Ballet Shoes: The Craft Before the Dance | Short Film Showcase

[@SamHackenson]

A huge thank you to all the people involved in making pointe shoes! Their craft allows me to pirouette, echappe, and bourre on my toes without a second thought.

[@SimplyNeveonyoutube]

Don't read my channel banner literally one of the first exercises you do en pointe is echappes onto pointe?

[@star3822]

Sam Hackenson i agree that that was 2 years ago on my birthday

[@maggiejohnson9683]

Sam Hackenson amen sister

[@simplydance902]

Omg the first man is adorable I just want to give him a big hug

[@bellarose8859]

Simply Dance I know right he's so nice

[@serotonin.4553]

Simply Dance lol

[@annieboerner8435]

I retired early due to injury in '94 and only finally made the 'pilgrimage' to Freed in 2011... My maker had just retired the previous year... So grateful to Maker "C" for years of beautiful shoes! Much love to you Maker "C" 😘

[@zachfeedman8709]

SOMEONE SEND THAT COUPLE ON A HONEYMOON

[@briannabittel7189]

agreed

[@andykerrshaw374]

Zach Feedman YES! SOMEONE NEEDS TO SEND THEM ON A HONEYMOON.

[@ndnaf3705]

Brilliant idea!

[@clvsidy]

Simi-agree

[@annadude7525]

the first man is so cute, infact everyone is so humble, alot of respect to everyone who makes pointe shoes!

[@timothyswan567]

omg! he should be thanked because of all the hard work he did... he was my maker and without him my feet would be distroyed by now... like if you think he needs more credit for his amazing job

[@ChowmutLe]

someone take that man to a show, who's never seen a ballet!

[@onemercilessming1342]

Di--You'd think that the ballet companies would host them to at least a matinee, wouldn't you? A theater once sent fourth row seats to a barrio 8th grade class I was teaching at the time. The company put on Giselle for them. They were transfixed, awed, and, afterward, incredibly enthusiastic about ballet. Prior to the show, they thought ballet was for "sissies"; afterward, they wanted to take classes.

[@ndnaf3705]

Absolutely!

[@psithurismique]

The Royal Ballet should take these shoemakers to a show, even just once! They deserve to see the beauty of their craft on stage.

[@keke9795]

I only saw a ballet once, it was a rainy day and my class got to go see the nutcracker in the city, it was so beautiful. Of course my class was crazy and got yelled at but my friends and I were all pretending to be ballerinas on the slippery floor. That was something I never thought I would do.

[@221b-Maker-Street]

@@onemercilessming1342 Do you think they've not been invited? You can't force people at gunpoint, y'know!

[@meganhuntley9164]

I'm not a dancer, but I have so much respect for pointe shoe makers.

[@georgiem534]

since I started I've always had crown stamped ballet shoes, stumbling across this I want to say the biggest thank you to you, my maker for all the hard work behind the pointes that you've made for all of us who wear them so happy in the process :)

[@carolhand8155]

Georgie M I see the crown maker a lot but I used to have maker "Z" I now wear capizeos but K never have seen "Z" in a video...

[@jessijacobs8]

Humbled!!! Respect to all those who take the time to make dancers do what they love doing best! The long hours these craftsmen and women put in, the dedication and love they have for their trade is humbling! THANK YOU for allowing me to have danced, when i danced xxx

[@morgan.r_taylor]

All of the workers at freed are so caring and passionate! Their jobs are a true art form. They definitely don't get paid enough.

[@GeraldineKoh]

it's always great seeing videos about the people behind the craft! I loved how they personalised their personal areas with Christmas decor and football posters too

[@shylocie595]

I am 50 years old now, but when I was young, Freed was the only shoe I wore. I loved Freed shoes better than any others I tried.

[@corbensebastian]

the real labourers of london. stand tall and proud!

[@MrQbenDanny]

Bravo! Bravissimo! All take a bow for the great contributions you provide to the world of ballet. You are unique and appreciated.

