Ballet History: The Evolution of the Pointe Shoe

[@Wyspify]

Not to forget that M. Camargo raised the skirt above the ankles so she could show off her foot work, something that was very scandalous at the time. But it paved the way for female dancers to be able to do more intricate foot work and jumps.

[@balletreign]

She was a trailblazer 🔥

[@dreplogle1]

Exactly what I was thinking as they were speaking of Camargo. ❤

[@NightWink129]

She must've had the heart of a lion and a mind as tough as iron to take aaaall of society's criticism for that one! I salute her. Holy crap.

[@alim3611]

what we need now , is a pointe shoe that never dies

[@balletreign]

Bingo 😆😆

[@elisabethm9655]

Check out Act’bles…expensive but apparently worth it.

[@BusArch42]

GM and the new sea of pearls are pretty long lasting

[@MsDana-mo9fp]

We need point shoes that are not "clunky" or make a noise when dancing.

[@BusArch42]

@@MsDana-mo9fp or squeaking! That’s my favorite. Roll up slowly and they make this noise the entire way up

[@elisabethm9655]

The latest phenomenon is the 3D printed shank with a skin or sock over it. Act’ble shanks are adjusted for each foot and apparently last ‘forever’ and the dancer reviews I’ve seen rave over their comfort and how safe they feel.

[@AshleyOBrien-sj4vb]

Oh that's awesome!

[@cactusbound]

Thank you for the history lesson. Most things I was not aware of. Anna Pavlova was always my idol. I’m a dancer from the 50s and 60s and I always wore Capezio’s Niccolini pointe shoe. I was on point at nine years old after only six months of dance lessons. People would probably say that was too soon. When I was 15, we always ended our class with 32 Fouettés on point. No easy task after a 60 minute class 🩰

[@xamyx725]

I always wore Capezio Ultimo… No one talks about Capezio anymore… I was doing pointe in the late-80s/early-90s, and was told pointe was not even an option until you could stand on the tips of your toes in slippers, and pointe shoes were only one tool, but not to be relied upon for support…

[@arfriedman4577]

Around 1998, 1999, i ttook adult dance classes. Before signing up again, I went to the dance store and was fitted for capezio point shoes and bought them. I didnt know to take pointe you had to have certain ankle strength. I couldnt take pointe class. I made the mistake of not asking to sign up first. The sales lady did say something to me about the dance teacher and buying pointe shoes before measuring me. I guess my answer made her feel ok to let me buy the pointe shoes. I shouldve returned the pointe shoes and got my approx $80 back. I kept them because it brought me joy to open the box and look at them. Growing up i took tap, folk, ballet, and gymnastics.

[@MsDana-mo9fp]

As a former professional Ballerina, when I first started on pointe, I wore Pavlova brand shoe by Capezio!

[@melowlw8638]

oh im so glad for videos like this!! i intend to pursue a career in textile restoration, so learning abt historical fashion is smth i love, this video was very timely i also recently saw a ytb short in russian abt skirt evolution in ballet, where i learned of the different names for the skirt lengths, one of them being Chopinka (for the romantic one) which i find so cute!!

[@Chopiniana1908]

Link? I would love to see the video. Chopinka is a very cute name!

[@melowlw8638]

@@Chopiniana1908 i dont think i can drop a link in comments, but the channel is ne_prima (with the name in bold being "russian for dancers") if u filter their ytb short with "popular" its the one with 2M views, with the picture of a woman dressed in white with a long skirt, she's in the salon de la danse in the paris opera i think

[@Chopiniana1908]

@@melowlw8638 Found it, thank you!

[@QueneBriarBelle]

I love when you guys do a video that combines my love of history with my growing ballet obsession😄 such a fascinating and fun history of pointe shoes. Great job! Love it!!

[@balletreign]

aww yay! Glad u enjoyed and got to learn something new ✨🩰

[@LCbook]

my thoughts exactly

[@jkennaw4314]

Well done, very informative!! I love how you handled Gaynors! Idc what anyone says, Gaynors aren't cheater shoes. Plenty of dancers would rather not pay hundreds of $$ a month going through pointe shoes. Choose the right shank and you can still move through demi pointe without popping, you're still doing the work.

