Calamining pointe shoes! Method 1 of 4

Here are 4 ways I have to prepare my pointe shoes for stage as a professional ballet dancer.
1. Calamine lotion
2. Rosin
3. Pancake
4. Calamine Spray

[@ruminationstation4200]

Its crazy how little advancement has been in these. Yall put on so much work to modify shoes when it seems like half the things could be done by the pointe shoe companies

[@ani_in_the_building143]

the thing about that is that every dancer likes their pointe shoe in a different way because everyone has different needs, maybe one dancer has to break their sole 3/4 in order for their feet to look and feel better, but that doesn’t mean that every other dancer wants to do that, some dancers do nothing at all to their shoe, its personals preference; and because it is personal preference, pointe shoe makers would have to make even more customized shoes for every single dancer, causing more delay on pointe shoe arrival, and maybe them selling less because there’s simply no way that pointe shoe makers can efficiently make every single alteration the dancer wants, even less when they have so many dancers (remember most professional ballerinas can use any number of pointe shoes, from 1 pair every few weeks, to more than a pair a day), so making pointe shoes as they are is the most efficient way, the dancers simply alter what they want/need, or dont alter anything, and pointe shoe makers can deliver the shoes within the deadline!

[@unnecessary111]

It's customized babe

[@razrv3lc]

Literally what I think every time I see videos of ballet dancers.

[@439801RS]

My first thought too, if matte is the preference in the performance industry, they should at least offer that as an option

[@sienashawver6511]

The pointe shoe companies hand make each and every shoe. They do this because every foot is different even your left and right are different. With calluses pressure points, etc. break and wearing them in will help the shoe mold to your foot better. You can have them customized but it’s mostly for more professional dancers.

[@blustephenson9227]

The calamine lotion actually looks really good for not being super pigmented or anything

[@franchescamarcelle1819]

I always see ballerinas having to do all these alterations to their shoes to make them wearable/acceptable and it always makes me wonder why these ballet shoe companies don't just make these shoes with all these necessities already, considering how expensive they are.

[@Shortandnerdyy]

Ballerinas have very specific preference when it comes to their point shoes. What I don’t understand is how quickly they need to replaced and how expensive they are. Like over $100 a week on shoes made from cardboard and fabric?? With all the technology we have now I’m surprised they haven’t found a way to make a shoes lasts while also being very customizable

[@rexysingh288]

U have answer in ur own question, companies don't want to ruin their business. U heard her she needs shoes every other days

[@RipRoarinRedneck0311]

If u leave the Calamine lotion OPEN, some of the water will evaporate and result in a thicker consistency in the lotion over time doing this.

[@TrippyKenpachi]

Your name and advice match so well… also, thanks for the great advice.

[@Delicate_Disaster]

I still don't understand why they haven't made improvements to the shoes or even just make them in a matte version or skin tones. Its ridiculous

[@victoriagreen4433]

I just don’t understand how in 2024 there’s so many problems with these shoes. I’m not a dancer, but I know enough to know that we have the technology to make the shoe a lot better than it is.😂

[@christinawilliams6989]

Now why would a show company want a shoe to last more than 15 hours?

[@theposhmaniac5169]

It's possible to make the Calamine lotion stronger for both shoe treatment as well as medicinal use. Don't shake it up at first. Pour off a lot of the clear liquid in bottle. Then shake well and use. It will be stronger and thicker.

[@julijepp]

And less damaging to the shoe lifespan theoretically! How wonderful, thanks for the tip

[@katsunee8254]

I think it's terrible how little advancement has been made in pointe shoes. 15 hour only?? That's ridiculously low. Figure skates have advanced and they can even last years, figure skaters also have very specific needs but it works. Why not try to make more ecological pointe shoes?

[@lily-annmurfin1842]

The thing that wears down the fastest is the toe box at the end. It’s made of silk like the rest of the shoe and putting silk directly on the floor wears it down incredibly quickly. As to more ecological, i don’t think there’s much to be done, you need the fabric and the smoothness of the silk to effectively dance. Also when point shoes are worn down, they’re sent back to the manufacturer to be repaired not thrown away. Hope this helps!

[@nemzie]

There are shoes that don't die as fast - Gaynor Mindens use plastic to last longer. But they don't work for everyone's feet.

