Why Pointe Shoes Cost the NYC Ballet Nearly $1 Million A Year | Big Business | Business Insider

[@deawinter]

I respect that some people are always going to look towards traditional methods, with all their flaws - but I don’t think Grace is right that the shoes being painful is fine and “you get used to it”. There is a culture of self-harm in ballet and I honestly think the pain and physical strain of doing pointe on those shoes is part of it. Ballerinas are astonishing athletes and performers, and as an audience member I do not want them to be in any more pain or danger than strictly necessary while performing. Wearing shoes that don’t hurt you is not cheating.

[@PrinxPerry]

She’s young and she doesn’t understand she has to take care of herself first. The pain she feels today only magnifies a later years. She would do herself well to reconsider her stance, pun intended, and purchase Gaynor Minden shoes as an investment in her future health and longevity in her career. 🩰

[@NightWink129]

Thank you.

[@NightWink129]

@PrinxPerry I'm 24 and understand this. It has nothing to do with youth. It has to do with how you are raised and influenced into perceiving pain and self-care.

[@PrinxPerry]

@@NightWink129 okay, I’m done with it. 😶

[@SandraHertel-u3b]

Agreed. You want to be able to use your feet for a lifetime, not just for your dancing career. Also, I notice them talking about putting rosin on their shoes but it damages the floor and some places won’t allow you. You adjust and advance and grow with technology.

[@lindsaym313]

When I was still studying ballet, I was a “Gaynor girl.” They fit my feet so well and stood up to all my dancing so well! I have no idea why people call them cheater shoes - you still need the proper strength in your legs and feet to go up on pointe.

[@foxerrr7864]

Loved my Gaynors!

[@bean7468]

Me too! I only ever had two pairs of pointe shoes in 5 years en pointe, and it was because they were Gaynors that lasted and were very comfortable.

[@ascent8487]

Since injuries and chronic pain could end a career and Gaynor shoes could potentially help with that, wouldn't that be a selling point?

[@alisonishere714]

Shoes that last longer also lessen the horrible environmental waste of standard pointe shoes. They also make dancing on pointe less cost prohibitive for students who don't have thousands of dollars to shell out every year.

[@jadecoolness101]

@@ascent8487 The problem is that Ballet culture is very elitist. If you get an injury, it's because you were a bad dancer and weren't good enough to be worthy of the stage. When you look at it through that regard, protecting you from injury is "cheating" because you should be good enough to avoid injury. I don't agree with that mindset, but that's also why I'm not a ballerina lmao

[@luckymoonman]

as a former professional ballet dancer, this was actually a really great overview of pointe shoes for the average person! awesome video

[@RosieGaelic]

All brand new and shiny just to get torn up when bought. 🩰🩰

[@QuirkeeBunny]

💖

[@rex8255]

So, I work in the building trades, so we're more expecting some break in with leather, and then a medium quality of boots should last roughly two years, and then a resole, maybe. Part of me looks at this and thinks they're crap shoes that don't fit properly when new and (apparently) even when custom made, and don't last once they finally ARE broken in. I would think this could be done MUCH better. How wrong am I? EDIT: I tried standing on my toes once for a second out of curiosity. MAD respect to people that actually dance on them!

[@lynch42o]

How wasteful, they should make them either built to last or build them to spec...

[@joshuaburghardt532]

should've interviewed Act'ble for some really innovative point shoes - eventually a company that does sth for the health of dancers feet

[@DehydratedHumor]

3:30 small correction, it's not creating the illusion of being on the tip of your toe. You ARE on the tip of your toe; it just gives you a wider platform to balance on.

[@genthespacewitch]

@@TuckerL1000 Nope, DehydratedHumor was right. You balance on the ball of your foot if you're in flats. On pointe you're absolutely on the tips of your toes. I danced ballet for ten years, as did my sisters, and my mother danced in a ballet company. Also, unless you're a principal in a professional company, you're not a ballerina.

[@ElizabethKC1994]

@TuckerL1000 so confident yet so wrong

[@TuckerL1000]

@@genthespacewitch interesting how incredibly confident everyone is in being incorrect. .. also as for the “ ballerina “ part … are you Italian ? Because unless you are no one refers to the principle dancer as such. “ ballerina “ translates to female ballet dancer.

[@warriyorcat]

Uh dude why are you doubling down? In pointe shoes, you are on your toes. This is widely known.

[@TuckerL1000]

@@warriyorcatuhh because I know what I’m talking about and a bunch of keyboard warriors using their mothers wifi isn’t going to change that. Tf.

[@TheWhiteermine]

Gaynor Mindens were never a „cheater shoe“ to me! In them I could concentrate on finding the right balance, which muscels to work, how to roll through precisely etc. without being hindered by pain a/o trying to avoid huge discomfort. They actually made me a better dancer 💛

[@TheDevilsKnot]

The injury prevention aspect of them i feel is something that went uncovered.

[@Neiri-qg2wk]

There’s a prevailing myth that women have to suffer in order to go through life and if we don’t, then we are not women

[@brokgrl85]

Sounds like untapped messaging and education they need to focus on with ballet institutions, teachers, and parents. I think those the true stakeholders​ in shifting mindset and behavior. Ballet dancers are ingrained when young that the shoes must be painful or else you're not doing it right @@TheDevilsKnot

[@stevolopez]

I hate that mentality. I DJ and other DJ's say you're not a DJ if you don't use vinyl records, or CDJ's, or other outdated DJ methods. I use the latest software and technology that automatically beat matches or organizes music easily so I can concentrate more on putting the right song and mixing it expertly. I get called over and over to DJ and make the money while they are DJing in their garages. Don't listen to those people. You buy the pointe shoe that allows you to be the best you can be! If it adds another 10 years to your dancing career, why the hell would you NOT do it? To impress other ballerinas that you can take the pain and end your career sooner. That's bananas!

[@Hug_Junkie]

Right there with you -- Gaynor Mindens changed my whole dancing exp; I'm still sad I only heard about/got them the final year of my time in ballet (prejudice against new methods/tools, and the idea that they take away from 'art' is a real thing folks!), but WHAT a difference! I cried the first time I wore them -- I had never NOT had to fight against my own shoes before; with them, I could just focus on dancing 🥰

[@NESChronicles]

Gaynor Minden: "These shoes can be worn more than once and don't destroy your feet" Ballerinas: "CHEATER SHOES!!!"

[@josiemaromi6981]

Crabs in a barrel!! 😂🦀

[@vidarrimini5109]

"It's good that they are carton because they bend sooo much better and they fit better to your foot than these shitty modern ones!" - says, and proceeds breaking the shoes until they crack, cutting the soles and banging the shoes against the wall like a maniac for half an hour, every twice a week or so 🤣🤣🤣

[@AK-ey2uy]

My daughter wore Gaynors for awhile and there was definite snobbishness at play. At a summer ballet intensive she heard comments about it not being a "real" pointe shoe, etc.