[@rinwesley3092]

Love this channel. Best ballet history on the Internet by far.

[@balletreign]

Thank you!! 😆😆

[@MazzieMay]

Oh man, Eden, I feel you; making myself laugh to the point of total silence. The jokes are always the worst, but those are the ones that hit us the hardest, haha!

[@balletreign]

YESSS LOL 😅😂

[@justlola417]

"this is going on public television" HAHHAHAHHAHA

[@balletreign]

*sighhh* 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

[@tiffcat1100]

@@balletreign😂

[@JadeLeaf1980]

Out of all the arts in the world I always felt like ballet is probably one of the most hardcore and disciplined there could be.

[@sm-je9uj]

UGHH I JUST LOVEEE UR VIDEOS U MAKE THEM IN A WAY WHERE it doesn’t distract me

[@oxoelfoxo]

ooh, those retouched/doctored Pavlova foot photos! bit horrifying to imagine what those feet would actually look like without the shoes if those pics were real

[@CheyenneSedai]

Great video! Josephine talks a lot about research into dancer's feet and how important it is so it was great that you mentioned that.

[@MazCat]

I love the proper subtitles, thank you so much! ❤

[@michelleheadley2911]

In the 60’s to 70’s the platform of the point shoe was about the size of a quarter. If you watch Lori or even if you don’t. She does a video where she attempts to try one of the older point shoes on. It was brand new and she is a professional. She said it was terrifying and she was afraid she’d hurt herself.

[@AngelaRodriguez-f7t]

I would love to see you Collab with the pointe shop 💕

[@mariebernard9619]

I’m a Marie who danced for 14 years!! Sorely out of practice now 😩 but felt compelled to comment ❤

[@aflatminor-40]

This was such a great video for information on pointe shoes! Stay demure, stay mindful.

[@balletreign]

Stay demure, stay mindful ✨🎀

[@marianneaugenstein6381]

That was very interesting! I wore Gaynor Minden when I danced on pointe. They worked well for my very narrow, high arched feet.

[@slothsprite5066]

I LOVE learning about ballet history, so this was so awesome and insightful!! 💛🩰💛

[@balletreign]

So happy you enjoyed 🫰🏻🫰🏻

[@levidashawty]

23 minutes late to watching this but there's nothing better than a good, amazing ballet reign video 😌🤌🏻

[@balletreign]

Aww thank u for being here! ✨✨

[@JillStanley-wx6kl]

That was really interesting. Do we know where the idea of tutus comes from? Eden giggling at the end - so infectious!

[@balletreign]

That moment 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 maybe we’ll do the evolution of the tutu in part 2?

[@tiffcat1100]

Yes, yes & yes! ❤

[@WhitKnight-mi5tx]

Thanks!

[@balletreign]

Thank you sm! Your support means a lot to us 🫰🏻🫰🏻

[@mariefromseier]

6:41 HERE I AMMMM!!! wait this is ac so funny i feel honoured

[@esthereriksson865]

Such a fun and interesting video, i have danced ballet since I was 3 but I never knew about the full Evolution of the Pointe Shoe, thank you for letting me know of the history of something I love💗

[@balletreign]

Thanks for watching today! Glad u could learn something new 🩰🥰🥰

[@magdazul5543]

Ohhh love ballet history

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

You girls are SO much fun to watch! You did-a-lot of research for this video! I did-a-lot of learning! I'm even more impressed with Anna Pavlova than I was before! Thank you very much for the video and for sharing your sense of humor!! 🙏🤣🎶🩰🎃🦇👻🐈‍⬛🪄💫🌛

[@balletreign]

Lolll 😆😆 thanks for watching, glad u enjoyed the video!

[@tiffcat1100]

😂

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

@@tiffcat1100 🙏💝😄

[@anniemuir6419]

Well done girls! So interesting!

[@ThePointeShop]

LOVE THIS 😍

[@balletreign]

THE POINTE SHOE QUEEN HERSELF 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

[@qQuellaq]

Love this kind of video haha❤

[@osnatashtaralevin8944]

that was very interesting, thanks you guys!

