How I Prepare My Pointe Shoes | Isabella Boylston

[@alettaa]

I love how you mentioned social and economical issues and raised awareness! So glad you made a YT channel and has shown more of who you are beside being a kickass dancer 😊

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

thanks so much! I love to hear that feedback! xo

[@somliengtiraphan3243]

I'm so happy you mentioned that you shouldn't start pointe until 10 or 11. I see so many videos of 8/9 year olds starting pointe on Instagram.

[@forsythiazephyrinecho1783]

Right? Starting at such a young age could deteriorate their feet in general omg

[@serena2627]

@E L V A its the bones not anything to do w ankle strength

[@alexandra8619]

unless you’re a russian child then...

[@serena2627]

@@alexandra8619 lmao fair enough that shit wack no cap

[@dwoks136]

I heard a girl went en pointe at 5. Bro, that freaked me out. I’m a contortionist and hip-hopper, and i know that could damage her poor feet

[@janenordmann3633]

dancers who don’t wear toe pads are a whole different breed 😂 mad respect!

[@broccoligirl9019]

Their poor feet

[@alexcowie2526]

We don't wanna mess with them cause they will rip us to shreds

[@tanakaluka.1056]

i had a few pairs that always slipped down or the sides would bend in my shoes & eventually i had gotten annoyed & stopped wearing toe pads which was hell to deal with but eventually after a while of dancing i didn’t feel any pain or anything so i’ve been dancing w/o toepads for a few months now 🧍🏽‍♂️

[@strawberries_n_cream]

@@tanakaluka.1056 scared of you😳

[@elizabethresurreccion7234]

Having the right shoes is a game changer. I’m a no padding dancer and it took like…..over 10 years to find the right shoes for me from stock because I can’t afford custom. That’s actually why a lot of professionals go custom too

[@lburgess63]

This is how to use the social media platform that talent, effort and discipline (sometimes) reward with fame. No Diva attitude or obnoxious, selfish, clueless behavior here. Boylston comes across as a grounded, kind, smart woman who understands that her ballet success is owed to more than than just herself. She knows her student followers' potential financial restraints, because she's been there. She gives good practical advice for the dancers hoping to follow in her footsteps. She's even mindful of the environment. I eagerly anticipate much more wondrous dancing from Boylston. And one day -- hopefully far in the future -- when her dancing career comes to a close, she's going to be an amazing ABT director.

[@grassygrass]

I'm really glad you made this video. It's always cool to see how each dancer customizes their own shoes. And I love your dress!

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

Grace C thanks so much!! I’m glad you enjoyed it💖

[@gracemakana779]

When I went on pointe and asked my mom to help me sew (she is a seamstress). her exact words were "do it yourself, Its character building."

[@broccoligirl9019]

That's nice if I were unsure I would use superglue because it might not work

[@mygirldarby]

I hope she at least showed you how. Some parents are just too harsh. There's nothing wrong with sewing your child's pointe shoes when they're kids. This woman's mom did it, and she turned out to be a pro ballerina. Parents should support their kids and guide them, not be harsh just for character building. I'm sure Isabella has a fine character even though her mom sewed her shoes.

[@5Gburn]

​@@mygirldarbyAt the age of 12, a child can sew their own. As far as technique, they might need their dance teacher...or maybe just watch a KZbin video. The info we have access to today is bonkers!

[@karenkaren3189]

I am a 64 yr old retired nurse who will NEVER go on point in this lifetime but I am fascinated by this! ☺️

[@teacupmydear7189]

I am a retired social worker who’s 59 and still buy a pair every few years. It’s like something in your blood.

[@mygirldarby]

​@@teacupmydear7189 do you go en pointe? I'm 53 and can't do ballet due to some nerve damage in one leg from a congenital back issue. But I still find ballet very interesting, amd I love to learn about it.

[@svigosparis101]

Yesss she made a KZbin!!! I’ve been waiting for this video!!! Honestly she’s so down To earth, humble and so sweet!!!

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

yay, thanks so much!

[@thetrios2155]

wow your arch is AMAZING! you seem like such a humble person

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

thank you so much!