[@Bramon83]

just dont look at the feet ofanyone that wears them and this is a true statement.

[@daftpunkfan15]

Yeah it sounds like if you are not suffering then you cannot call yourself a dancer and I kind of hate that

[@entercreativename]

As a musician, the idea of having to daily switch out a very necessary piece of equipment for my art is beyond perplexing. Yes, I swap strings, reeds, pads, corks, etc.... on a fairly regular basis as part of the maintenance process, and sometimes have to get larger repairs done to keep the instrument working, but I can't imagine having to do that daily and at the cost of the shoes. At least a reed is a few dollars, pack of strings a little more, and anything more will be done at a repair shop by a trusted tech I've worked with as long as I've been in this area.

[@Bluey306]

and not just switch out the equipment, they also have to do all kinds of changes to the equipment every single time to make it work for them or otherwise they can't safely do their craft. it's impressive, for sure, but yeah - perplexing. it's like a cross between an art and a sport. an athlete might have to get new pairs of athletic shoes fairly often but i imagine they don't have to *break* and cut and re-sew and stick hot glue in each pair to make them work.

[@youlovealex]

​@@Bluey306It certainly is perplexing! I wonder often if there really isn't a better way to do this, some way to make these shoes handle at least a week....

[@cosmic_pursuit]

@@youlovealex Yea i would be using that "Nike of Ballet Shoe" company

[@livmartens3057]

if it adds any insight, when I danced I was always taught to think of my body as the main instrument! The shoes, the costumes would be the strings and reeds, but it almost makes it more scary because you only get one real "instrument" that can never be replaced. Dancer's repair techs are PTs, doctors, surgeons, and their teachers.

[@mbergamin16]

$$$

[@joys_mag]

“It’s always dry in time It has to be dry in time” A true professional - no excuses, only delivery 💯

[@nickademuss42]

someone needs to tell them about CA glue accelorator, it cures the glue in seconds

[@meep257]

It's always dry in time because the requests aren't that last minute lol. The dancers are actually respect their time, unlike a lot of businesses.

[@angelaaaanacondaa1616]

​​@@nickademuss42ok, but what does it give on materials ?

[@Petrvsco]

Maybe also smart enough to not publicly reveal anything that could tarnish the brand? There was a second of hesitation in his reply

[@animehuntress9018]

Honestly the girls look heads over tails more healthy then they did not all that long ago. Didn't see a single spine, and honestly thank goodness for that! It is fascinating how the shoes changed over and over and then the innovations just stopped and only now are people trying to innovate them again... Tradition is great but don't forget what got you to those traditions in the first place.

[@helloworldstein]

Unfortunately this is very much limited to NYC, London and some other places that actually have started to care about their dancers health. Look at any recent videos out of Russia or any of the other multitude of nations and you'll see spines galore.

[@moonhunter9993]

Yes, healthy dancers are much more appealing

[@Masterfighterx]

@@helloworldstein Well, russria isn't exactly known for being humane about anything..

[@coconut8bubblegum]

Skinny doesn’t always mean unhealthy

[@cuscoothriyas5163]

​@@coconut8bubblegum when you look like a skeleton?

[@aphelion4616]

"Yeah, it's painful, but you get used to it." Okay, but why should you have to? I agree with the company modernizing the shoe. It's not cheating to make your dancers more comfortable and in less pain... which would allow them to dance more and better!!! Tradition is not always a good thing. I know suffering for your art is a saying, and thing; but why do so when there's a way to take better care of yourself whilst doing what you love?

[@nuclearicebreaker]

The traditional pointes vs modern pointes are like dumbbells vs barbell in the gym. The traditional points demand greater control, and lead to greater ankle strength and stronger dancers. Its the same as doing the two dumbbells on a bench press, instead of the barbell. Sure, you can more comfortably lift more with the barbell, but it doesnt demand the same control as dumbells, and leads to bad habits.

[@melre7432]

@@nuclearicebreaker any real documentation about this?

[@147salsa]

I did pointe for 7 years and my feet are irrevocably damaged. In hindsight sight I would have never done it but I also was not destined for pointe dancing. It’s culture too cause we got gold stars on a chart when you bleed, or loose a toenail…

[@brookedesoto3756]

Gaynor Minden is so phenomenal I have worn them for years now and I can never go back!

[@calok]

I thought they get ruined after one use

[@FransiscaAtmadja]

@@calok Gaynor is the “cheat” shoes. It provides more comfort so the dancer doesn’t really need to do much “breaking” (like Grace does such as cutting the sole).

[@alicexu8412]

Same!! It’s very hard to afford point shoes when you don’t have a company paying for them. I had a pair of freed studio that died within a day, but a pair of Gaynor can easily last a month and I will stretch it to 2/3 months when I can’t afford to buy a new pair.

[@sara31773]

@@calokas explained in the video the Minden shoes are made of materials that won’t break down. They are flexible but won’t break. This video is talking about two different shoe manufacturers.

[@AK-ey2uy]

My daughter wore Gaynors for a bit (and was fitted at their NY location shown in the video), but they didn't work for her (can't remember why). She switched to Grishko and was happy with them.

[@RachelShadoan]

I have wondered for a very long time why there hadn't been much technical innovation in pointe shoes! This was really interesting.

[@Neiri-qg2wk]

There’s no technicalogical innovation because they’re for women and the idea is that women are supposed to suffer

[@RandyPitts-b3t]

Hello how are you doing. I’m Randy from Minnesota, Wishing you a season full of love and cheer. Merry Christmas. May the warmth of Christmas fill your heart and home. Happy Holidays!🎄🎁💐🎉🎁🎈🎊

[@sammydubbs2077]

I never found a shoe I loved more than my Gaynor Mindens when I was dancing. They were stunning and as comfortable as one could dream on pointe.

[@frida507]

I'm not a dancer but imagine those are still the start. If there were competing brands as in sports, and with time they would probably be even better.

[@ruthfox7267]

I read somewhere that some in the dance world look down on the Gaynor Mindens precisely because they lessen the pain and the strain on the feet - like they make it *shudder too easy to go on pointe. I can't see their point I must say.

[@frida507]

@@ruthfox7267 Gate keeping? You need to take the pain to be in the ballerina club.

[@thecraftycyborg9024]

I wish they’d been around in the early aughts, when I danced. I suspect they would have been perfect for me! I used Blochs. Though those were called cheater shoes back then. At that point, pros still used shoes with minimal flat surface and more of a rounded top. Those shoes scared me! (Now I can’t even walk unaided- oh how quickly life can change!)

[@SilverHart]

​@@thecraftycyborg9024Per the video, they were around when we were dancing (2000s) but were not as well known or heard of because the industry and companies hadn't started embracing their use.