[@Kus519]

Can u take the arrow mate?

[@BumbleBeeBeeRock]

they are amazing ! wonderful insight.

[@ktfaithful]

this is so amazing. never knew how much work goes into a shoe

[@teodorachita6114]

Imagine they make pointe shoes everyday but most of them didn't even had the chance to see a ballet show... This makes me cry...😭😭❤😭

[@veroronnieronron]

They should all be invited to a show al least once.

[@Sopherian]

Amazing to see how many people work on them. i never knew they still made them like this.

[@soph1172]

It's really sad, I don't know their exact salary but it probably isn't very high which I think is completely uncalled for. Their work could never be replaced by machinery, it's a true art and looks very hard to do, the highest educated Oxford man might lack the technical ability. Factory workers are highly underpaid and it really annoys me.

[@offtothenextadventure4048]

Lol I'm very late but I agree.

[@KEG1998]

Totally agree. They deserve so much more credit. The pointe shoes are so hard to make but always turn into something beautiful and amazing to wear ❤

[@midnightdarkness8747]

@Helen Hines your welcome

[@Mark_R_Tho]

Why are you making such a heated opinion when you literally don’t know their salary??

[@maryapatterson]

Skilled Artisans

[@avae2329]

His smile I’m crYING how is this so pure 0:30

[@TheMistyMolly]

I will forever bookwork grateful for all of these makers. I wear Grishko and those are handmade too. Thank you everyone who allows us to do what we do

[@skyeoak683]

SOMEBODY SEND THESE AMAZING PEOPLE TO A BALLET SO THEY SEE WHAT BEAUTY THEY CREATE FOR THE WORLD AND HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO DANCERS!!!!! AS A DANCER I DEEPLY THANK EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU AND I COULD NEVER SAY IT ENOUGH!!!!

[@cocofromtumblr6918]

I respect them all so much...thanks for our shoes~

[@MerynCadell]

BEAUTIFUL. Thank you for making this little telegram from one era of manufacturing to... the next? Is there a next era of manufacturing? I certainly hope so. In any case, that's not for this film to solve. I commend this gorgeous paean to the art of pointe shoes. Bravo!

[@alicequint9919]

I switched from bloch to freed today and i love the shoe plus seeing the makers stamp and feeling that connection from me in Wisconsin to a worker in london

[@LifeOfABean101]

This is very humbling :) I smiled through the whole video!

[@clvsidy]

Appreciation to the shoe makers behind the amazing productions ! They are also part of the amazing ballerina’s performances ! 😑

[@blushlushgirl]

Look at how lovely and shiny they are, I love ballet & the shoes. Ugh I love ballet shoes. I haven't done it for 6 years and it's probably my biggest regret giving it up

[@catdogchicken3713]

A big thanks to everyone involved in making my shoes

[@chloe32188]

a big applause to this great people!!!👏👏👏

[@lola.cruz916]

So much satisfaction seeing the pointes be created by hand💗

[@21whichiswhich]

Looks like all the employees here love what they are doing. They have been working there for decades.

[@nobodycaresanyway3465]

This old couple skipped their honeymoon only to make more shoes? Thank you for your job! ❤

[@nmfirelover]

What a great group of people ❤️ They all deserve a fabulous vacation!

[@KaysFantasy]

The unsung heroes of costumes and dance shoes😊🙏🏽

[@thecountessofgreycastle7119]

“Wee dint avee ah ooonneemonn” MY HEART!!!! 😭😭😭

[@GirlmeetsWorld-we3cz]

Aww the couple is so cute ❤️

[@ameliaelizzabeth]

I wear freeds and this film was really interesting to see how they are constructed!

[@mariadaluzmoutinho5701]

O ballet requer excelência...classe...elegância...logo o fabrico ttem que fazer jus à uma arte de referência ..O ballet é tão belo... Os sapatos a rigor fazem esta desta dança um esplendor!