[@etvernalwallflower]

It varies depending on what level you are. Beginners pointe shoes can last up to a year, it's only professionals with their company providing the shoes that last for 15 hours

[@ana.medina]

i mean to be fair figure skates are a lot different, the skate itself wears fine but the blade you have to sharpen pretty often. back when i did figure skating, i would usually sharpen my skates every 25-30 hours so the wear is only a bit better, the difference is we don’t have to replace the whole skate thankfully

[@sarajanewebster5321]

There’s a new brand out that makes modular point shoes so that the pieces that wear can be replace independently (box, cover, etc). They’re new as of this year I think so the dance community is still testing them.

[@larahollowood7243]

Seems like the fabric of the point shoe should be reversed when it’s being made that will give it a Matt look. And they should also be able to obtain a fabric that is closer to the colour of the tights by now.

[@raed3240]

Very few companies even produce the shoes. It's not practical for them to have a ton of variants...."pancake" or painting shoes is super common for ballerinas

[@nataliecauchi8513]

Every time I see any videos about point shoes (i’m not a dancer but my feed is FULL) I feel like some company should make broken in shoes that aren’t shiny and have better padding in them so you can just buy the shoe and dance away😂😂

[@dancerdog508]

Everyone needs their shoes broken in differently so that wouldn't be possible. Also for professionals once shoes are broken in they only last a few hours. The amount of padding dancers use is also highly dependent on the individuals anatomy and preferences and the style of pointe they are doing. Pancaking your own shoes (making then matte) allows you to adjust the color that you use to better match the color of your skin with tights on. This is especially important for dancers of color where the traditional ballet pink color doesn't work. Basically it comes down to the fact that each dance is very different and by doing those things you would need to make many many more styles and sizes of pointe shoes and even then people would still have to adjust their shoes to make them work

[@kaisla_onerva]

We want to break them in ourselves because every dancers feet are different. If i want modified shoes without breaking them in after bying, i can buy custom shoes

[@Luck613]

I feel like a fine mist spray paint would do the job and be less watery. Like those makeup spray gun thingies

[@Queenofdacastle]

An airbrush is what you might be thinking about.

[@tkoart7562]

15 hours is crazy

[@motley100]

Oh, ma gerd! God bless toy ladies! I could never, ever hope to come to the level of personal pride that you dancers have to know end.pp

[@kayliedavis9974]

Do the point dance with paint with blind folded to see how it looks

[@etvernalwallflower]

It's hard to dance while blindfolded because you need balance and orientation

[@rmk6693]

The crazy number of things you need to do to a ballet shoe is mind- blowing!

[@minadraculea2]

A Goth ballerina. Will wonders never cease.

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

We used to get the matte effect, and also extend the life of our shoes, by applying glue. Elmer's glue + water + calamine lotion = matte, reinforced shoes.

[@autumnsklein]

I am intrigued. How did you apply it? A layer of glue, then water? What was the water for? To dilute the glue? Please explain. I want to try it!

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

@@autumnsklein when pointe shoes were traditionally made (no clue about now, I haven't danced professionally since 1989), the satin was sewn and the box was layers of satin and glue. Shanks were sometimes metal reinforced (thin layer, between layers of leather typically). By reapplying glue thinned with water, and the calamine lotion to keep from getting shiny, we kept reinforcing the box and the seams of the shoes. They lasted longer. It also made it easier to get shoes better formed to our feet. Freeds already had traces of our feet, and we stepped on the paper with wet feet to get a perfect imprint of our arches, the ball of the foot, and toe pressure. Taking care of our shoes, alternating between enough pairs for them to fully dry between uses, and following my Vagonava training (plus company insisting on regular masseuse work) and I still haven't needed any surgeries on my feet. I did have a dancing accident that resulted in my ACL being replaced by a silicone "rubber band", but that was due to a faulty stage brace. Calamine lotion, and using tea (as the water thinning the Elmer's glue) to make tights and shoes match skin color, and never having fewer than 3 pairs of pointe shoes were tricks of the trade my mom taught us baby bals in the 70s... Way easier to get a properly fitted, and custom made shoe damp with thinned glue to form fit it to the individual foot. Easier to break in when they are damp, too.

[@cheyennestatzer7346]

Can you show us how you customize your pointe shoes???

[@helena4652]

So... why not make a matte point shoe?