[@BrittanyCocchino]

I don't think I would call lifelong Gaynor wearer Gillian Murphy (ABT Principal for decades) a cheater. There are a multitude of pointe shoe makers out there and it is a highly personal and personalized aspect of the profession. You should wear what looks, feels and functions the best for you and your feet. Period.

[@kolonarulez5222]

I will always be in appreciation and awe of craftspeople continuing old methods.

[@tyc1Z.Z1]

Almost all old methods seem to be about women getting the rough end of the stick .

[@QuirkeeBunny]

🌹

[@19Rena96]

​@@tyc1Z.Z1 exactly, but many don't seem to realize that..

[@Bramon83]

they arent lazarus calm the f down and go out and live a bit.... youve been sheltered far too long if this impresses.

[@MuiKaHo]

@@Bramon83 what in the world are you talking about? old methods started it all. even the new methods you see started from old ones. So its easily understandable for people to be impressed.

[@moniquesmith6055]

Not a dancer, but listening to the young lady talking about how point shoes are supposed to hurt is just disappointing. All things old get innovated. There’s nothing wrong with an upgrade, especially if it means saving your career.

[@Kroh13]

They actually aren’t suppose to hurt

[@Sparky16]

Grace in denial about the other shoes. They should never be painful. They should do their job and support the dancers without pain. Having them last longer is also friendly on the environment and your wallet!

[@vasbel1207]

Disagree with your last point! Natural materials are better looooong term bc eventually they will decompose. Versus all synthetics will basically never decompose even if you get more wears out of them

[@kakarabreu]

@@vasbel1207 pointe shoes are not biodegradable. Search a little bit and youll see that the glue they put inside every layer, prevents the shoes to being recicled . They last a long time in nature. Is really a shame that ballet is still so resistant about changes .

[@pants1359]

Some things have to be painful, its not always a bad thing. As a rock climber, shoes are supposed to be painful enough to the point that you only where them when you are on the wall, because the tighter the better. Sure in an ideal world, something can be pain free and performance enhancing. But people at the top of their craft will always choose performance over comfort.

[@tiadavenport5465]

She's not paying for them. It's easy to say I'll take what I get and make it work.

[@TikiTorcher]

So y think 100% BIODEGRADABLE Freeds are bad for the environment but the 100% synthetic non-biodegradable shoes are good for the environment? 😂 Yr in denial about what environmentally friendly means. And I wear Freeds and feel no pain bc I have them fit right. I can’t feel the floor in synthetics. It’s actually dangerous and reduces dance quality.

[@dancingpianofairy]

I like that she acknowledges that she's lucky. This isn't mutually exclusive with hard work of course, but it's definitely a necessary factor.

[@sciencesaves]

@@dancingpianofairy …

[@ITSjustWOOL]

She is lucky, but people often place too much importance on luck. If something has 0.05% chance of happening but you try 2000 times, then you're getting unlucky if it doesn't occur She almost certainly made huge sacrifices to continually put herself in a position to get lucky, and people often miss this part of luck

[@sciencesaves]

@@ITSjustWOOL …

[@Adindapinda]

Who is lucky?

[@Q-nt-Tf]

There must always be someone like you to come and diminish people's hard work

[@katiezee2]

I watched this on a whim, as I am not a dancer, yet found this oddly fascinating for everything from the shoe makers to the dancers parts

[@Neiri-qg2wk]

There is a prevailing idea that women should always deal with pain and if we try to get around this , we’re “cheating.” Giving birth without meds, surrogacy, being deprived of pain management during gynecological exam exams, high heels… it’s all connected.

[@ryanm4319]

lol yeah you’re all delusional and willing to do it to yourselves

[@rachelm79]

Very astute.

[@jenrhe11]

It’s quite perverse really.

[@lillycarmichael8194]

This.

[@loveamaragrace]

you’re so right

[@jilliansmaniotto2326]

I always love when there’s footage from the Freed factory and you get to see the same shoemaker. the guy who was interviewed in the NYCB video that featured megan fairchild/wendy whelan is always in the background or featured!

[@Umbasa0nion]

I’m 34 year old man and just started, seeing all of this is eye opening. We all forget so much more goes into performance than just the stages

[@witchy90210]

Changing mindas when things are traditional is hard. If older things owrk and people like them, thats not a problem. The issues is when people say "Well its always been hard, its always been painful thats just how it is." But if it doesnt have to be, why should it? If it doesnt have to be painful or difficult, why should it. This is just a general assessment, not just about pointe shoes.

[@wioi]

So true. Although I absolutely get why companiesike Freed don't even want to make more long lasting shoes. They sell them in the millions, if they were to make longer lasting ones they wouldn't sell as many. So I'm sure that they hope to never get any competition with long lasting pointe shoes.

[@skleroosis]

These companies have different markets. The plastic ones are great for students who can't afford to swap shoes so often. However the pros really want that custom traditional touch. Because they need them to be perfect for that brief moment. Plus I wouldn't say the plastic is more sustainable even if it does last a bit longer, so the traditional ones are still better for the environment.

[@wearesatellites91]

100% agree. Tradition if the thing actually works is fine, but tradition because you’re just stubbornly resisting change (even if it’s for the better) is silly. The traditional shoes are wasteful, painful, and seem to take an exhausting amount of time to create and break in. If there’s a more comfortable, fiscally responsible, and environmentally friendly option that actually lasts more than a day, in my mind that is an obvious choice, but I guess some people are just suckers for punishment.

[@DaciValt]

@@skleroosis I can kinda understand that however it just leads me back to thinking its more about pure snobbery than anything else. Wouldn't be the first time affluent people just threw away money for no reason just to show they can to lord over their peers.

[@wearesatellites91]

It’s wild to me that these artists spend ages hand-crafting these shoes just to have the dancers purposely destroy the design the second they bring them home .. and then they’re only worn for a couple days before they’re discarded. Clearly the design is not good if a) the dancers have to alter them sooo much to even make them work and b) they’re basically a single use item.

[@OrientalBallerina]

We don’t destroy them. We customise them to our feet to show our feet to their best advantage.

[@NiceDonkey3417]

@@OrientalBallerina and you do this by....

[@iitstre_4550]

@@OrientalBallerina Grace literally used the word "Destroy" in the video. You can't sit here and say they're not destroyed lmao. There is a show remaining yes and it is now customized to you... but the ORIGINAL product supplied gets destroyed.

[@merlumili]

That's what I was thinking lmao. The woman hyping up how custom their shoes are but dancers are cutting them up and destroying them the second they get their hand on them? Yeah, ok.