[@MM-gz6gv]

I know I've seen this like 3 times but imma keep on watching it lol

[@XxEvYx]

Lovely film. Love everyone working for freed 🥰

[@florhm8664]

Touching, really. Congratulations.

[@antoniascott979]

Thank you so much! You allow us to do what brings us such joy!

[@onemercilessming1342]

Making pointe shoes is art as well as skill. When these dedicated souls retire, who will replace them? When pointe shoe manufacturing companies shut down, who will make quality shoes for the danseurs and danseuses?

[@annanasen00g83]

so much love for these people

[@rianmangubat4586]

2:52 they never got a honeymoon, this makes me want to empty out all the money I have out of my bank account and give it to them

[@timothyswan567]

omg! I have the greatest idea! I will tell our ballet company to do a fund raising and the money that we have earned will be given to freed of London

[@Maranwe]

"the makers" sounds soooo mysterious! :D love it!

[@Yourdadsfavourite]

They should go for free to watch ballet because if it weren't for them there wouldn't be a production. 😃

[@jessica-pp5jy]

techstar d they just make the shoes so technically speaking there would still be a shoe.

[@bellatrixlovegood5774]

Thank you for making us shoes ❤❤❤

[@SabrinaTowne]

This is a very humbling video

[@Ladida386]

I find pointe shoe making more interesting than ballet. Just and engineering part of me kicking out.

[@Aguiar412]

The first man is adorable

[@amandao.7705]

Thank you anchor maker 💞

[@edwardbury5394]

Audrey Ann needs this insight ! !!

[@nathanielcraig3588]

Edward Bury Hahaha, I agree with you completely, I just watched her video and she obviously doesn't know what goes into the making of a pointe shoe. She also doesn't seem to know that Freed makes softer shoes for professionals who don't need hard shoes to be able dance properly.

[@GirlmeetsWorld-we3cz]

Love this great video!!! Thanks for sharing ❤️❤️

[@island661]

Beautiful shoes. I used to have a pair.

[@forrestforyou]

Wow! Thank you! ✨

[@zaihuzai5469]

BRAVO! you are so awesome and IT'S AMAZING👍👍

[@ChiChiBabe44]

Thank You for enlightening us.

[@kamayarichardson1765]

I love those shoes😀

[@briannabittel7189]

This video honestly makes me feel bad for them, and constantly using new pointe shoes. I guess the world and dancers never really thought about thanking them for all their hard work and time that they do for us. Like how dancers get callused and blistered feet, they get the same on their hands. So a great big shout out to all pointe shoe workers that make dancing en pointe happen.

[@jessica-pp5jy]

Brianna Bittel Many ballet dancers thank them I know in my company they do write letters or just thanks them.

[@greeneyes12346]

Some company’s and dancer visit and thank them and others write letters.

[@zarjaurora]

Respect to themmmm💓

[@stickles1275]

Get my first shoes tomorrow!!!

[@manga12]

takes dedication, and a rare art today, funny though mostly men that make the shoes or rather there is not shortage of guys that are the makers, ladies too, but many guys and not girly men either, but this I have known, though many in the west think ballet is a girly thing, when it takes lots of athletics, hard work, and lots of injury to do, but on the plus side you have lots of good looking ladies around you all day, and you get the whole crowds undivided attention when they watch you perform your role that you worked hard to learn. I do hip hop though, and like a lady that can dance, from street dance and swing, to tap and ballet, as well as folk.

[@ElizabethRasmussen562]

Thankyou Neptune for my shoes 💘

[@pikminlord343]

great story to tell

[@victoriaguevara7297]

wow that's cool😮👍

[@spearmint4093]

how long time does one pair take to make? :)

[@jodietang22103]

Thank you

[@justme3373]

I thank them for making my point shoes

[@maldcmaldc8684]

I love ballet shoes but I haven't got them by

[@angeldangupon9405]

i really really wish i have one

[@unikme7060]

when they put the ribbon? this is so cool thanks for sharing.