[@andalilo]

I just about melted when she put on the raw pointe shoes to give them their first try. There is something so classy and exhilarating about perfect feet in un-ribboned, brand new pointe shoes. Ughhh 😩

[@stephanieswithers3160]

THATS SO SMART, why did I never think about Rosin inside the shoe to stop it from coming off

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

yes, it is life changing!

[@lauramachadoseveromendes4347]

Gosh...thats so honest and conscious about world issues, so beautiful...this is what ballet world needs now! Yass Ms Boylston

[@akzidentz0]

I am not a ballet dancer and I don't wear pointe shoes., but i am always fascinated to watch these videos)))

[@lifeonpointetv]

Love this! I've been experimenting with my own pointe shoes recently and figuring out what works for me. I'm excited to test some of these out!

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

LIFE ON POINTE TV awesome! Yeah, it takes time to figure out what works best for each person. I’m still figuring it out too 😃

[@annapettit8045]

The pointe shop is another cool channel for learning about pointe shoes and different customizations or hacks

[@chrispya1]

I wish videos like this had existed 40 years ago. I had so many questions and nobody to ask even when I was at a big-name professional school.

[@angelinaandrews2002]

You are literally one of my biggest idols! I am a 12 year old aspiring dancer and i am getting fitted for point shoes next week! have been obsessed with point shoe videos :)

[@lexie_ballerina4155]

I know I am not Isabella but, I am a dancer en pointe, I too was obsessed before I got my first pair, a tip: don’t overdue your training en pointe, also don’t hand break in your shoes as much try do it with your feet! Good luck!!!! 🍀 (I also don’t know what your teachers allow so if they have certain requirements listen to them!)

[@kswhiteyak]

I 💯 agree with actual dancers modeling the shoe correctly, and love your point about it giving the dancer more exposure and opportunity. I really enjoyed your video.

[@tarynsmith5348]

Thank you for such a helpful video! I love how you mention cost issues and especially when it's too early to go en pointe. I was invited when I was 8 and after going to the doctor, it was a HARD no! I just got fitted for my first pair and I'm working on sewing my elastics.

[@panayotadestiny5125]

I am so lazy with sewing I wouldn't quit my dead shoes because I didn't want to sew my new ones for so long I drove my teacher crazy and she offered to do it

[@AnoukMali7899]

That was the sweetest most humble disclaimer I’ve ever seen ❤

[@sarahortiz2669]

Is that some Kendall Jenner shade I hear? 😂😂😂

[@itstiffanybrittany]

This is exactly what I first thought of. Hahah

[@ceelmcl]

@C. A. B. yes someone who got into her career, that doesn't require talent, via nepotism.. compared to a talented and hard-working ballerina

[@vanillabuzz]

@C. A. B. LMAO EQUAL

[@ceelmcl]

@@vanillabuzz right lmao this person doesn't even know

[@elizabetha2601]

Well she was doing what the agent and photographer and modeling studio said but still!!

[@marcelajatoba1520]

Loved this video!! I recently switched to Bloch shoes and they are so PERFECT for me!! Can't believe you don't wear any padding Isabella, you are brave!!!

[@priscawiersma]

love this video bella!!! i saw you perform odette/odile this july and truly consider you an inspiration. ❤

[@emjackson2289]

I love the fact you can talk with such clarity about not just "ballet" but issues also e.g. the points you raised about commercial opportunities. I've loved the work you did with Dane Shitagi and Ballerina Project, I could imagine someone may well have got 20 models over a year or so & produced a book with a similar theme *but* it'd never have looked the same. Also, Wolford designers got lucky when you, Katie Boren et. al. modelled their attire so well. Fascinating video! Question though: Do you like to dance in other footwear, not particularly dance shoes or tap shoes, say baseball boots or trainers/sneakers?

[@misspomerol]

One thing that really helped me when I was really going through she was like water at the very end of my career when I could go through a pair every day because my artistic directors were insisting that I use only Freeds because they looked the best on my feet, is that I figured out how to find a needle for my sewing machine that was strong enough to be able to go through all the layers of fabric and satin so that I could bang some out fast enough for rehearsals and then I would just custom hand sew what I needed for performance.