[@HairoftheDogggo]

@@OrientalBallerinathe shoes are literally being ripped apart and then thrown away after 1 or 2 uses 🙄 it’s an extremely wasteful practice

[@Msviolet65]

When i was in 7th grade i had a class mate who was a ballerina. Even at such a young age she was already dancing on her toes. I was always fascinated by this ability ❤. This was a lovely video, thank you ❤❤

[@RandyPitts-b3t]

Hello how are you doing. I’m Randy from Minnesota, Wishing you a season full of love and cheer. Merry Christmas. May the warmth of Christmas fill your heart and home. Happy Holidays!🎄🎁💐🎉🎁🎈🎊

[@gchsbus]

😂 TIM FOSTER !!! He says they always dry in time. I cracked up. I bet he has some mad scientist stash of paint and dyes hidden there where when a dancer needs shoes right now due to whatever issue, POOF they are done and the dancer is thankful yet confused how he did it. He is like a shoe magician. I bet he gets big fat checks in his Christmas cards for saving the day countless times.

[@laddibugg]

Tim was (rightfully) offended. Like how dare you ask that question?😂

[@Midnight.Swan.001]

"Why pointe shoes cost the NYC ballet nearly 1 million a year" Honestly, I'm surprised it's not more.

[@bummblebee77]

can you imagine if the dancers had to pay for their own shoes!!

[@Midnight.Swan.001]

@@bummblebee77 *screams in debt*

[@GooberFace32]

A million dollars for outfitting a premier dance company with handmade pointe shoes is actually not bad. I thought it’d be more too.

[@Midnight.Swan.001]

@@GooberFace32 Aren't pointe shoes normally handmade?

[@joshuacoldwater]

@xFlowerCat these shoes are handmade in London, then sent to the USA and disassembled by the dancers and re-made.

[@kunoichiAC]

I’ve worn both GM and “traditional” shoes (cardboard inserts) and they both performed well for me so it really does come down to personal preference at the end of the day 🩰 What a great behind-the-scenes look at this art form and industry 🤩

[@Miss_E_97]

I learned so much from this! Had no idea how much work is done behind the scenes

[@blessedbeauty2293]

- Yes, it isn't easy. It is also extremely stressful. That girl is one of the rare ones, others freak out before shows && complain alot. I personally was a dancer, but ballet was something my mom && I didn't wanna do. She didn't want me to ruin my feet before I even lived my life.

[@INFJ_Pisces]

I LOVE the theatre; I’m so grateful for the artists, the ballet slipper makers, the countless people who pull these productions together… it heals my heart when I’m able to attend, they make it so magical… Thank you for this share!🌹

[@nanushka]

But they have changed. Just look at the vamps and platform space from 30 years ago vs now. We now have different strengths and materials for the shank, platform widths, vamps... we even have split soles

[@flowmovementtherapy2096]

Exactly. Back in the early 1990s I did so many customizations to my shoes. I was able to get wing box but not until the end of the 1990s could I get 3/4 shank.

[@happycommuter3523]

Very true; the shoes I had in the early 80s were horrible. Every girl got the same shoes, the only difference was size. They had rounded platforms and almost shredded my feet. Nobody told you how to customize the shoes. If your feet bled, you just bandaged them up. I finally quit dance classes when I was 16.

[@moonhunter9993]

right

[@Fenrires]

Platforms on vintage shoes are tiny- Lori’s recent video comparing the two is quite shocking!

[@NeedCoffeeSM]

@@happycommuter3523 I was made to feel bad for breaking the shank of my pointe shoes. I literally could not curve the arch of my shoe, so I broke my shoe. Ta-da, I could stay on my toe longer. I broke my toenail in half, bled through my lambs wool, and only found out later they made things that would cover your toes more uniformly. Ah, the 1990s.

[@judisheldon5646]

I danced for years and never did all that to my pointes. Firstly we wore toe pads stuffed with cotton which adjusted the position of my foot in the shoe (also added lots of cotton between the toes). Before completing the ribbon tie one would pass the ribbons through an elastic hoop at the heel portion to ensure the heel stays up. Given all the shoes worked quite well.mine were NEVER uncomfortable or painful.

[@jonahjameson272]

Man Ballet dancers are amazing athletes! And they are so fluid when they move very impressive!

[@hiho8084]

As are women ballet dancers...

[@RagingBull-go7lo]

As a man, I used to think that Ballet was much safer than football but as an adult learning about the effects in terms of weight and one’s toes I realized that I was wrong.

[@goatsandroses4258]

I recently saw a dancer trying shoes from the 60s/70s and remarking how larger the toe platform is now. I didn't know the shoes had changed in just that short amount of time, but she said that's probably why ballerinas can now do more pirouettes. Certainly modern ballerinas can stand on their toes longer than Taglioni and her kin. As a historian, I love the tradition behind the ballet slippers, but I also think it's a little ridiculous that the ballerinas have to almost destroy an $80 pair of shoes to "customize them" and still the shoes don't last that long. Perhaps the ballet companies sell some of the used shoes as souvenirs, but wouldn't it be better financially and physically if each dancer could have her shoes MADE to fit her and the role she was dancing? It might enable some ballerinas to dance later in life. Although we have to admire the spirit of "toughness" among ballerinas, we also have to get real: we don't expect them to dance simply in darned slippers anymore, so it's okay for shoes to continue to develop.

[@rubyhetherington8596]

I think part of that, and the reason why it hasn't really changed that much for a long time since the 70s, is that they are customized to a dancer- certain adjustments made afterwards can't really be made into the shoe like making them less slip proof with rosin, or with half a Shank etc. the shoe I think needs to be made with the integrity of the shoe first and then pared back and customized again. So shoes are basically customized twice for dancers, and though its not really realistic there are only so many high volume large companies that need that many shoes, and if there are shoemakers still willing to make them like freed, it still works. For shoes being more comfortable, plastic is actually less sustainable and point shoes are not painful if you get the right fit. you just need to properly be trained in using muscles etc. as they said, all of the high profile ballet companies still use freed and operate in that way

[@ruthfox7267]

This is a very balanced view, thanks.

[@SophieNeveudancer]

I’ll contribute my personal opinion: I danced for years and let me tell you, it’s the ballet dancers personality that keeps shoes that way. I have yet to met a dancer that does not gloat or takes pride in the pain she goes through to achieve dancing. It’s always a contest about who has lost more toenails, or who makes more cuts to their shoes. It’s almost like this privilege to be doing this hand work on your point shoes because then “you know” about dancing and your feet and also you are so good you can afford to break a shoe that is super expensive. It’s a whole mentality, once you’re out of it you notice that it’s formed by the years of tradition and how every dancer starts young. Pain is the way you get things, and let me tell you, if you ask a ballet dancer she’ll giggle and smile and tell you something horrific like she’s dancing with a fractured toe and act like it is no biggie because through this you are amazed and she is tough. I do sound super resented and I know, but I’ve been shocked through the years after leaving at how toxic the culture is. I love ballet, I love dancing, but I do think ballet can make people not their healthiest sometimes.

[@pininfarinarossa8112]

Their feet change constantly...its difficult

[@bsch5742]

​@@SophieNeveudancerI worked as an architect and we had in university and work that competition around who slept less and was able to stand longer without sleep. Insane practices that should be stopped by the teachers and not encouraged or accepted. I fully see your point.

