Pointe Shoe Fitting for Compressive Feet

[@user-yg2ed2jt9d]

I'd love to see a longer video where we get to see the whole processes that you go through to fit a person with their shoes, from the initial assessment to the final shoes (and all the shoes in between). So it would kind of be like us being at their shoe fitting.

[@ella2879]

That actually is how long the fittings are lol. It's my third time being fitted there and they literally take like 15 minutes for your first shoe and 5 for any other fittings after that

[@victoriachen6879]

@@ella2879 this is true! she works really quickly - and super accurate too!

[@mimiduquette8786]

I had alot of big toe pain when I was en pointe, I always only used the same poorly fitted shoes, even though I tried to make them work!!! No matter how much lambs wool I used, I still suffered alot of big toe pain, and couldn't get over my boxes!

[@MariaNtalla]

How amazing is the "TURNOUT" sign on the wall? LOL! 👀

[@Whiskyunicorn]

I WISH I could get fitted by you. I just got back into ballet/pointe and I know my 7 year old pointe shoes are totally wrong, so I'm just taking notes on what I need from your videos. Shorter vamp, 3/4 shank, narrower fit and high wings, etc. I need to just bite the bullet and get new shoes, lol

[@GalaxyRangerNiko]

Your feet will thank you for it. It will make getting over on pointe a lot easier in the long run.

[@decodolly1535]

Pre-video advert was for The Royal Ballet :-) Only appropriately related YT advert I have ever seen.

[@violettas.5402]

I'm on pointe for a year now.I have really compressive tapered feet,medium/large toes,really narrow heels,bunions.My feet seem kind of wide on flat but then when I get up on pointe I sink SO much.It seems that my joints are so soft that my second fitter squeezed my feet with her hand and she could close her hand around my metatarsal!My first pointe shoes fitter obviously was not a professional and she just gave me the first pointe that seemed that matched my street shoe size!So my first pointe shoes were Bloch balance European XX strong!Guess what!This model is made for wider and more squared feet,they were gapping on my heels like CRAZY and they never broke in correctly no matter how much I tried.And of course I was sinking a lot and felt much pain in my big toe,and also the sank was twisting outwards.Generally there was nothing right with those shoes.I have sort of strong feet and my arches were somewhat flexible,for a beginner,so it wasn't my feets problem.Then I went to a professional fitter and then I understood what 'pointe' actually ment.I was impressed by the details she was paying attention to.We tried at least 10 models,and now I'm in my Grishko Vaganovas(she said that I'm one of the really few people that fit in this rare model),1/2 size down from my street size,Xxx width and medium shank(im back from a serious injury).They feel amazing and they look so beautiful.narrow,tapered box,no gapping at all.they molded in my feet nicely,and they support my arches correctly!At last I can do pointe the correct way!I can't tell if this is the dreamy,ideal shoe of my whole life (they are just my 2nd pair),but the professional fitting really made the difference!! P.s excuse any language mistakes

[@shamrockgirl6595]

Constantly amazed by the difference in pointe shoes. To my untrained eye they all look alike. Had no idea so much went into them.

[@Agnes_B96]

Thanks! That's what I was waiting for :D I have such compressible feet that my feet is one whole width narrower when I'm on pointe. My fitters freak out all the time when they see it... also my feet is pretty shallow when I'm on flat, but because of the compressibility my feet become much thicker when I'm pointing my foot, so my profile totally changes too...difficult fit

[@juliafelicione2667]

THIS! I couldn't get over the first pair i was fitted in because the profile was so low (though it was the correct profile on flat) - my shoes now look like i swim in them on flat (okay not that bad) and on pointe it's like voom. perf.

[@Leila-iy6sc]

I really want to get fitted by you, so I’m making plans to come to The Pointe Shop from Italy, and I hope I will be able to do it soon

[@heyryanisonx3141]

I think she also does virtual fittings

[@patriciacouto5956]

OMG my foot are exactly the same!! It's so hard to find a good pointe shoe... I have tried those more tapered shoes with smaller platforms but I didn't like at all, they made me wobbling all the time. Still looking for something that fits my foot...