[@suran396]

I don't care about ballet in the slightest, although I admire the athleticism and skill. But you two make your tooics so interesting. This is my 4th video with you and I hope I find the tutu video.

[@thellasilva]

I love these ballet history videos ❤❤

[@balletreign]

Thank you!!😆😆

[@gonefishing167]

That was great girls, really interesting. Thank youm🩰🩰🩰🩰👵🇦🇺

[@torischwartz745]

0:45 how did make the like 👍 button outline red when u said it ???

[@CaitlynGo]

Watching this while I sew my pinte shoes 😂

[@catsandcrafts171]

How interesting, so beautifully presented! Great vid!

[@asantos704]

hii. always enjoy a vid from u guys. it would have been rly cool if at each progressive stage, you tell us which vocab was developed as pointe work evolved. u kinda just said 'vocab grew' like 3 times without deets. love ur content, don't ever dumb it down. xxxx edit: and a bonus thing would have been if we could see ur guys' current pointe shoes and how you prep/break 'em in. :)

[@diego-df]

It’s amazing to see how this art form has evolved/progressed through the years. 🩰 Thank you for the video!!

[@balletreign]

Thanks for watching with us today! 🩰

[@debrahardman6088]

Did a lot 😂😂😂 Gave me the best laugh of my day.

[@balletreign]

😂😂

[@tiffcat1100]

Likewise! 😂❤

[@user-dp5yi7ws2h]

Very interesting vidio. Now I am curious about tutu's thought the years? From a courtdress to the tutu we know today.

[@tiffcat1100]

Yes!! (Pls) ❤

[@balletreign]

We could def explore that in part 2 ✨

[@FireBird.37]

Oooo!!! I cannot wait to hear y’all talk about these! See you soon! 🩰

[@balletreign]

Can’t waittttt 😆😆

[@chanteuse-ro3kf]

@@balletreign neither can I.

[@CamilaMartinez1327]

I love this channel ❤

[@balletreign]

Thank u for being here 🥰🥰

[@tiffcat1100]

Same ❤

[@admere-r3d]

i believe my favourite innovation was the 3d printed pointe shoes. from what i hear there so comfy

[@tiffcat1100]

Loved this, thanks so much! ❤💜❤

[@balletreign]

Thank you!!

[@classicalaid1]

Queen Victoria in her false modesty used to drape the legs of her grand piano. It's true. And she was the biggest influencer of her day.

[@gabriellemolinaro6750]

Marie Anne de Cupis de Camargo, Marie Taglioni, and Maria Tallchief!

[@balletreign]

The maries/marias be dominating ✨✨

[@СветланаОдинцова-ж1я]

Петипа поставил на пуанты кордебалет, до него на них танцевали только примы.

[@MariValen-b8m]

Very demure, very mindful. Thank you pointe shoes! ✨🩰

[@balletreign]

✨🎀

[@levidashawty]

13:44 bloopers 📢📢❤😂

[@oceanelf2512]

My name is Caprina Marie and I play piano for ballet classes. :)

[@balletreign]

See? Greatness ✨✨

[@oceanelf2512]

@@balletreign Lol Thanks for the compliment! It's such a rewarding job. :)

[@amandajingleheimerschmidt3050]

When I was a young teen I met someone my age at summer camp who had been a Ballet dancer since early childhood. She could go up en point barefoot - very impressive!

[@TheKodiakKub]

Just like Rose in the movie “Titanic”.

[@suran396]

Which wasn't real. ​@@TheKodiakKub

[@mariebray9831]

As a Marie I feel I need to invent a new shoe.

[@MRProgressor]

Up next: Point shoes with build in pogo sticks!

[@balletreign]

YES 😂😂

[@IamStillrich]

YES, YES 😂

[@katherinec2759]

I had a teacher once who banned Gaynor Mindens and the like because they come with a different shank that makes it easier to roll up. She said that they led to weaker dancers who were more likely to be injured. Now I'm curious, would you ladies agree or disagree on that?

[@BusArch42]

I’ve heard this in my last studio. The one I’m at now they allow GMs but not for beginners. We struggle with GM because there are no shops in our state that fit them. My oldest daughter used the, but not until she had been using Grishko for 2.5 years first.