[@CrystleTillis]

I appreciate the traditional pointe shoe and the history therein. There's no way ballerinas should not benefit from modern materials and technology that better protect their feet (knees, hips, spines) than the cardboard and glue paste of the traditional shoes.

[@Amaranthyne]

My pointe shop and business insider clicks have finally combined!

[@jenniferziegenfuss3719]

SAME! But as I was watching this and heard that one ballerina say that "she feels pain in her shoes but it's okay" and immediately imagined Josephine cringing. Josephine would immediately tell her that she should NOT be feeling acute pinching and pain in her shoes - and then do a proper fitting with her! Like maybe Freeds are actually not the best shoe for her feet. And she's too wrapped up in the label of wearing a Freed rather than try another brand that works better with her foot physiology. Like I love that Josephine is not snobbish at all with Gaynor Mindons and readily will include them during fittings with ballerinas. It's the perfect mindset -- the point of pointe shoes is that they support and perform without pain because pain leads to injuries. Josephine says over and over that blistering and bunions should not happen with a well fitting shoe, and if a dancer is getting these issues....to get refitted. The SF ballet is lucky to have a shoe fitter like Josephine who cares that much about the dancers' long-term foot health, IMO. Not so much impressed with the NYC ballet's shoe fitter.

[@Amaranthyne]

@ Ballet companies have deals with specific shoe companies. Shoes are expensive. She probably is limited to Freeds in order to get the shoes she needs payed for.

[@Accio_Eloise]

This makes SO MUCH sense. I really have never understood how ballet shoes haven't changed in decades. Considering the rate at which modern technology has adapted and changed, why are ballet dancers being left to suffer? The entire industry relies too much on tradition. Whilst tradition is wonderful, don't put the dancers thorough agony to maintain it....

[@flowmovementtherapy2096]

There is nothing like the smell of the shoe room and looking in the cubbies for a new pair of your favourite maker. :D

[@aliceincraftland3388]

My daughter danced at a studio and her favorite style was pointe. Even then she went through a lot of shoes and I sewed the elastic and ribbon on many of them. They are beautiful, but a pain to work on.

[@myrineae]

For such a physically demanding sport, the gear sure seems extremely out-of-date.

[@tk80mufa5]

The two major problems are the dancing on your toes and the jumps, and the constant interchanging between the two. Both of these activities are guaranteeing fast & rough wear & tear. there simply might not be the perfect material out there that is both highly flexible and highly durable ( let alone customizable to allow its dancer the breaking in ). It's sort of like a material science / engineering / physics problem.

[@OOhlUkaTmEImGanSTa]

A major part of using these shoes seem to be pomp and circumstance and not so much on functionality. We have so many new materials that would improve the comfort and reduce the time and pain dancers have to spend breaking them in. Rubber, silicone, Kevlar are some materials that could be used to innovate a much better shoe.

[@knmplans]

Well it’s not just a sport, it’s an art. Part of art is aesthetics. It’s very difficult to get that balance. Then consider the idiosyncrasies of each dancer. A traditional shoe leaves room for much more customization than one made with newer materials. As someone that’s tried gaynor’s I get the appeal, they’re comfy and long lasting. But getting plastics to meld to your foot… it’s not happening. A traditional shoe can also be adapted on the fly. I’ve had three kids and my needs have changed. Adjusting a traditional shoe is easier imo.

[@allangibson8494]

@@knmplansBallerina are as much sportswomen as tennis players - they are physically fitter than some olympians…

[@CochransAbroad]

Mostly a women's sport. Which we know gets less attention, funding, pay, and innovation than a man's.

[@lemonhead162]

I used to be obsessed with ballet slippers when I was a girl. My sister & I took ballet lessons when we were very little and we had our little ballet boxes with our slippers in them. I always wanted to own a pair of pointe shoes as well as a tutu! A kid can dream, can't she?

[@Bri4nG]

I love watching ballet dancers prepping their point shoes.

[@paullyPIAA]

Yesssss sames

[@jennifergranger2034]

I appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship of the traditional pointe shoe, and the strength, dedication and endurence it takes to dance on pointe in traditional shoes, but I fully support ballerinas using pointe shoes that are made of meterials that allow their art to be less painful. And imagine how far they could go with their art if they aren't in so much pain while performing and practicing, aren't injuring themselves as often and dont have to retire as early due to arthritis and such?

[@MelodiedeVivre]

I loved the insight into craftsmanship of these shoes both traditional and modern

[@yankeedoodledarling9232]

How fascinating! My Dad loved ballet and had a pair of Merrill Ashley's signed ballet shoes on his massive desk in his office. We went to see the Nutcracker Suite as a family (five girls!) every year. I am awed anew at each production every year. Thank you for this video.

[@Kaiesis]

Keep at it, but target the new generation that are trying their first pair of shoes. The current gen is too set in their style to change shoes. You need to start with dancers that have never used shoes and start them with the new design so their feet and body movements can grow with the new design shoes.

[@frida507]

This will probably happen outomatically as the new shoes are more economical they will be worn by students, who get used to more comfort.

[@rustyreckman2892]

It’s amazing how graceful these dancers are

[@zeez6622]

There is no sport on this earth that puts as much stress on the feet as ballet. Yet there is no investment by Nike or Adidas to create shoes for them

[@catladyfromky4142]

Nike and Adidas would be coming in blind with competition that have worked for a hundred years. The amount of R&D that they would have to put in would not amount to the appropriate share of the market to make it profitable enough.

[@helloworldstein]

Its because they're smart enough to realize they could make the best ballet shoes on earth and no one would buy them because the sad reality is a lot of these dance companies are stuck in the past and will say shit like "if you're not in pain you're cheating". There are very few sane athletes on earth who wouldn't pick a better shoe but dancers aren't necessarily as rational about it. Theres a lot of mysticism and woo bs in it.

[@SE-gs6gd]

Not profitable enough for them

[@MrShanester117]

It’s not a sport

[@Tennisisreallyfun]

@@MrShanester117Might as well be, I can’t think of many things that are more physically demanding than this tbh.

[@crossan-uq1cd]

The ballerina interviewed is so cute! I loved this. Very interest Mr Freed of London was taoloring shoes to fit dancers way back in 1918. Go him!!!

[@babyboo600]

grace is like the cutest girl ever ! great video too, great narrator ! love it

[@ThinWhiteAxe]

I love her enthusiasm for what she does

[@joyyyhuu]

This is so impressive, my appreciation for ballet and its shoe makers are beyond

[@teresathomas7772]

I truly enjoyed learning how ballerinas break in a new pair of shoes and how they protect their feet oh the world of ballerinas it’s a beautiful world to watch and learn from❤

[@4WingedAngels]

Thank you so much. I’m not a dancer, but found this incredibly informative. I truly appreciate the amount of info that was included in this production.

[@ambr79]

Agreed! Very interesting!