[@danivillafana8931]

The dancers sew on the ribbons themselves when they get the shoes to make sure it fits them perfectly!! :)

[@israhm8621]

I wish I had pointe shoes but my dad doesn't have enough money to even support our family

[@silversoukar568]

how can i buy one help me dear friends

[@michellelovesgymnastics5188]

How often can you use a pair of pointe shoes

[@shammydammy2610]

Depends on what you're doing. It can be as little as a couple of days.

[@natbug1865]

I don’t use freed pointe shoes I use Bloch Hannah and this is still very interesting

[@nicolemarquez557]

Loved

[@mikaelancholy]

wow!

[@felipejosegentil2094]

pessoas amorzinho ♡♡♡♡

[@astranoon]

I’ve never worn freeds, though everyone says they’re the softest shoes you can get.

[@razanramy8530]

ي ناس عايزه اشتري أو اعمل جزمه باليه افيدوني ف الموضوع ده بعد اذنكم

[@rowanbaker2721]

That's The [ay. Hey, what's up? lettuce grandfather $ !!

[@marmitechickenlegs8331]

bless em

[@Urfavdumbbrunettee]

It's kind of sad how some ballerinas take their pointe shoes for granted this is so amazing💗

[@Zedwoman]

I have never known a serious dancer who took her shoes for granted.

[@jessica-pp5jy]

olivia monaghan no ballet dancer takes her pointe shoes for granted. Smh.

[@taviabahena6140]

Guys just ignore her she just wants a thousand likes and attention

[@bo988ttyl]

😍😍😍

[@maisieharris23]

i love how british these men are 😂😂

[@mayannbenedicto]

can i get of your pointe shoes plsssssss.

[@hypestuffs6341]

My teacher made me watch this

[@brontebell7748]

And then we tear our shoes to pieces...

[@antonellalopez6525]

yo quiero unas para mi

[@mironikki3091]

WOW MY PONT QRE MAD OF THESE OMG

[@lovesistersforever2046]

want it i am 10 years old

[@purplecarrot2448]

Love sisters forever you don't haha Even though pointe shoes look amazing it's extremely hard. I'm on pointe and it kills.

[@reenatai75]

👍

[@holeymcsockpuppet]

What happens to ballet when they are gone?

[@brendacook1638]

I what one

[@delilahmaud]

Sorry to sound stupid, but if professionals shoes are custom made then why don't they do all the "tweaking" themselves. Thanks

[@meowool]

These sort of tweaks are things that you can't change once the shoe is made, like the box, the platform, the vamp, etc. The 'tweaks' they do make are generally part of the breaking in process. eg: stepping on the box, banging with hammers, deshanking (you can get shorter shanks premade if you like though as deshanked pointes can scrape a lot on your foot.) eg: I would need a tapered box, low profile, a narrow shoe, a shorter vamp and also currently a softer shank. Also the dancer may be having a problem, say she can't roll up properly onto pointe, the maker is much better equiped to understand what changes need to be made so the shoe and the dancer work together.

[@kahurikuul]

The makers could 'tweak' the shoes exactly like the dancer wants only if each dancer actually physically show them how they like their shoes. If there are part of the shoes that they can tweak during the process of making the shoe, they will. If a new dancer joins the Royal Opera House their shoes will be made according to their foot. If they like a shorter shank, they prepare a pair of shoes like they want and then send them on to the maker who will take it into account for the future shoes.

[@rosettagrey2851]

So many dancers, so few makers. They cannot go about their day tweaking every single detail each dancer would like, it would be too time consuming to keep producing. Shoes die fast so a new round of shoes are needed fast. These people are hand making these shoes and as custom as they may be, they still have to stick to a standard in order to be time efficient and productive. Meanwhile the personal tweaks don't take much time when the dancer is changing the shoe. 10-20 mins tops. Do the math for 10 mins for every dancer and every pair or shoe and the makers would never be able to make as many shoes as they make now.

[@emmaamoffett]

Ray doesn’t look over 25