[@kickywicky4616]

What about Capezio? I still have the Capezio box that my first pair of point shoes came in.

[@BusArch42]

They have kind of stopped being as popular.

[@NaimaEmbry]

Thank you for the video! It was very informative and interesting to learn the evolution. Do you know some of the other ways different brands are using technology to adapt pointe shoes?

[@balletreign]

Shoe longevity and shock absorption/distribution technology are pretty big ones, and also different “satins” that stretch and move with the foot. There are also shoes that have removable shanks so dancers can swap out different shank stiffnesses to suit their needs… the list goes on 🩰

[@cindyrissal3628]

What would have been really cool is if you have photos of these old shoes (if any still exist)....a visual of the evolution of Pointe shoes.

[@larkmacgregor3143]

Have either of you tried the Act Pointes? I want to but, they kinda weird me out. Some dancers love them, others not so much. What do you think?

[@xFlowerCat]

I can imagine going up to pointe with absolutely no support at all 😭

[@amandajingleheimerschmidt3050]

I knew a girl at summer camp who could do that - very impressive!

[@xFlowerCat]

rly? wow

[@Sophiesdays]

Does anyone know what song is playing at around 11:15 minutes?!? It’s so pretty, is it Queen of the dryads?

[@dpainter1526]

It's the Lilac Fairy Variation, from Act I of Sleeping Beauty.

[@Sophiesdays]

@@dpainter1526 thank you soooo much it was driving me crazy!!!

[@Sacto1654]

I wonder how much the pointe shoe makers have borrowed from the technology used on modern athletic shoes. That technology could result in shoes that last way longer and are less stressful for the feet.

[@BusArch42]

Bloch has B morph. Russian pointe has sea of pearls. Different materials like GM.

[@mariemkhanteche8701]

I love yall❤

[@balletreign]

❤️❤️

[@BarbaraHeins]

I could definitely sous-sous in my bare feet in my prime...to reach a high shelf, but not for long.

[@balletreign]

Lolll 😂😂

[@dees3179]

Well put together summary video. It would be great if you could add a couple of videos focusing specifically the two extremes in terms of time. One on the modern innovations, such as 3d printing point shoes etc and look at where that has got to. as well as things like how technology such as online point shoe fitting, access to good physical fitters, brand availability of traditional point shoes exist in the present day in different places. How fitters are trained, how shoe makers are trained, how shoe manufacturers work, preparation for pointe, physical training and care during the carefree related to maintaining that ability as long and healthily as possible etc. That would be really interesting. Because it’s not just who can deal with the pain the longest anymore, thank goodness. And then a counterpoint video on the very early shoes. Work with an historic dance specialist and historic shoe maker so you can get a feel for how even the way walking in an historic healed shoe was a different act to how we do it today. You’d have time to be able to show how early ballet forms were so tied up in social messaging, and how to ‘read’ that. And you could look at the weird poses of rich people in paintings who are inevitably standing in a ballet pose intended to signify something which today goes right over our heads. It’s like unlocking another language. Once you start seeing you can’t stop.

[@Danny-pd9yb]

Bruh 3D printing pointe shoes? The material doesn't even fit. How could you dance with a shoe that is made of hard plastic?

[@oxoelfoxo]

whoa, your ideas are for full documentaries

[@melowlw8638]

@@Danny-pd9yb 3D printing doesnt use hard materials exclusively, theres use for it in fashion, where it has a much more flexible form i think in the case of ballet shoes, its probably used for the box of the shoe pr the shank, i cant remember what i saw from that one brand that does shoes that u can assemble with customised parts

[@DaidairoGS]

NO IT'S NOT DUMB EDEN YOU'RE FANTASTIC I LOVE YOU KEEP SAYING THAT STUFF OKAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY AHAHAHAHOAISHEIOAHSEOIUASOIEUAOISEUA

[@NightWink129]

Nah, I love cheesy, out-of-nowhere puns, like "did-a-lot." XD Truly! So, ballet was teeeechnically derived in Italy, even though they probably didn't even start calling it ballet til close to the time of Paris's first school for it anyway...

