Calling all pointe shoe nerds! This video is for you.
This week, Josephine's inner pointe shoe nerd blossomed! We got the chance to sit down with Professor Jennifer Fisher from the University of California, Irvine. Professor Fishers teaches Dance History in the Dance Department, part of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts.
Josephine and Professor Fisher got to parse through her pointe shoe collection, which spans about 50 years.
Professor Fisher also borrowed and brought some historical shoes from the late 19th century as well. She discussed how flimsy ballroom shoes were altered and handcrafted by women over time, to slowly add more structure and support for dancing on toes.
The pair also discussed how feet are getting larger, and that yellow face is part of pointe shoe history. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to go through every single shoe, but we learned a lot nevertheless.
Which shoe was more fascinating to you?