[@takenoprisoners837]

Great video, you definitely said a lot of things that people need to hear. The most important being, do not go on point too early!! That really can't be stressed enough. It's a process just like every thing else and going on point before your muscles are developed properly is so incredibly dangerous. To all the young dancers out there, please be patient, the time will come when you're good and ready, I promise!! Great video!!

[@duste4ters]

Aaahhhhh yes the one thing I do not miss about ballet😌

[@krasskey]

i’m getting my third pair next week. i started last october and i’m really excited. i love getting fitted. it makes me really happy. also my summer classes start the day after my fitting and then i have my intensive in august!

[@damianlopez7630]

They are so beautiful and shiny all by themselves without any alterations

[@anikaxmeisel]

Recently got fitted in Bloch Balance Lisse! Loving them so much so far! I’ve heard they’re pretty close to Balance European which is exciting 😊 I do very similar modifications to my shoes with the addition of a ton of jet glue in the box and the wings. Super interested in trying the one satin and one stretchy ribbon!

[@NixAdventrex]

I was crunching on Doritos cool ranch every time you crunched your shoes. So satisfying! I felt somewhat elegant like a ballerina.

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

haha! love Doritos!

[@lexie_ballerina4155]

Isabella, you are my idol! I absolutely love your videos! You are such an amazing dancer! I met you in a meet n greet here on Long Island! I can’t wait for ABT to open up again and come and see you and all the wonderful dancers! Thank you!! ❤️❤️❤️🩰🩰🩰 I also got my 5th pair of pointe shoes recently!

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

Lexie _ballerina thank you so much!! 🥰💖 all the best to you!

[@charlottebethia]

You're such an incredible dancer 🙌🏻 It was lovely to see your personality and thoughts shine through in this video. Thank you for being such an inspiration to myself other aspiring ballet students. Love from Australia 🇦🇺🥰💗

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

thank you! xoxox

[@lindseybrady7622]

When I danced on pointe shoes I remember using non-waxed floss to sew them I think because floss is stronger than thread but idk 😂

[@patrizia1029]

I really loved listening to you in this video, as well as watching your point shoe tips in action. I really appreciate your social consciousness and awareness as well as your calm and intelligent delivery of your points and the fact that it’s also somewhat lighthearted. Yes these issues are very important but life still needs to happen right?

[@isabellam1936]

I love when you post videos about how you do things.

[@twilli008]

You are lovely woman and a beautiful dancer. ABT should be proud to have you. Your channel is great - it feels like a person sincerely talking honestly as your pure self versus some of your colleagues who feel rehearsed on a KZbin channel. Thank you for your tips - younger viewers can learn a lot from you. Can't wait to see you live on stage again soon! Stay safe and healthy!

[@scholarlyhobbit]

I literally got fitted for my pointe shoes the day you posted this, so thanks for sharing your routine. Get Cindy on to talk about his relationship with pointe shoes -- he's one of the dancers I looked to when I decided to go en pointe as a man and I'd love to hear how he went from botching your ribbons to having his own!

[@maddie8281]

congrats!!!!!

[@gwenythlundgaard6625]

You are such an inspiration to me! You dance SO beautifully, and your balance is INCREDIBLE. Could you please do a video of the exercises you do to improve balancing? Thank you so much💕

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

honestly the best way to get better at balancing is just to practice balancing any time you can!

[@gwenythlundgaard6625]

Thank you so much❤️

[@kajsasundstrom]

LOVE LOVE LOVE this video! More of this please! So informative and useful. Will try the stretch/nonstretch hack the next time I'm sewing! xx

[@char32027]

I just got my pointe shoes last Friday and me and my class are sewing them together in class on Wednesday I am soooo exited

[@katjune]

What you said about being frustrated with companies hiring random people to depict your profession... I FEEL THIS IS MY SOUL. I am a musician and watching commercials with a terrible opera singer or a conductor conducting music very incorrectly drives me up a wall. How hard is it to hire someone who can accurately depict what you’re wanting to show?