[@carlakennedy]

Does this method work for ballerinas with darker skin tones? They have different color shoes.

[@autumnsklein]

It depends on the company and production. Some companies have every dancer wear pink tights in which case they would all calamine their pink shoes to match the pink tights. Many dancers with darker skin tones don’t order or don’t have an option for skin toned shoes so it is exactly the same as what I showed. If it’s a company or production that has dancers wear close to skin tone tights, then the dancers will make their shoes look close to their tight’s color. You can look up famous dancers for examples. Misty Copeland normally wore pink tights and shoes for classical roles at ABT while Lauren Anderson, Houston Ballet star in the 90’s-2000’s, did not.

[@sellyourhomenowbook]

I like the shiny!

[@lindabrown8681]

I noticed a lot of videos call out these shoe companies for the extremes you have to go through over a pair of shoes.

[@kmb655]

I’ve seen so many of these videos where they apply foundation or calamine lotion or paint or whatever else they’re using to change the color… And none of them use paintbrushes. it just seems like it would be so much easier to get uniform coverage, and less mess.

[@dancerdog508]

The paint brushes actually give you more streaking. A cloth or sponge works best and absorbs some of the moisture which is better for the shoes

[@kmb655]

@@dancerdog508 I learned something new today🖌️🙂

[@daishamaxwell461]

I could always tell when ppl had on point shoes it really does blend like they say it does

[@Ryryshell]

Is it me or has anyone ever thought about putting anti-perspirant on their feet?

[@dancerdog508]

It's not recommended to do that as it messes with your body’s temperature regulation. It also wouldn't work 100%

[@laceybierman2193]

We do the same thing to matte our ballet shoes too 😅

[@Silver-SableSeer]

I’m not a ballerina or any sort of dancer, so when you started referring to “companies” at the beginning of the video, I assumed you were talking about companies that make point shoes. It wasn’t till the end of the video that I realised you meant ballet companies. Had to rewatch once it made sense.

[@autumnsklein]

Ahh that’s useful feedback. We would always mean a professional company when we say “company.” For a pointe shoe maker normally we would call them brands

[@Marmar.21]

I know this is out of pocket but can you point paint swan lake please?!?

[@autumnsklein]

I did a swan lake piece already! It’s titled “challenge: 30s Swan Lake painting with Tiler Peck”

[@Marmar.21]

@@autumnsklein thank you!!!

[@MoniqueHolmes]

Wondering what the ballerinas of color use.

[@strawberrychampagne8250]

Wonder if you could dehydrate calamine to get it thicker and put less water into your shoes

[@mandeemorris2835]

Matt pigment powder???

[@dancerdog508]

It wouldn't stick to the satin and it would just rub off. Things like calamine lotion and foundation are the best way to go and then you can put powder on top if using foundation to help mattify it and reduce the amount of moisture

[@wordswritteninred7171]

You would think the manufacturers would know this, and make more desired shoes. Seems like a niche someone could take advantage of

[@juliachrobok3734]

Why don’t they just simply SOLVE ALL THE ISSUES WITH THESE SHOES!!!???!!!! I’ve seem so so so mamy people needing to do something to these shoes to make them ok dor tjwm even tho they are expensive. The companies should just simply FIX IT ALL

[@Linda-qp9kp]

Couldn't you spray them with some sort of matte finish sealer?

[@RebeccaGogovcev]

Why don't they just use matt satin?

[@user-sf6ig7fs8f]

Companies seem to have really ineffectual ways to change shoe colour. Pancaking with foundation is silly as it is. Like in a pinch, ok! But what the actual heck is up with such inept costume departments?

[@nancytowers4094]

How can it be thick and watery at the same time????

[@Bongi344]

wait...so it just make sense to make a darker pointe shoes and leo for darker fellas 😊 for extension

[@justjaguar2314]

I never understood why the companies don't just make them more like to how yall modify them-

[@lilyrose1581]

Well, if the practice demands non-shiny shoes, shouldn't the suppliers just make it matte instead of having to waste time and resources?