[@AloneInTheGarden]

I’ve never danced ballet (unless you count a beginners basics class when I was like 6), but I went down a pointe shoe rabbit hole a few years ago, and videos are still popping up in my feed. Hence why I’m here and why I know way too much about shoes I’ll never use lol. I spent weeks fascinated and intrigued by them. With all the knowledge I’ve learned from my once hyperfixation, the average person might think I have a background in ballet. 😂

[@sukimala]

i did ballet when i was younger and then grow you and you notice hummm one color interesting . i love how Gaynor Minden have all those different shades it almost made me cry 👏🏽👏🏽 .

[@r.c.3263]

You mean pink? I know your busy being a victim but your rasict self reliezes white people are not pink, right?

[@lynnhexler-haan3357]

@sukimala Freeds presented a whole spectrum of colour tones in 2018. The colours run from a crème brulee type to a solid black. Matching ballet tights & ribbons are available. All round it's good news !

[@Lady_dromeda]

No one should be left out of dance. I like seeing all the things that have added more skin tones, like bandaids and shapewear

[@Freedomfighter20251]

​​​@@Lady_dromedathat's the worst comment I've ever heard, there doesn't need to be different shades of Band-Aids are you serious.

[@xwingday]

All the hours and hard work that goes into all of this, years of training to put on a show. I can't help but respect them all for that.

[@SweetGir12]

This was so lovely to watch! I always loved ballet, and being an artist, I love drawing them and watching their shows, listening to the music and it makes it feel like a live fairytale. I hope that with time, the shoes will get better for them and the pain will lessen somewhat, as it's sad to see something you love, knowing someone is in pain for you to see it. So i have a great deal of respect for anyone deciding to take it seriously and become a professional. I love what you do!

[@MamaKittieKat]

I was in a jazz mix dance class for 5 years, watching my friends that did ballet breaking in their pointe shoes was bonkers! One of them actually cracked her thumb while smacking it on a big rock while we sat outside. 😬

[@JudyCZ]

I love ballerina point shoe routines! There's something so fascinating about them.

[@EBY5801]

My daughter who is a dancer just got PR Duval pointe shoes… she is thrilled with them! They are similar to Gaynor’s, but her fitter likes them even better.

[@sethheng7528]

How beautiful is grace! She made me want to go watch the nutcracker now

[@janedawson335]

I wore Freeds, my daughter wore Freeds and my granddaughter wore Freeds ..it’s all in the fit ❤

[@DrBismuth]

Would you wear a different brand that had new composite materials if they last longer and have the same fit? Seems like "it's cheating if they don't hurt" is a pretty terrible business model.

[@hannaheneghan661]

@@DrBismuththat’s not what freed markets their shoes on and it’s super sleazy that this video framed it that way. people like freeds because of how they look, point(e) blank period. gaynors are good shoes that work for some, but only for some. almost everyone can find a freed maker that works for them because of how they mold to the foot. ballet is a performance art that depends on aesthetics, and pointe shoes are not the same as running shoes: they can’t just look any old way. ask any professional ballerina, especially one who is young so will be seen as more disposable than an established principal dancer- they will choose a shoe that makes them look their best over one that is comfortable, because their career depends on it.

[@jenniferziegenfuss3719]

Sounds like you are much more concerned about branding...like you're talking about a handbag...than the actual point of pointe shoes- that they fit the foot physiology of the dancer. You being wedded to a brand as a prideful thing....like a chanel bag...is off-putting and just backward. It does not matter what manufacturer makes the pointe shoe that fits your foot best without adding pinching or pain.

[@jenniferziegenfuss3719]

​@hannaheneghan661 your argument falls apart when people realize that principles at ABT use Gaynor Minden shoes.

[@hannaheneghan661]

@ I’m well aware that Gillian Murphy wears Gaynors- she is the exception, not the rule. An established principal dancer like that can choose an uglier shoe if it’s more comfortable, but a young dancer (who as I said, is seen as more disposable in a company) can not and will not. Gaynors aren’t for everyone, as I said. They look nice for people who have extremely high arches, like Svetlana Zakharova for example (and many other Russian ballerinas, who almost always have S-curve legs and feet). Not all of us are so blessed, and if you haven’t already proved yourself onstage the way Gillian Murphy has, you don’t have the room to sacrifice your lines like that. Whether or not ballet should have these super high standards for women’s bodies is another question entirely- but as it stands, the vast majority of professional ballet dancers choose their shoe based on what looks best, because what looks best gets hired.

[@mvchfvn5828]

lowkey criminal that they didnt talk to josephine from the pointe shop

[@ireneinbarcelona]

Totally! I fully agree.

[@happycommuter3523]

Yes!

[@Ailieorz]

Yup, she would have explained why so many companies go with Freed and not synthetics like Gaynors without any bias

[@StitchGV]

I was waiting for her to show up and she didn’t! 🤯😂

[@thiacari]

Aha

[@sciencesaves]

everytime i buy another pair of pointe shoes for my daughter i say WHY ARENT THERE BETTER MATERIALS FOR THESE SHOES?!

[@helixxia9320]

i saw people here mention Gaynor Mindens lasts longer due to the material is different

[@sciencesaves]

yes, but they don’t feel right according to the dancers we know that have used them

[@NoxOblivion]

@@sciencesavesI’m not a dancer but it would be worth letting her give them a try, imagine if they’re the best thing for her and she ends up loving them!

[@SilverHart]

​​@@sciencesavesYes, because those dancers aren't used to * not hurting* when they put the shoes on.

[@jadecoolness101]

@@sciencesaves "they don't feel right" because they're not actively destroying your feet joints

[@fmphotooffice5513]

Applause for the focused dedication it took to reach this level in their art form. It might be unusual, but it's wonderful to see the supportive communication between different (departments?) in the company. I expected more formal if not nervous interactions in preparation for a show. Applause! Applause!

[@misscarolinasousa]

"it gives the illusion they are on the very tip of their toes". It's not an illusion, we ARE on the very tip of our toes

[@Tawadeb]

Ouch. Crazy eh?

[@susieast450]

I love it when they dye the shoes to their coatumes. It puts the movements of their feet on full display. Just beautiful

[@4rsalways]

Im an over weight, almost 50yr old grandma who can barely get my shoes on lol However, I'm so obsessed with ballet.

[@englishmadcow7461]

Bravo Gaynor n Co for giving dancers a better option that saves time n money. I appreciate they may be more costly but surely worth it? Chefs don't use cheap knives, builders wear steel cap boots, so i think its brilliant to have an updated pointe shoe 😍🇬🇧😀

[@JackieOstick]

I'm seeing Nutcracker at NYCB tonight! Can't wait! This piece is so interesting! Thanks for the inside look!