[@andreawallenberger2668]

TY from all #compressivefeet. :)

[@ashlynhatch3989]

My fitter gave me a toe cap for the pressure on my big toe, but it just made it put a ton more pressure on it so that it went numb and I couldn't feel my toes. I cut just the end off and use that and it's pretty good now but I wonder if my shoes are a bit too wide

[@kim-anhnguyen7063]

YES i’ve been waiting for this video since i have compressive feet. great video :)

[@freespirit5662]

And I realise now I have been wrongly fitted when I used to dance ballet, and started on pointes my feet were sinking. Bruises, blood and pain for toes. Would like to give it another try with someone like you.

[@Ivyhillfarmllc]

Josephine is the best!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@mariannelafrance5079]

I started pointe shoe with Bloch Balance Lisse 6 XXXX and realized I was sliding down the shoe a lot. My fitter switched me to Balance Lisse 6 XX and it was great for 2 weeks! Now I have a lot of big toe pain again, and I can feel my feet sliding down the shoes and have to pull them out a little at the barre. I'm starting to think it might not be tapered enough with what you said? Let's see what my fitter says!

[@artboxfashion4042]

I wish I had been fit properly when I danced! I have feet like that and tried every shoe in the store before settling for the same Capezio Contemporas I was fit in at 12. However those were twisting and not supportive enough, I got tendon pain. Then I tried Almaz and while they were beautiful my big toe crunched the end and hurt. Finally I found Grishko 2007s and those fit much better but they are rather soft. I quit dancing, due to hip arthritis but never found a pointe shoe that fit, and recently discovered I wear two different sizes...likely need two different styles because of an old skateboard injury on my left foot.

[@isabelaxavier669]

My feet are large and strong so i use a shoe that matches, but it’s not really pretty outhought i love the way they fell, i tried other ones but nothing compares

[@TheGwennyGreen]

Super helpful video! Thanks 😍❤️

[@jayne5063]

Any money saving tips for growing dancers?

[@thetoughgetglowing]

What should you do if you have compressive feet and having a shoe that fits whilst you're on pointe is too narrow when you're flat to the point that it causes pain and cramping under the ball of the foot?

[@naturebound2901]

I'm an older adult (52) but have been doing pointe work off and on for the last six years and many years ago did four years pointe work as a teen. I still have not found my perfect shoe. I have very wide feet at metatarsal but they taper severely in toe (Egyptian) and my feet compress when pointed. I have very high arches. I need a narrow toe area but wide at metatarsal and it is downright HARD to find this type of shoe. I have had some success with Nikolay 2007 and 3007 which have a smaller toe area but come in wide width option in metatarsal. I also now have Gaynor Mindens with 3 box but wide metatarsal area. They are super low profile though and tight on my feet, but both these style pointe shoes completely took away the big toe pain and lift me up more in the box while I can still feel the floor. I go over too far in the Nikolays though, and I can not wear any padding in the Gaynors except small amount of lambs wool around toes for friction protection as even the GM sock liner makes these too tight. I was in Russian Pointe Almaz for a while but I had constant big toe pain and had to wear a big toe cap. Every time I would go to a fitter they would throw the widest possible shoes at me which would not work. Its because my feet compress and toes are crazy small on pointe. I've done tricks like adding lambs wool to the space where my little toes would be if my foot filled the shoe, or GM instant wings, or the toe caps. All those cause other problems though. Going any narrower than widest width in metatarsal has never worked for me. The key is in the toe box area for me. And getting the profile height correct!

[@alylilly36]

Please do a video on moldable toe pads.

[@CatsInHats-S.CrouchingTiger]

What is the brand & name of these pointe shoes Elena is going into?