[@tommitchener4693]

How many pair of point shoes due you purchase a year?🎉🎉🎉

[@dancerdog508]

It depends on the individual, their level of training, how often they are dancing, and the pointe shoe they wear. For example beginners and those who don't dance in companies (aka they only dance 1-2 times a week versus 5-7) usually only use 1-2 pairs a year but professionals can go though 1 a day or more during performances. Traditional pointe shoes usually break down faster but they come in different harnesses (a harder shoe lasts longer but can be harder to dance in). There are plastic shoes like Gaynor Minden's which last longer but they don't fit a lot of dancers properly

[@ashleymorgan219]

I just looked at the cost of them. for how often you go through them, how tf can you guys afford them??????

[@MD-wi3ed]

I see no point in having to always modify these shoes. I see countless videos on all the alterations that Dancers have to do and for them to last 15 hours?! I don’t even want to know how expensive this must be. 😓

[@genshinandboba]

I accidentally drew on my pointe shoes with pen what should I do

[@dawnhanson2023]

I'm waiting for some ballerinas to create pointe shoes that y'all don't have to go through all this for that actually last

[@wizziboo]

What about those of us that aren’t calamine lotion colored

[@damianlopez7630]

Shiny is Much Better!!! 😍❤💋

[@MimiDidi121]

Very thick and very watery? Is it just me or does that sound contradictory?

[@drew6846]

Wait - did she say 15 hrs? They have to break in that many shoes?

[@cacia247]

Has anyone ever tried starching their point shoes?

[@salmahernandez3142]

This is quite an expensive activity to partake. If she's saying that they normally lasts about 15 hours and a quick Google search currently says an average each pair cost $90 at this point in my life I can say I will sadly have to say no and I am my children I have been in ballet although for me I would love them to be in

[@autumnsklein]

Students’ shoes last a lot longer since they are wearing them for a relatively short time each session. They also can wear shoes that are harder and less flattering. They can even get plastic shoes that last a long time, but are unflattering on a majority of dancer’s feet. Professional dancers obviously need to have the best possible shoes at all times, but students don’t. Plus pros get their shoes provided by their company. Sadly, $90 is an inexpensive pair. Mine are $120 each and that’s not at all unusual

[@EsilAydin]

Mine last wayy longer then 15 hours

[@greenbeantm1096]

You’re probably dancing in them a lot less too

[@dancerdog508]

Professionals usually dance for hours on end which causes a lot of sweat build up and not a lot of time for drying out. Those who don't dance in companies usually only dance an hour or two at a time and usually it's only a few times a week at most. That allows the shoes time to dry out. Also it depends on the strength of your feet and the type of shoes you wear. For example I danced at a local studio and did pointe for 1 hour a week during the school year. I went through 3 pairs total in my 3 years of pointe but I definitely wore my shoes when they were dead because I couldn't afford another pair

[@tammykelsey7877]

Why don’t they just make them like that in the first place?

[@autumnsklein]

Because we don’t always need them that way. They are modular so we can adapt them to what we need them to look like for a role

[@idalikesbackpacking]

I’m allergic to calimine lotion

[@megiab]

maybe talk to a prosthetic company about getting into the ballet business. 15 hours of use is pretty ridiculous

[@levt7651]

They only last 15 hours????? Did I hear that right?? Sheesh! I hope dancers get a volume discount!

[@rubykennedymedia]

How do you afford to replace them so often. Thats insane

[@autumnsklein]

Ballet companies give their professional dancers shoes. It’s essentially part of our salary

[@rubykennedymedia]

@@autumnsklein thank goodness I was like ..... 🤑😭

[@dancerdog508]

People in companies usually get free shoes but those who aren't in companies usually don't dance as often and go through a lot less shoes. For example dancers at the studio I went to only do pointe once a week for around an hour and usually dancers only go through 1 to 2 pairs a year

[@rubykennedymedia]

@dancerdog508 ok I see. I have no idea how any of it works. But it's beautiful to watch and I appreciate being able to see some of what dancer go through for their craft.

[@glitterarmy89]

Why aren't there companies making point shoes matte or black and all the other things that you need so you just catered to it seems odd to me

[@ShipCreek]

Im surprised they arent made of leather.

[@responsecomment3506]

But my leg is not the color of calamine lotion.

[@autumnsklein]

Calamine is to make the shoes match pink tights. It’s not supposed to match your skin but the tights

[@heladamama92]

It's sad to not see a brown shoe.

[@autumnsklein]

I’m not brown, so that would be inappropriate. The flesh toned one is based off of the dancer’s own foundation. If the dancer were brown, their shoe would be brown

[@debracurry612]

15 hours? How can you afford that?

