as we know it today originated in France in the late 1600s, where standard women’s ballet shoes had heels. It wasn’t until the mid 18th century that dancers began to favour supple slippers, which allowed them to move more freely by fully extending their feet. The new shoes also allowed dancers to execute leaps and turns which were not possible with heeled shoes.

Dancing en pointe was originally achieved with the help of wires, which allowed dancers to rise onto the tips of their toes by lifting them from above. Audiences loved this new style of dance, and choreographers began to look for ways to achieve the effect without the use of wires.

The first ballet pointe shoes used reinforced stitching around the toe to help support the foot, and dancers padded their toes for comfort. Dancing en pointe requires a great deal of strength in the toes, feet, ankles, legs and abdomen, and the early ballet pointe shoes would have offered very little support for dancers. Injury to the toes and feet is also common when dancing en pointe, so improvements had to be made quickly. Modern ballet pointe shoes were designed, with a box shape at the toes made from stiff fabric. Previous designs had featured a more pointed toe, whereas the box shape offered a more stable platform upon which the dancer could balance. They were constructed without nails unlike earlier versions, and included a strong sole to help support the foot.

One of the main features of ballet pointe shoes aside from the recognisable box shaped toe is the long ribbons which are used to fasten the shoe to the ankle and lower calf. These are accompanied by an elastic band sewn onto the back of the shoe, which acts as an extra method of securing the shoes. The ribbons are then wrapped around the leg in opposite directions, secured in a knot, and the ends are tucked in to hide them from view. The ribbon is never tied in a bow, as these can come loose easily during movement. When ballet pointe shoes are purchased, the elastic and ribbons are supplied separately, as their placement is important for a good fit. Dancers are then able to try the shoe on, determine where the ribbons and elastic should be placed to ensure the best fit, and have them sewn on before use. Pointe shoes must fit perfectly to avoid discomfort during dancing en pointe, and manufacturers make a range of different sizes and styles to enable dancers to find the right fit for their foot.