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.

Brand Spotlight: Bloch (includes Mirella and Josette)

Bloch was established in 1931 when an Eastern European cobbler moved to Australia.  Jacob Bloch began making custom pointe shoes, then marketed his products across the country.  Today, Bloch has 16 stores in Australia and Europe and is a staple brand that many local US dancewear stores carry.

pronunciation	Block
website	blochworld.com (US), bloch.com.au (Australia)
styles of dance included	Ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern/lyrical/contemporary
types of items	shoes, bodywear, warm-ups, accessories, also street clothes/shoes and sportswear
country of origin	Australia
price point	generally higher-moderate
quality	Excellent
availability	Pretty broad availability in the US and overseas.  Easy to find in local dancewear stores and online (discountdance.com, etc.).  Sometimes different items are only available in Europe/Australia.  New collections also sell out quickly.
sizing	shoes: ballet shoes: true to size, but  many models run on UK sizing scale (subtract 2 to 2.5 from US street size) pointe shoes: models vary jazz shoes: true to size (US sizing) sneakers and hard shoes (tap, etc.): up 1 to 2 sizes (US sizing) leotards/bodywear: runs short and wide, but true to size tights: size chart is accurate warm-ups: true to size, but waistbands/legs/sleeves can be wide or loose
Jillian’s top pick	warm-up boots, “Zenith” and “Prolite II” ballet slippers
Jillian’s item to avoid	none to speak of, however Bloch pointe shoes tend to be square and heavy, which is not good for tapered feet.

Help! My daughter wants to wear her dance shoes everywhere!

It’s common for young children new to dance to want to wear their new dance shoes all the time.  While it can be adorable, it is not acceptable for children to wear dance shoes outside the studio (this includes the studio parking lot).  Some dance shoes are unsafe to wear on surfaces other than a dance floor.  Others are safe, but they wear out/get dirty quickly, and it is extremely disrespectful to the art of dance to wear them on the street (even if you see Kim Kardashian’s daughter doing it).  It is important for you to introduce this standard and make sure your daughter follows it. 

When you buy brand new dance shoes, don’t allow your daughter to wear them out of the store.  She must take them off and put her regular shoes back on.  If she is disappointed, allow her to carry the new shoes (out of the box if she wants to admire them) instead. 

If your daughter wants to wear her dance shoes when you go out, like to church, school, or the grocery store, do not allow her to do so.  Make sure she understands that saying “no” is not about being mean, but about keeping her shoes from getting yucky and respecting the art of dance.  Most children will understand after this is explained a few times.  If your daughter consistently continues to ask to wear her dance shoes out, try getting her a pair of patent-leather mary-jane dress shoes that resemble her taps, or a set of pale pink flats that look like ballet shoes.  This can help her feel like a dancer all the time while protecting her actual dance shoes.

If she wants to wear her dance shoes at home, this can be ok in some situations.  First, make sure you have a surface that is safe to dance on (not too slippery—dance shoes generally have little traction) and will not get damaged or damage the shoes (carpet can damage ballet and jazz shoes, and wood/tile/linoleum floors can get scratched by taps and flamenco shoes).  If you have such an area, tell her it’s ok to wear her dance shoes if she wants to practice dancing.  It is not ok to wear dance shoes while just “hanging out” at home.  When she is done dancing, she needs to take her dance shoes off.  If you don’t have a good area to practice dance, explain this to her and encourage her to practice while wearing a different dancewear item (skirt, etc.) or redirect her to another activity.

When you are on your way to dance class, have your daughter carry her dance shoes in her dance bag.  She can put them on when you get there.  Even if you think it will save time, do not put her dance shoes on her before you leave for class.  It is still dirty and disrespectful to walk across the parking lot in dance shoes, and there is something kind of pathetic about watching a perfectly capable 5-year-old get carried from the car to the studio because she already has her dance shoes on.

It’s natural for children to be unaware of and not care for this important rule about protecting and respecting dance shoes.  Don’t be surprised if your daughter resists a little at first.  With a little direction and encouragement, she will be taking good care of her dance shoes in no time.