[@hanakom8887]

I’m 15 and I haven’t started on pointe. I was going to start this year but quarantine ☹️☹️

[@johanachong2893]

good luck 💖

[@annemariechatzopoulou442]

No no no nooo!!!! It's the 15th time I watch this and I still can't believe you don't wear any padding!!😲🤪 You're so brave and strong!!! Congratulations!!!

[@LushaTeeElanaBee]

It looks so satisfying to see you and other go on pointe

[@m.x.b.9949]

Sewing pointe shoes aren't great, but I also use that time to listen to an audiobook or watch a movie because the sewing process for me doesn't require that much attention. Sometimes I will call family members and sew my shoes.

[@jewelrybox777]

Love the quality and format of this video. I thought that it was a Insider video.

[@phoebeeckler3300]

I’m so glad it isn’t just me! That has happened to me before in a performance where the heel of the shoe slips off. It was really frustrating. I use a little hairspray where i tie my ribbons and on the heel of the tights or shoe.

[@skyefirenails]

I would love to see the Trocaderos prepping their shoes though. Love that you have a channel!

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

omg I would love to see that too!! and thanks!

[@nataliasidorenco7044]

Interesting video! It was always a dream to dance on pointe !

[@odettedanza9589]

I loved this video! I will download it and put it in out stores tv our customers will love it too!

[@09amlenz]

Where in the world did you get that dress?? It's stunning!

[@izzymain3097]

I am super lazy whenever it comes to sewing my pointe shoes and this video somehow helped me get the motivation to sew my pointe shoes... thank you!

[@dolphinkid5341]

Damn her legs look so moisturised and radiant!!! Gorgeous!!!

[@melissacisneros1422]

Do you use a brand new pair on the day of performance? (Hence the banging them on the stairs?)

[@ellismallett4948]

I have met Isabella, and I can confirm that she is just as humble and sweet as she seems in this video. P.S. Hi from your home town

[@beth7467]

Thank you for speaking to the sustainability of packaging. ♥️

[@idontwantyourcoffee]

A truly elegant dancer and human. And thank you for your consciousness of equity and environmental issues

[@pedinurse1]

I love all your dancing, you have such a plaesant personality, and your joy of dancing con=mes across on stage, Bravo

[@jessaglenny]

What stunning feet and ankles you have!

[@CraftyEarthMama]

I really appreciate how you speak about inclusivity both here and ig. You are beautiful to watch and listen to.

[@noramatlosz3673]

oh my gosh isabella i love you so much!!! you are my favorite dancer and i have watched endless videos of you dancing while in awe.

[@belllllasmelllla]

This is my new favorite video

[@jisunyoun7645]

Thank you for sharing your pointshoe sewing ritual! Will you also kindly share which style in Bloch are you wearing? Also what other pointshoes brand you tried in the past? ..etc?

[@jennyrules1504]

I'm new to pointe and doing pre-pointe, I don't have any toe pads. Also I'm in my third year of ballet.

[@Sara-px2xp]

So let's say that I will never be able to get a ballerina's shoe is there any replacement for it at home like another kind of shoe or socks ??

[@bethanycook8430]

That was interesting!!! As a non-dancer it's fascinating to see what all goes into it

[@em.kay21]

I love these kinds of videos 🥰 also you’re such an inspiration!!! ❤️❤️

[@marissa_luu]

hi isabella, you are one of my all time favorite dancers 💗 you are sooooo amazing and I hope to be like you one day 😘😘😘🤞🏻 keep on dancing and inspiring 🩰✨

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

thank you!!! xoxo

[@lx425]

So excited for this channel! I love your point about using actual dancers in advertising. :)

[@user-jg3yx8yu4l]

OMG I loved that part with you banging the hell out of your pointe shoes on the stairs complete with your costume and headphones 🤣🤣🤣 I also enjoyed watching the rest of the video and listening to the topics you touched on as well!

