Pointe shoes are an essential tool for ballet dancers, allowing them to achieve the iconic look of dancing on the tips of their toes. But what many people don't realize is the amount of customization and modification that goes into making these shoes work for each individual dancer.
As an educational break from our beloved Tik Tok reaction series, let's take a look at some of the baller internet's "hacks" with your favorite pointe shoe fairy!
Since pointe shoes are made on a straight last (mold) without a left or right [04:18], dancers have to customize them to their specific needs and preferences [04:40]. The video demonstrates a variety of techniques, including:
- Preventing Fraying: Burning the edges of the satin [00:41] or using nail polish or anti-fraying spray [00:23].
- Removing Excess Fabric: Sewing in the "Frankenstein Stitch" [02:15].
- Improving Grip and Durability: Darning the platform [02:35].
- Breaking in the Shoe: Flattening the box and cracking the shank [03:23].
- Adding Stability: Applying extra glue to the box [03:42].
- Matching Skin Tones: Dyeing shoes [04:11].
- Preventing Slipping: Adding suede tips [09:36].
- Hardening the Box: Using shellac [11:07].
Dancers use different types of glues, such as Jet glue, Crazy Glue, and hot stuff, to modify their shoes [07:22]. The active ingredient in many of these glues is cyanoacrylate [06:04].
We also take a glimpse into the world of pointe shoes beyond the stage, featuring:
- The National Ballet of Canada's Shoe Room: A look inside where the magic happens [07:51].
- The Pointe Shoe Dyeing Process: Witnessing the transformation of shoes to perfectly match a dancer's skin tone [08:30].
- Milwaukee Ballet's "Glass" Slippers: Discovering how sparkly shoes are made for Cinderella [10:32].
This video offers a newfound appreciation for the work and artistry that goes into preparing pointe shoes. What other aspects of ballet or dance would you like to explore?