[@Shay-i4n]

❤

[@rosemary709]

more puns, please ❤

[@Lafeolamom]

Lizmarie

[@irinaandrusca5235]

What do you think about boys on pointe?

[@Dseated]

When will they put jet packs on the heels

[@tiffcat1100]

😂 super-Marie/a

[@hetedeleambacht6608]

i d love to see some pics of ballet dancers feet....very curious to ser how they look after decades of dancing in such shoes.....

[@peggymur1]

Don't forget Marie Sallé!

[@BarbaraHeins]

❤❤❤

[@fellowcitizen]

🥂🧡

[@nlkeyser]

What about the new 3D printed shoes?

[@Ren-e1f]

I think Act'ble should have got their own stop on the train instead of a minor mention. They 3D print their shoes and they aren't satin lol. Very innovative.

[@IAccioSnitches]

He definitely did a lot for the art form 😂❤

[@balletreign]

😂😂

[@StefanTaf]

💙🤍💙

[@debrahardman6088]

My middle name is Marie but I am not a dancer.

[@ashenwalls3558]

Deep dive! Deep dive! Deep dive!

[@mentatphilosopher]

No Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo video review yet?

[@Ashley_Marie23]

1/2 of my name is Marie 😅

[@balletreign]

You were created for greatness ✨✨

[@Ashley_Marie23]

@balletreign haha! You are too kind! 😂 Thanks for taking time out to reply! I absolutely loved learning about the history! I have never been in any dance 🩰 classes, even further away from having the grace and ability of a Ballerina!! Thank you for covering the history and sharing! Much love 💕 and appreciation ❤️

[@erinstevens4886]

600th like 🩰

[@soffyabad]

Not Marie, but María 😊❤

[@balletreign]

Let’s goooo ✨✨✨

[@fabs8498]

I wonder how history of ballet is learned in Us....

[@dominiquebanks6568]

My names Marie 😂

[@balletreign]

The name of innovation and greatness 🫡🫡

[@erikaplante-jean7745]

Very interesting! Just so you know, we always call historic figure by their full name or their last name. It's commun to call female figure by their first name, but that's not proper and contribute to sexism in the way we talk about history

[@debrahardman6088]

My middle name is Marie

[@bobbiecat7139]

Then why do you have to almost destroy the pointe shoes before wearing them??????

[@sumankumari5004]

Because pointe shoes are very hard and not comfortable to dance in, so they have to break and modify it to their preference. Everyone has different foot types. What fits for you might not fit for me. Hence dancer's modify it to their preference and what fits their foot the most

[@EmL-kg5gn]

As they said it’s about adjusting the shoe to the individual. It’s also worth noting that it shortens the life of the shoe. Professional dancers are a) provided with shoes and b) need to be at their best. So they’ll break in the shoe more to their exact preferences. Other dancers often need to prioritise longevity more! E.g. they might break in the shoe to their needs, soften them by wearing them in class until they’re just right, save them for a performance, perform, and then wear them again in class until they’re dead

[@bobbiecat7139]

@@sumankumari5004 Thank you and EML for your excellent replies

[@bobbiecat7139]

@@EmL-kg5gn Thank you and suman for your excellent replies

[@EmL-kg5gn]

@@bobbiecat7139 No worries, it’s a good question!

[@philomenaward1833]

We must remember the dancer is not a gymnast.

[@3ating_Cray0ns]

Erm actually wut? 😂😂

[@WOLFROY47]

do you mean to say they haven't changed the shoe in 100 years. don't they know we have carbon fiber now??? ❗

[@sapientia_virtus_est]

アメリカでグリシコの名前が消されてるのはロシアが嫌いだから？

[@philomenaward1833]

What about the fellow who created it all Louis 14th the king of France

[@lovewillwinnn]

And back then, men were MEN.

[@ferrellcatdragon2017]

What are they now

[@TheKodiakKub]

Surprisingly, several dancers I’ve seen are men dancing (very well I might add) en point. I don’t know their names, but they danced traditionally FEMALE ROLES beautifully, with very strong and dynamic technique, as would be expected due to their strength and physicality. At least one was partnered by another MALE dancer. Not my particular cup of tea, but might do as an understudy if the FEMALE dancer happens to break a leg.