[@i4getit777]

I have wide feet and they compress wto really narrow feet and it took me for ever to find an ok shoe I wore SoDanca Claudia’s for 3 years but they stoped working with my feet so I’m trying blotch eurostretch what’s your opinion on a wide foot that sinks into shoes

[@rainataylor5805]

I just started pointe a week ago and i have really bad pain in two spots. One is on my big toe knuckle, off to the outer edge on the top. Almost as if my toe should be curving down by then. And the other place is the top knuckle of my 2nd toe, which I think is from my spacer. But I need the spacers for balance and to close the gap between my toes. Oh wait, also a 3rd problem haha is that all of my weight is on my big toe to the point where they are numb and flat after less than an hour, not all of that time is even on pointe. I don't know what is normal and what isn't. Any help would be appreciated.

[@matherprice]

Raina Taylor I have some of these problems as well so I would love to see what she says!

[@Saneya07]

I’d love to see a review of Bloch Grace

[@madijoy8217]

can you do a video on darning a pointe shoe?

[@cheezandbees6934]

Those look really good! Love seeing your work!

[@princessroxyvincenzo5602]

I like these ballet shoes.

[@kristenday3183]

can you do a how to fit for pressure on the second toe?

[@Onyxxyz]

Kristen Day we have the same last name lol

[@RainforestReader]

Have you ever gone to Alaska to do fittings?

[@Lowdermoomoo]

So, I have strong flexible compressive feet, medium high arches and disgustingly strong and flexible ankles, and a disappearing heel, I did European balance in 5 1/2 XXX For 3 pairs then 5 1/2 XX with a harder shank since my shoes not weren’t lasting past 2 classes, but the harder the shank the more I would kinda just slip into the box but since my teacher noticed I was killing them FAST because my feet were both flexible and strong. We tried Russian Rubins and I broke the strongest shank available at the time in half... and I was able to just pull out the entire shank, I couldn’t get over until they would basically snap, Then I did 2 more pairs 5 1/2 XX of european balance with a regular shank in again they were getting closer since I like the narrower box, I actually still have those when I just wanna mess around and be comfortable. Or I wear the deader pair for pictures but notice the vamp and wings were WAAAY low, so I bought some axioms and some elegance and I realized Bloch sizing is ALL over the place, I did 5 1/2 XX in elegance and the shank is pretty strong but the box is actually so rock solid it’s kinda painful to even go through Demi, but I love the stretch satin and elastic drawstring, which brought me to my next frankenstein project, I got some Axioms i a 5 XXX because the run smaller, they ended up running huge like I should’ve ordered a 4 XX Box is okay but I’m double padding to fill in, had to sew elastics on the back all the way down the heel seam, criss cross and sew the elastics along the side seam at an angle with some elastic ribbon, the cris cross elastics are hidden behind the ribbon do they look GOOD and easy to get over but still too freaking big baggy everywhere especially the cotton drawstring I don’t know what do to next honestly. Like lol help

[@PeppermintEel]

#octopusfootsquad ✌️ 🐙 🦶

[@imanitaha6716]

Hi I’m really early 💎❤️🤗

[@loripeixoto1916]

I’ve got a girl who’s been successful in a Suffolk Stellar 3.5 XXXN, but this past year, it’s causing ++pain on the back of her heel. Her feet haven’t grown, but are changing. She tried half a size longer - 4 XXXN - but felt like she was sinking a bit. Does it make sense to try a more narrow shoe in the longer length - 4 XX?

[@llamalover02]

BLESS YOU GUYS HOLY MOLEY.

[@AliceGransden]

How do I decide how compressive my feet are?

[@pineapplekelsey5951]

Alice S take your thumb and pointer finger and like pinch the toes/lower part of your foot and if it gets really narrow and like it's very squishy, you'd have compressible feet. Also if you have long toes your feet are more likely to be compressible because your toes can move around and get squished into a smaller place easier. So basically if you can even put your hand around your foot knuckle and toes and squeeze, if it's really squishy and moves/changes shape to be much smaller then you have really compressible feet

[@CatsInHats-S.CrouchingTiger]

If your foot shrinks a lot when you go up on point and you have a baggy heel. But compressive feet need the space so you can’t squish them into a point shoe because then you won’t be able to move which is the whole point of dance! When you go into releve, the muscles in your legs tighten and then in your feet contract, but you need the space as you jump into positions. Pretty much like little frogs.