[@LieutenantSheep]

There’s a certain beauty in the old way but it makes sense as well that the newer shoe is gaining popularity. The old way is artist to artist and personalizing when you get them is part of it. The old shoes are more likely to actually decompose someday, and go back to the earth but it’s also expensive and inaccessible. Idk it’s interesting

[@thelemonqueen_]

it seems like the new ones could be great for rehearsals and practice, but it'd be easier to stick with the traditional ones for performances. (just a thought from someone who's sister did ballet)

[@yh9579]

i’d feel more comfortable practicing in the shoe i’m performing in (just a thought from someone who knows nothing about ballet lol)

[@elisam.r.9960]

@@yh9579 That can vary from person to person. I've done ballet and marching band, and I currently run. I've had the opportunity to switch our key perforamnce gear for each of these activities, and it seems to me that swapping can be done easily with two things: some pre-planning and making sure to take note of how everything feels during and after performances. People who are able to manage these executive function tasks with ease will likely have more success with this sort of swapping compared to someone whose executive function capacity varies more from day to day. When I run, I actually do wear different shoes for races compared to training, usually moving from my usual running shoes to racing shoes about a week prior to a race. The shoes do feel pretty different, but it doesn't take too long to adjust. I don't run long distances, which means I spend less time in the racing shoes. I imagine for runners that run longer distances the adjustment time is at most a couple days. In marching band, we tended to wear different gloves depending on the performance: black ones with velcro wrists for football games and white ones that needed to be taped at the wrist for competitions. Wrist security definitely felt different between the two, but again it was a quick adjustment time. For ballet, I've really only had experience with slippers, but I had the option to take class in cotton socks. I did some ballet practice at the gym in just socks, and I found this swap to be the most noticeably different and needing a bit more time to adjust. I don't think it's impossible, though. SInce there are multiple rehearsals, the performance shoes could be worn in the final rehearsal while other shoes can be worn a little further out from performance time.

[@ashleynoyes4103]

Grace, you made me feel happy for you and excited for how much you love what you do! Congrats on the spot light! ❤

[@RandyPitts-b3t]

Hello how are you doing. I’m Randy from Minnesota, Wishing you a season full of love and cheer. Merry Christmas. May the warmth of Christmas fill your heart and home. Happy Holidays!🎄🎁💐🎉🎁🎈🎊

[@georgiascarlett9679]

I remember learning about the Gaynor Mindens in my textiles classes (why I clicked this video) and its so sad to see that the revolution from uncomfortable cardboard shoes to modern comfortable ones has such a cultural resistance. I thought they were gratefully accepted by everyone...

[@CarnieRizzo]

Georgie Thank u, such a beautiful story. I was aware of some breaking in procedures re pointe shoes but not all. What a gorgeous dancer that particular BALLERINA is. ❤

[@elizabethwelch2976]

Sad that they would sacrifice their comfort, health, and risk disabilities in the long run because of snobbery

[@hirajcooper5403]

These new shoes are the best that’s ever happened for ballet dancers thank for the new evolution

[@kevinnathanson6876]

Interesting. With modern 3D scanning and printing, I envision that point shoes will soon be able to be 'perfectly' customized per dancer.

[@moonhunter9993]

There is already a model out there. Forgot the name though

[@joshuaburghardt532]

@@moonhunter9993 It's act'ble

[@dancingpianofairy]

I'm a former Irish dancer and if we were lucky, our hard shoes had a filed down flat spot on the "taps" for toe stands. No toe box for us!

[@leasgier3311]

Which - from what I understand from a few random videos - Irish dancers' careers are often over by 25? Not enough care put into building up their dancing in a way that would make it sustainable over a long career (like - in the best case - in ballet).

[@dancingpianofairy]

@@leasgier3311 Depends on the dancer. Mine was over at age 22-23 (I'm 34 now) due to serious health issues, but I know plenty who kept or even started dancing after 25. It also depends on what they're doing with Irish dance. Competitors did seem to be younger. There weren't any "adult" championships, but adults could compete in the oldest "kid" age groups which were like 14 and over, 16 and over, 21 and over, etc. I don't think I ever saw a TCRG (licensed teacher) or an ADCRG (licensed judge) UNDER 25. Performers tend to be older. Just look at Jean Butler, Colin Dunn, Michael Flatley, etc and everyone in Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, and so on.

[@RJAH355]

Truly amazing. Can’t imagine why they don’t use new technology to make there shoes. They need ones everyday. That is ridiculous

[@joshuaburghardt532]

google act'pointes =)

[@RJAH355]

@ thank you.

[@davidyanezmusic]

I'm a freelance composer for advertising. I plan to work on a piece of music that will have a ballerina in the video sometime in 2026. Still in the early process and was told to contact ballet companies in my area. Will be doing that next year to find a ballerina to do a choreographed dance to the music. This is so cool to see what a ballerina goes through to achieve the perfect fit for her feet to work right with the pointe shoe. It's incredible what ballerinas can do.

[@shinygarbador]

These shoes are tools for the trade. It’s no different from making sure businesses have paper for printing or maintaining the machines that make products in a factory. It makes sense to have the best tools to do the job and the funds to replace them when the tools get too worn down.

[@helenanilsson5666]

Yeah, but that also makes the "it's supposed to hurt" argument so weird. Like, imagine if the "best" pens were designed in such a way that they hurt to write with, and using pens with an ergonomic grip was considered "creating". Part of innovation is finding a way to combine both prestanda and comfort.

[@shinygarbador]

@@helenanilsson5666 I was more focused on why they spend that much money, but the ethics of spending that much money to invest in things that cause pain is definitely worth highlighting and looking to change. Now that’s an unworthy investment.

[@BeansPredi-ch6xk]

@@helenanilsson5666Business is not a difficult extreme sport. Though even in business your body and mind hurts.

[@bbloque]

NYCB still upholding Balanchine's foot fetishism - ew. Springing up to pointe rather than rolling up and down all the time protects the foot, and a better-constructed shoe is not a "cheat" shoe. No wonder NYCB dancers last so little. I remember Suki Schorer making fun of Gillian Murphy for wearing Gaynors because "ballet is not about health", which prompted Melissa Hayden to tell Schorer to mind her own business. As Miss Murphy has enjoyed such a long and distinguised career and is only about to retire next year, I'd say she's had the last laugh.

[@jenniferziegenfuss3719]

I caught that too. No roll ups...only jumping up. So dumb and damaging. And yes the rumor is still a thing that a job with NY ballet will be a quick end to a pro career. A long lasting career can notably be found at SF ballet or ABC - where they care about the ballerinas as people rather than disposable appliances. Honestly rolling up to pointe always looked better to me - more fluid....since it's all about fluid movements. Jumping up looks too aburbt and jerky. Most ballet intensive training companies for the younger generation all do roll ups - as most understand physiology and how important it is to keep the body healthy for a long time and career. ESPECIALLY when ballerinas are going on pointe younger now due to better shoes. IMO it feels like karma when someone makes fun of a better fitting and safer-for-foot-health shoe while their own feet get punished leading to a short pro career. And the dancer who wears the more modern shoe is the one who they made fun...amd yet is healthier for longer. No one said meam girls were smart and introspective...

