Breaking in pointe shoes

New pointe shoes can be super stiff and difficult to dance in.  In this post, I will go through a few methods of breaking in new shoes so they are ready for class or the stage.  

As always, only dance en pointe at the recommendation and under the direction of a qualified ballet teacher.  If you are a beginning pointe dancer, always talk to your teacher about the best way to break in your shoes, and never bend, wet, or otherwise alter the shoe before your teacher has seen them.  Dancewear stores usually cannot accept exchanges or returns if the pointe shoes have been altered or sewn.

*Note: These methods are for traditionally made pointe shoes made with paste boxes.  They do not work well on Gaynor Minden pointe shoes.

Method 1: barre exercises

This method is excellent for pointe beginners.  It is also the gentlest on the shoe itself, so the shoes will get broken in, but not damaged.  First, make sure your shoes are sewn.  Then put on your pointe shoes (with all your usual padding).  You may add a pair of warm up booties or thick socks over your shoes to warm up your feet faster.  Using the barre in your studio or a chair, windowsill, or counter at home, do basic barre exercises including plies, tendus, eleves, and releves.  You may also try some tread-throughs and roll-throughs to help break in the demi-pointe.  The goal is to make your feet sweat slightly as you work in the shoes so they will soften and mold to your feet.  Depending on how hard the shank and box are, it can take an hour or more to break in the shoe.  Don't feel like you have to completely break in the shoe in one session, especially if you are a beginner.  It's something you can work on gradually.  Doing basic exercises in a very hard shoe is great for strengthening feet as well.

Method 2:  massage and bend

This method is better for more intermediate/advanced dancers who know how they need to shape the shoes to best fit their feet.  Take your pointe shoes, and using your hands, gently press on the shoe in the areas you need to soften.  You may flatten the crown with your palm, push on the wings with your fingers, and bend the shank at the arch and demi-pointe.  The heat of your hands and the pressure you exert will help shape the shoe.  Some very advanced dancers step on the box of the shoe or break the shank by slamming it in a door.  They sometimes also engage in altering the shoe in various other ways (hammering, removing the lining, stripping the platform, etc.).  These methods are quick and easy for breaking a specific part or altering a particular aspect of the shoe, so they work for advanced dancers and pros who know exactly what they need.  For beginners and intermediate dancers who have had only a few pairs of pointe shoes, stepping on or slamming shoes can damage them beyond repair if the shoes are not broken in the exact right place.  To avoid damage, stick with massaging and gently bending.  

Method 3:  add water (Never use this method for Freed of London pointe shoes!!)

This is the method I usually use (it works great on my Grishkos), and it's good for advanced dancers who have been through many pairs of pointe shoes.  Take your pointe shoes, and using a spray bottle, a paper towel, or your fingertips, dampen your shoes where you need to soften them.  You just want the shoe to be damp, not sopping.  Some places to put the water are the wings and demi-pointe.  Because I like to stretch my shoes a little, I add water to the satin of the shoe between the waist and heel seems.  After adding the water, massage the shoes or put them on and do some exercises to make sure the water has done its job softening the shoe.  Never, ever use water on Freed pointe shoes.  The glue used to construct them is different from other brands, and it is prone to turning to mush when it gets too wet.

Optional for all levels:  scoring the soles

All pointe shoe shave suede, leather, or imitation leather soles.  Sometimes they come pre-scored, and sometimes they are smooth and slick.  To make sure your pointe shoes are not too slick for the studio floor, use a suede brush for suede soles or a sharp item like a nail or even a fork for leather soles to rough up the bottom.  This will just make sure you don't slip or slide once you get to the studio or stage.

Here is a clip from the movie Center Stage showing how some advanced students break in their shoes and prepare their feet for pointe.  Some of their methods are dangerous to both the dancer and the shoe if not done in exactly the right way.  Always talk to your teacher before trying a new method of breaking in your shoes.

Do you have a preferred method of breaking in your pointe shoes?  Leave a comment!