[@lilacepotterisonfire9212]

i have the same problem i wish i could find out what shoe this is. i just started pointe work over the summer and have gone through three shoes two which didn’t work and the one shoe that works is out of stock 🤦‍♀️

[@zarakumar2979]

She doesn't say which shoe she uses for each problem because she doesn't want anyone to think that they have that exact problem and go out and get them. They are expensive and if you don't get the right shoe that can led to injury and it would also be a waste of money. Although you may have that same problem, you don't have the same feet. Every foot is different.

[@lilacepotterisonfire9212]

Zara Kumar while that is true and probably would happen. the only reason why i personally want to know what shoe it is, is so i can ask the pointe shoe fitter at my local dance store if that shoe or a similar shoe would work for my feet

[@smiley_shylee]

How would you help someone who feet ate two complete different sizes? You know asking for a friend... (just kidding it's me)

[@esteeeela]

I've considered buying two pairs many times 😂

[@rebecca1739]

just buy 2 pairs you can use all 4 shoes since theres no right or left, or you can use different padding/drawstring tightness on both feet?

[@CrazyKungfuGirl]

This sounds an awful lot like what happens to my feet. When I go up my whole foot seems to fold in upon itself and even tuck under if the box has gotten to wide. Unfortunately I have wide short deeply tapered feet and according to my fitter there is only one shoe in the shop that will fit but it doesn't hold me up for more than a few classes. Thinking of buying a moldable insert to deal with the excess space inside the box. Do you think that will solve it?

[@rebecca1739]

maybe. try a different fitter with a better selection

[@JGreen-le8xx]

Josephine❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😄

[@chloe-zv2nu]

i got my pointe shoes last week, i can barley walk in them. is that bad??

[@marynazario174]

pointe shoes are for dancing. ..not for walking

[@violettas.5402]

What model are those?

[@jocey8770]

Josephine doesn't say because she doesn't want people to not go to a fitter

[@CatsInHats-S.CrouchingTiger]

@@jocey8770 - but even if a person goes to a fitter, not all fitters do a good job because they only are able to give you shoes that are within their available stock instead of ordering you point shoes that could be just right. Also, as a consumer, it would be nice to walk into a store and have some knowledge which helps them find a shoe. Everywhere at the moment, they only seem to be pushing Gaynors, and I’m not interested in that box shape for my paws. 🐾 (Probably has to do with they’re the most expensive in the market & helps keep stock turnover low, since they are said to last longer). ☹️ Grishko’s last long. They’re like cement 😝 but once you get used to it, nothing compares to the torture and pleasure of seeing results. 🤪 I would love to know who makes a narrow long box that supports octopus feet. Merlet is doing so well in that area.

[@lilibetp]

I'd like to see closeups of their feet, if they're willing.

[@msterif]

Elizabeth Phillips I have a few photos, happy to share.

[@leeza623]

Love you #notificationsqaud

[@jakryk]

How did they not notice that person in the mirror on the left side? Nobody thought to ask this person if they wouldn't mind moving ?

[@katnightingale9707]

jakryk that’s the person filming

[@jakryk]

@@katnightingale9707No, the video is shot straight on and the person on the left would be getting an angled shot. When they do the close-up of the girl's shoes you can see part of the tripod that was holding the camera doing the filming. Also, they move their phone during the video but the perspective of the video doesn't change.

[@jakryk]

@@katnightingale9707 No, the person is off to the left but the video is filmed straight-on. If you look during the close-up of the girl's shoes you can see the leg of the tripod holding the camera in the mirror. Also the person on the left moves their phone but the framing of the video doesn't change.

[@msterif]

Mia culpa...that was me. I didn’t realize I was in the frame. I was filming a different angle and close ups if Josephine or others wanted to see. So sorry 🙄

[@imanitaha6716]

Guys don’t get pointe shoes just because you want them unless a dance teacher has said you can have them you can really damage ur self if your not trained 💎🤗

[@jemmaorange953]

6 comment

[@isabelaxavier669]

My feet are large and strong so i use a shoe that matches, but it’s not really pretty outhought i love the way they fell, i tried other ones but nothing compares