[@LadyBlack22]

Soooo, actually the reason the shoes go bad so fast is BECAUSE they’re using Freed of London. Most other shoe developers have mastered making the shoes lasting longer, and we’ve even developed polyurethane shoes that last a very long time indeed! It’s just companies like these that keep places like freed in business at all. (Editing to say that “companies like these” here means companies that make all of their dancers wear shoes made by one manufacturer, e.g. Freed)

[@DragonfruithouseDesigns]

👀

[@Ailieorz]

No it's because they provide the best product for what they need. Gaynor Minden's are great... if you just happen to fit them. There's a lot of dancers that they don't work for

[@peytonpalmour5368]

They basically say that in the video. Did you...watch it?

[@kamicokrolock]

Freeds are desired amongst many dancers because they break in well, allow you to feel the floor, but that comes at the cost of longevity. Russian Pointe and Bloch are known for stiffer shoes and will last a bit longer BUT that does not work for every dancer. And while some dancers LOVE Gaynor's (which have been around for decades), others absolutely hate them as they don't feel the same as a traditional shoe (I never liked them, even though I really wanted to replace my Capizeos with them because "cool ergonomic shoe!"). There was also a company a few years ago that made a groundbreaking shock absorbing shoe called the Juliet d30 that would mold to your exact foot shape but it was discontinued because it was very unsuccessful. Dancers typically want soft shoes they can feel the floor in but but what shoe fulfills that need differs from dancer to dancer. Modern materials does not equal better overall pointe shoe. It's quite literally a "one size does not fit all" situation

[@LadyBlack22]

⁠@@Ailieorz yeah, Gaynor’s didn’t work for me either. My point here was to say that it’s not what dancers are doing in them or to them that makes them die so quickly. The other shoe companies validate that claim by making shoes that hold up better over time with the same kinds of alterations.

[@yanguskhan8513]

not only are they doing something physically demanding on their bodies, they have to look beautiful and elegant while doing it. no one cares how handsome a basketball payer looks while dunking, or a baseball player looks while hitting a home run. that elegance, beauty adds another layer or complexity, physicality that i didnt really realize until this video and actually thinking about it.

[@sandysaurus1010]

Imagine the mountains of shoes that end up in landfills if they only last a day. And they’re hand crafted?!

[@hocuspocus4577]

Yea great for the environment let alone for there feet.

[@RR-us1lt]

its a vain, unchanging and elitist activity, hopefully it fades away someday since our feet were perfectly designed for dancing as is

[@Textile_Courtesan]

Actually most of the supplies used in Freed pointe shoes are natural- cotton, leather and reclaimed recycled cardboard. Even the glue is basically paste made from water and flour. There is a movement to compost used pointe shoes. Not landfills.

[@everlynevins]

​​@@RR-us1lt You going to say that about football, too? Should that fade away? Because there is stress put on the feet, and a fitting shoe is important as well. Fields are also not all the same, so even there, you need multiple types. Your comment is just ignorant. Or the fact fields use up so much water to keep up. At least with ballet shoes, recyclable materials can be used.

[@arturjogi6054]

​@@Textile_Courtesana note on that: the cotton and cardboard might be compostable *if* they are untreated, and *if* the glue used really is starch based, which seems very unlikely... It doesn't hold together well in the slightest. Most tanned leather is in fact not biodegradable. That's like what tanning is for. Rendering the leather durable and resistant to weather. But none of this really matters, because, is anybody composting their shoes? Are you putting them in a compost bin, or composting them yourself? No, nobody does that, they throw them in the garbage. And that will best case be incinerated, worst case go straight to the landfill. People seem to think their compostable waste will break down in the landfill so it's ok to put it in the regular trash. It doesn't. The anaerobic, completely tightly packed conditions in landfill prevent significant biodegradation from happening. Landfills are full of decades old organic waste that could have broken down easily if left in the open air. Now that landfills are filling up and the "we'll fix it later" mentality is catching up with people, cities are banning organics in landfill and starting to collect compost and stuff. Ballet shoes still aren't compostable, though.

[@nancyestela90]

One of the most beautiful and interesting videos I’ve ever seen 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[@suelawson7273]

I loved Freeds. I would always go for a particular maker, I didn't like the heel to be too shallow 🥰

[@FreeSpiritBudgieLady]

I remember watching a film about ballet and the dancers all had feet looking like a bag of spanners!. Anything that helps dancers avoid crippling painful deformities is great in my book.

[@oBseSsIoNPC]

Wow, I had no idea that the shoes wear out so fast, that's something else!

[@dragonire_dino0856]

They don't wear out as quickly as this video says it does. Most dancers have to replace them at least every week or two, and some need replacements after a longer period of time. It just depends on the person but no shoe fall apart after one day.. maybe after a show but not after class or practice.

[@Jennifer-nz2ss]

This is amazing! I love the ballet so much. You ballerinas work so hard. You are who I dream about!😊💗💗💗

[@AW-tp1yl]

Ballet shoes need to be redesigned to be environmentally sustainable as well as custom made to fit to ballerina's individual needs and fit

[@bugmoto]

Amazing, charming dancers. Phenomenal athletes too. Ballet is beauty in motion. What a fun video!

[@rebeccaa.hubbert8313]

I have to say: I think it is dangerous, and irresponsible for companies and schools to allow dancers to use shoes that will last only 1 day. I think the risk of injury is higher if the shoe is that unreliable. I know SAB gives these unreliable pointe shoes to their students, and those pointe shoes are meant for professionals, not students who are still growing. I think adolescence and unreliable pointe shoes make a dangerous equation, and there is no real concern for the students' welfare. I think it is also an unnecessary waste of money, work, and materials if shoes do not last. I have to wonder how many dancers are injured, and how many hopes, dreams and careers are ended by their shoes breaking down.

[@Horse-qb8wz]

This is an awesome video! Very informative and so facinating😊😊

[@MikeA15206]

It’s like a dance belt, not comfortable but you get used to it. Still I am glad I only had to wear point shoes a few times.

[@brentwalker8596]

Having to replace pointe shoes that frequently is insane in so many ways. Btw, the slow motion of Grace dancing was stunning. What an amazing athlete.

[@dragonire_dino0856]

Pointe shoes become unusable quickly but not as quickly as it says in this video. No ballerina goes through shoes after a single day. A week or two at least, sometimes it's more than that. It depends on the person.

[@janetg.]

I wonder how much of a price difference there is between Gaynor Minden and Freeds and whether that truly influences what the companies purchases. Why would you want to say in a shoe that is more work to prepare and maintain if the look is very similar to each other?

[@adamcrux6829]

Made it all the way through the video while playing POE2 on other pc screen before realizing what I was watching/listening too... Nice now I know about ballet shoes...