Perfect Fit Pointe toe pads review

Perfect Fit Pointe (perfectfitpointe.com) is a small online company that sells a system of pointe padding (they refer to their product as "inserts" rather than "pads") that is very different from anything else on the market.  The product is a DIY kit to create toe pads perfectly formed to a dancer's foot.  The kit contains tubs of silicone-based modeling clay (this sets and becomes dry and stiff-yet-flexible in a matter of minutes after opening the container) and, small fabric pockets for spacers, and thin mesh sockliners.  The general idea is to shape the clay around the toes (with a spacer embedded in it if you wish), put the sockliner over top, and cover with a piece of cellophane.  Then the dancer puts on her pointe shoes and does about 10 minutes of barre work while the modeling clay sets.  After the toe pad is set, it is removed and trimmed.  The result is a perfect impression of the dancer's foot.    The clay spreads around the foot and flows between the toes to fill voids in the shoe and become thinner where the toes exert more pressure on the shoe.  This distributes pressure more evenly and makes the foot more stable in the shoe.  The idea is spectacular, the process is easy to complete, and the kit is not too expensive (about $35) for something that is considered revolutionary.  Read more about the Perfect Fit Pointe philosophy and process here.

I purchased a Perfect Fit Pointe kit a few months ago.  I tried using it according to the recommend directions, but that didn't work out so well for me.  I experimented a little and came up with a new process using the Perfect Fit Pointe kit components.  In the rest of this post, I will share my experience and list the instructions I have developed for a more universally successful way of using Perfect Fit Pointe's kit.

(Please note that I am a 20-something with "adult" feet that are very tapered, narrow, bony, and non-compressive.  I have bunions on both the big toe side and pinky toe side of both feet that regularly get sore and blistered, and I also get a lot of pain in the nail bed of my big toes.  I usually wear spacers and Pillows for Pointes SuperGellowes toe pads in my pointe shoes.  I am an advanced dancer who has been en pointe for several years.  If you are a beginner, always ask your teacher before substantially changing anything about your pointe shoes or toe pads.)

When I received my Perfect Fit Pointe kit, I used it according to the recommended directions for my right foot.  I applied the clay to my foot as the directions describe, and I used an embedded spacer.  I put the sockliner and cellophane over top and slipped my foot into a brand-new Grishko DreamPointe.   A few minutes into my barre work, I could feel the clay shifting around my foot.  The clay moved to under my little toes and moved away from my big toe and bunions.  This left me feeling like I was very supported in the shoe, but there was sharp, abrasive pain in my big toe and bunions.  I could totally see the benefit of this type of padding, but I knew at that moment that I could not dance comfortably with so little padding on the parts of my foot that hurt most.  I completely understand the benefits of not padding areas that come in contact with the shoe, and I know that over time pain should diminish when the foot is properly aligned.  However, I am accustomed to more padding in order to avoid abrasions and pressure.  I currently danced well with minimal to moderate pain with my SuperGellowes and spacers combo, so I was not willing to increase pain, which I know severely decreases the quality of my dancing.

I believe that young students who are not used to any particular kind of padding and professional dancers who use no padding could both benefit a lot from using Perfect Fit Pointe according to the recommend directions.  It could easily align the foot without adding any bulk of padding.  However, for dancers with sensitive feet, bunions, or who are used to thicker toe pads, I developed this set of instructions that incorporates the immense benefits of Perfect Fit Pointe's foot-impression clay and the comfort of thicker toe pads. 

Before you get started, make sure your pointe shoes will fit once the Perfect Fit Pointe clay is applied and the new toe pads are created.  To do this, put on your pointe shoes with the toe pads you will use for the project and a set of spacers.  If this is how you usually wear your pointe shoes, you're good to go.  If you don't normally wear spacers, make sure to try on your shoes with spacers and toe pads before starting the process.  The spacer will mimic the extra tightness created when you apply the Perfect Fit Pointe clay.  If your shoes feel too tight, try a pair one width wider. 

Also note that my process uses only half the amount of clay provided in the Perfect Fit Pointe kit.  You can save the rest of the clay for later, create two sets of toe pads now, or share with a friend.