[@victoria_rose]

Can we appreciate how this has zeros thumbs down

[@rachele7398]

Woah...23 likes in this comment, 23 dislikes on the video (3months post comment)

[@ipenk3287]

Hi Isabelle, thank you for this video 😊❤️ I've been using Bloch pointe shoes too for many years. It's not a customade as we don't have Bloch store or a professional ballet company in Indonesia. I'm just wondering if you have any tips for my Bloch pointe shoes? It feels so comfortable to dance en pointe with the shoes, but when it comes to adagio it's really wobbly. I feels like the shank around metatarsal to my toes is really thick. So when I stand flat with the shoes it feels like the front part is thicker and it pushes my weight to my heels. Any tips for make it better? Thanks a lot in advanced ❤️

[@Sincyn241]

I never thought of defective point shoes considering they’re a handmade product. Is there a return option? Or a donation process for shoes you can’t use? I know they’re not cheap.

[@johannademez4767]

Hello Isabella, your video was so interesting, I really like to see how other dancers prepare their pointe shoes and so learn different techniques to find the one who’ll work for me🥰 Your videos are so nice, you’d do more😋 xx

[@E.JohnBusser]

Thank you so much for sharing !!💗💗💗💗💗💗

[@erinarndorfer1489]

Beautiful! I know yours are customs but I was wondering what model of Bloch you wear?

[@2snowgirl520]

I have read its European Balance.

[@elenavictoria9156]

Hi Isabella! I’m wondering if you have any tips for strengthening your toes to be able to pointe all the way through the box as you do so beautifully..? I have a similar arch to yours but not very long toes and I struggle with this especially in jumps and as my shoes die. Thank you! :)

[@jeffnelson4175]

Actually, Ms. Boylston, more and more ballet boys are going on point every day! In fact, The Point Shop recently did a feature on a male dancer who was on point, and not as a joke. Of course, all of this is eclipsed by the general public's fascination, and sometimes fetishization of women on point, that you referenced. I remember reading in a history book decades ago, about the great romantic ballerina Marie Taglioni auctioning off a pair of her slippers to a group of wealthy men. Supposedly they cooked, then ate the slippers! There is also a company in Russia that makes a toe shoe for men, called the Nureyev. Cheers!

[@susanyee226]

There are devices to help thread needles, available at your local fabric stores or on Amazon ( might be more $$$), so do some comparison shopping

[@megantaylor7245]

I have nightmares of being in really dead shoes during a performance and really struggling on stage. 😂🤣

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

ugh dance nightmares are the worst! lol

[@juliajensen9346]

Would you recommend sewing the elastic ribbon on the outside (pinky toe) side of shoe or the inside (big toe side) of the shoe? And same for the regular ribbon? I know the two different types of ribbon have varying amounts of support and I just want to ensure that the pointe shoe still fits my foot right and doesn’t twist or make it look like my foot is sickling :)

[@ronnieblue1109]

Could you tell cindy how he prepare his pointeshoes?🥺😍❤️

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

ooh haha good idea! tbh I don't think he does anything other than sew on the ribbons

[@ronnieblue1109]

Omg yes, the fact that he use gaynors

[@desireer1050]

After you mentioned that shoe making companies use a lot of single-use packaging I kind of thought about what they could do to either minimize it or eliminate it. Plus if they stopped using single-use packaging, it could help save the companies more money they can use on other products they need for shoes or other things! 1. Reuse the bags or plastic the shoes come in. If there’s like a shoe room or company attached to the ballet company then there could be like a bin where ballerinas (men and women) can drop off the bags they got their shoes in! After that, they could use the plastic for packaging future shoes. This could be a stretch but I assume there’s some kind of labeling on the bags so ballerinas know it’s their shoe and maybe the specifications are on it too, but they can reuse them for that same ballerina too. 2. Just plain recycle the plastic. Kind of the same idea with the bin idea, but instead it’s literally a recycle bin for the plastic and it can be thrown in with the rest of the recycling trash. 3. Shoe making companies could put the shoes in a reusable bag, almost like a draw string bag. In my head I’m imagining ballerinas get their shoes from a shoe room and each ballerina has a spot where all of their ready shoes are. So instead of using a plastic bag, they could put the shoes in like a reusable bag of some sorts🤷🏻‍♀️ In my opinion there’s a lot of ways shoe making companies can reduce the single-use plastic usage. Obviously these are just ideas, but a little can go a long way when it comes to reusing things so..

