Stretch Ribbon Roundup

Have you noticed that some dancers use special ribbons on their pointe shoes?  Dancers with Achilles tendon problems or other ankle issues sometimes prefer ribbons that are stretchy or have pieces of elastic sewn into them.  This stretch ensures that ribbons stay in place without having to be pulled so tightly that they dig in and hurt already dodgy ankles. 

There are two basic types of stretch ribbon widely available online and in dancewear stores, and each has a couple of different brands that make it.

The first type is basic ribbon with pieces of elastic sewn into it.  The elastic pieces are usually about three inches long, and they are located closer to one end of the ribbon.  When dancers sew the ribbons on their pointe shoes, they must be careful to position the ribbon in such a way that the elastic wraps around the back of the ankle when the ribbons are tied.  It is possible to make this type of ribbon yourself using standard pointe shoe ribbon and extra bits of elastic, but it’s a tedious job.  Most dancers who prefer this type of ribbon purchase either Bloch Elastorib or Bunheads Flexers, both of which are basic ribbons with elastic sewn into them. 

Bunheads Flexers

Bloch Elasorib

I personally prefer Bunheads Flexers over Bloch Elastorib.  I think the Flexers ribbon is softer and thinner, and the elastic is sewn in more securely.  However, the elastic on the Flexers has an unfinished edge which is prone to unraveling.  Bloch Elastorib uses a thicker, stiffer ribbon.  The elastic is sewn to the ribbon with a double line of stitching and a finished edge, so it looks very clean.  However, the stitching easily breaks if the ribbons are pulled too hard, and the elastic can lose its stretchiness over time.

The second type of stretch ribbon is ribbon that is interwoven with tiny threads of clear elastic that make the ribbon stretchy as a whole.  This kind of ribbon is similar to the ribbon hair ties that are popular right now.  One major benefit to this type of ribbon is that dancers do not have to precisely position it when sewing it onto their shoes.  The whole ribbon stretches, so there is no piece of elastic to put exactly around the back of the ankle.  Stretchy ribbon is usually matte, so it’s great for performances where dancers are required to “mattify” their pointe shoes with calamine lotion. 

One major brand of stretchy ribbon is Body Wrappers Angelo Luzio S-T-R-E-T-C-H ribbon.  I like this brand a lot, especially because its pale pink color better matches Russian Pointe and Grishko shoes than other brighter brands.