You will need:

-Perfect Fit Pointe kit (you will only need the clay and cellophane wrappers)

-A pair of fabric lined toe pads that you already know works for you ( I recommend Pillows for Pointes Gellowes, Pillows for Pointes SuperGellowes, or Danztech Skinny Dips, but any fabric lined toe pad will work.  This process will NOT work with toe pads that are completely made of silicone, foam, rubber, or plastic.)

-Your pointe shoes

-Scissors

-A sharpie

-A hard floor/area where you can do barre work (kitchen counter works great)

Instructions:

Warm your feet a little by walking around or doing some barre work on flat.  Make sure your feet are clean and dry.  Open ONE container of blue clay and ONE container of white clay.  Mix the colors together with your fingertips to create a uniform light blue color (should take no more than 20 seconds or so). 

Divide the ball of clay in half and apply one half to each foot.  YOU MUST DO BOTH FEET AT ONCE.  If you usually wear spacers, make sure you put some clay between your big toe and second toe.  Spread the rest of the clay over the tips of your toes, carrying it down to your bunions and over the top of your foot.  Don't put any under your toes, as it should flow through your toes after you get your shoes on. 

Put your toe pads on, put the cellophane wrappers over your toe pads, and put on your pointe shoes.  Don't spend too long tying your ribbons.  Start doing basic barre exercises for about 10 minutes.  You will feel  the clay moving around slightly on your feet. 

After 10 minutes, take your pointe shoes off.  Slide your toe pads off and remove the cellophane wrappers.  The clay should have set to a firm, yet flexible consistency.   Use scissors to trim any clay that has flowed outside the confines of the toe pad.  Use the sharpie to mark the toe pads right and left.  They will not fit on the opposite feet.

These toe pads will now promote foot alignment, support areas where there are voids in your shoes, and provide padding and protection from abrasions where your foot is in direct contact with the shoe.  I have been using my toe pads enhanced with Perfect Fit Pointe clay since January, and I do feel more supported and comfortable in my shoes.  If you are willing to spend the time and money to get Perfect Fit Pointe clay and create your customized toe pads, I think it's a great investment in your foot health and dance quality.

How should a leotard fit?

Many first time dancers and first time dance parents are unsure of how a leotard is supposed to fit, which often leads to dancers showing up to class in items that are too large.  The truth is that leotards are supposed to be snug.  Take a look at the models on discountdance.com.  They all model leotards that appear smooth on their bodies with no sags or wrinkles from extra fabric.  If you are familiar with elite swimming or gymnastics, you will notice that swimmers and gymnasts wear tight suits and leotards that hug their bodies without any extra room.  This represents an appropriate fit.

Leotards should not be so tight that they ride up above the hip bones, ride down and show excessive chest or cleavage, or cause unreasonable irritation around the arms and legs.  However, leotards that are too loose to hug the bottom or have loose straps are definitely too big. 

It’s common for a child to try on a leotard for his or her first ballet class and come out of the fitting room saying “too tight.”  In most cases, the leotard is not actually too small; the child must become used to wearing tight fitting garments if he or she is going to be successful in dance.  Almost all children will acclimate to wearing dancewear within two weeks or so.  It is appropriate for children under eight years old to have a tiny bit of “growing room” in their leotards (a small amount of wrinkling down the front/length or a small bit of looseness in the sleeves, but not looseness in the bottom or shoulders).  Growing room is a common result of a child being between sizes, NOT a license to purchase dancewear a whole size too big.  That will only make it more difficult for a child to participate in dance class.  Dancers over eight years old should have snug leotards with no extra room.

If a dancer has sensory issues, cotton leotards and styles with sleeves sometimes feel better than camisole or spandex styles in the same size.  Note that many brands of leotards run on different sizing scales, so it’s difficult to judge whether or not something will fit appropriately based on its designated size.  If a dancer normally wears a medium leotard in one brand, he or she may need a small or a large in another brand to get a good fit. 

Dancers should always try on leotards if they can.  Putting on a leotard, spending a good amount of time examining it in a mirror, and moving around to check the fit are the best ways to ensure that a leotard fits appropriately.  After trying on a few styles and sizes, dancers should always choose the tightest fit in which they feel comfortable.