[@chach32]

Cute dress!! Fun to see how you do yours :)

[@fabiannagonzalez820]

Hi Isabella! You are my idol. I really want to be a professional dancer as you. I'm really happy you are making this videos to support younger dancers and inspiring other. I really love you!

[@oliviasanchezmoreno2952]

The way you sew your shoes totally blew my mind 🤯 the way I sew mine takes like 4 hours 😖

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

oh wow, that's a long time! I'm sure its a quality sewing job though!

[@pallupo3299]

I have a question Would you recommend starting ballet at ten years old?

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

Definitely!! That’s a good age to start! Good luck 😊

[@pallupo3299]

@@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial Thank you so much that means a lot

[@amypineda4871]

Where did you get your dress? I love it! ☺️

Hey 👋🏻 i don’t use toe pad neither just towel :) it’s good thing to feel floor but when I’m outside just for photo yes using toe pad :) I looking but can not find out where is Isabella’s dress from? Thank you so much! Lots of love 💕

[@michaelajia6435]

I just got my first pair 😬 Took a lot of sewing tips from u xx

[@gabychavez253]

Any tips for transitioning to no toe padding please? Im still at a pre-professional level, but I’ve always preferred dancing with as little padding as possible 😅

[@balletbuns8759]

I’m at a pre-pro level as well, and I don’t dance with any padding. However, I do tape my toes where there’s rubbing to prevent blisters. Before I transitioned to no toe padding I wore paper towels, and then I transitioned to just using lambs wool where I needed it. It didn’t take long at all to adjust to no padding since I already had lots of calluses. One thing to remember is to make sure your toe nails are short because if they’re the slightest bit too long, you’re going to feel it especially if you’re not wearing padding. Hope this helps. :)

[@gabychavez253]

ballet buns Thanks so much!!

[@blondelunaa4674]

Hi Isabella! Love your videos so much, I was wondering whether or why you don't glue a (suede) cap to the tip of the pointe shoe?

[@gemmaryan5095]

Never in my life have I heard someone say they like dead shoes for Sleeping Beauty

[@IsabellaBoylstonOfficial]

haha! I guess everyone is different when it comes to that!

[@karenkaren3189]

I saw a video of Natalia Osipova dancing Giselle, Act II, and she was wearing the deadest shoes I had ever seen. I was amazed. Apparently she likes dead shoes for that role.

[@elizabetha794]

Non-dancer with a question about the shank of the pointe shoes. It's made of a thin piece of wood? And it seems like a lot of dancers break it? How does it not end up poking the arch of your foot? Always wondered about that.

[@glowingangels6238]

Omg her arch!

[@nawelsophiebenmennischuler427]

I always wondered where all the point shoes go after being used. I mean, such a big company as ABT or NYCB uses thousand of pairs every year. Where do all the shoes go and are they being recycled? Thank you!

[@Haligoround]

when i was 7, i was so flexible i can do split, touch my leg from a backbend (etc) bc im flexible i ask my mom if i can do ballet class, and she sign me to a ballet class! but my ballet schedule is 3.30PM-5.30PM. i used to sleep at that time bc i always felt sleepy at my schedule, my mom stop me from the ballet class (i've been taking the ballet class for almost one year.) i was still flexible till im 8 (almost 9) and im 13 now, i literally lose all my flexiblity except my back bend. im so intrested with ballets lately so i asked my mom if i could go to ballet class for the second time, but she says no its kinda sad, but i ask her for pointe shoes, and she buyed me one, i learn ballet from youtube and i know how to use pointe shoes now xD love ur vids btw!

[@ingridriding5669]

where do you buy point shoes as a professional? I understand that once you have a good pair and can just re-order the same ones online but if you wanted to try something new would you just walk into a store?

[@Slay_baddie196]

I just got my first pair of point shoes today and I’ve been looking up KZbin videos on how to sew the ribbons and I still don’t get it