[@Homemade-in-4-Generations]

Leather point shoes are a thing

[@autumnsklein]

There may be an obscure company that makes pointe shoes in unique materials, but I’ve never seen or heard of a brand doing that! I’d love to grab a pair if you know of a brand that does offer leather pointe shoes? Leather ballet shoes, or flat shoes, are pretty common for students, but professionals almost exclusively wear canvas ballet shoes

[@Homemade-in-4-Generations]

@@autumnsklein only place I ever got them was handmade in portugal near Lisbon

[@marikiemarie7622]

Ok. Why not make them not shinny. Lol or use fabric paints that can be customized

[@MommaARA]

So all this advancement in materials and we still have dancers using shoes that wear out in 15 hours and cause more waste? You would think a shoe company would want cutting edge twch to protect dancers feet, make a shoe that lasts and atands up to the punishment, and is not shiny. Like why aren't retired dancers on the design boards of these companies working to get a better product out there that can at least reduce the waste and wear.

[@Padraigp]

Why not just get canvas shoes.

[@Danceswithfishes]

So you buy beautiful shoes and have to damage them😢

[@shelleynobleart]

Why doesn't someone make a customizable shank insert to allow broken pointe shoes to still support the foot? Such horrendous wastefullness to make shoes that have to be thrown out for every dancer every day.

[@BrianaGoff7713]

So they come shiny so that you can make them not shiny and not last as long….sounds like a trap 🪤

[@leo-gg8dt]

So ballet shoes are expensive but they want your shoes to look old 😮

[@ItsSoloK]

Imagine what black ballerinas deal with…

[@ritanicole9142]

It just seems like you should be able to buy ballet shoes to match your needs and you can’t!! You have to go through so much to get these shoes to work for you. I don’t understand.

[@dear.ambelina]

So much money on these and all you get is 15 hours??? Wtf.. no wonder only rich people can do ballet.

[@allergicTOsunhats]

I swear to the sweet Lord in heaven, point shoes are a scam. They have to be. You cannot be selling them for the same price as a steel toed work boot, and then accept that it will last you less than a week. There has got to be a better way that they are refusing to figure out because its more lucrative to abuse ballerinas.

[@charlottejones8903]

No thx

[@GatchaDollBox]

Why does every ballerina short I watch look like some form of psychological torture...

[@JosephRobert82]

15hrs?! Learn something new erday.

[@joycemansfield1108]

Its funny how all pointe dancers must be pink?

[@missygonzales4790]

this is not necessary. they can be made in matte fabric, they can also be make to last. no way any shoe is only lasting hours. you dance girls are always so dramatic

[@greenbeantm1096]

Nice sexism you got there. They die so quickly because of how much she’s using them, most regular students will be in the same pair for several months to a year. The brand also matters, as while as the hardness of the shoe. Yes they could be made matte but they aren’t and that’s not on her or any other dancer, it’s on the company’s

[@autumnsklein]

You can google it. I personally go through 2-3 pairs a week for rehearsal alone even with things like jet glue and shoe rotation. I’m in no way unique. Students can make their shoes last for months because they can let them full dry out after each 1-2 hours use. Pros can’t really do that. We will dance 6+ hours a day in them and often only be able to switch pairs at lunch time and then we put them on again the next day so they don’t fully dry. There is a reason mid sized ballet companies give their dancers 2+pairs of shoes a week… trust me they wish it wasn’t true too! And the calamine depends on the company. My recent company makes us calamine for every performance, but my previous company only did for specific ballets. It’s very common in general

[@Miss_obssessed.with.ur.ex.]

How do you tell if your pointe shoe is dead?

[@picklejuice2]

the box gets really soft and no longer holds you up in a stable way.

[@etvernalwallflower]

Pointe shoes can die in the shank or the box, if you start seeing your arch when you point then the shank is dead, if you feel sinking or the box feels soft then the box is dead

[@dancerdog508]

If you can fold your shoes in hand or press your thumb into the box then it's probably not safe to dance on. You start feeling a little unstable and like you're not being held up in the same way as they start to due. It can also be harder to get up and stay up on your box as it gets soft

[@shelleynobleart]

Why doesn't someone make a customizable shank insert to allow broken pointe shoes to still support the foot? Such horrendous wastefullness to make shoes that have to be thrown out for every dancer every day.