Pointe Shoe Hacks: Skylar Brandt

American Ballet Theatre Soloist, Skylar Brandt is not picky with her pointe shoes. But she makes a couple quick customs to elongate her feet and show off her arch.
Request a Studio Fitting:
[e-mail]
Check our Tour Dates:
thepointeshop.com/pages/upcom...
Book an Appointment:
Southern California: thepointeshop.com/pages/orang...
Northern California: thepointeshop.com/pages/oakla...
Follow us:
Website: thepointeshop.com
Facebook: / thepointeshop
Instagram: / thepointeshop

[@metcalffamilytv978]

It would be so nice if we got to see the dancer wearing the shoe and dancing a bit at the end.

[@ThePointeShop]

That's a good idea. Will do next time :)

[@rach3lla]

Yes please!

[@sebeckley]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iILNf62patqEbc0

[@ToriAnneNH]

@@ThePointeShop Agreed! Yes please. Would love to see them en pointe!

[@ameliagl04]

Ooo yesss

[@hay_bail1]

Her shoes never die because there is no shank to kill😂

[@makaylaandrosie6509]

Haley A 😂😂 true

[@cuhlayer]

yeah but it’s not only the shank that dies it’s the box that dies too.

[@eliseberney4001]

Hahaha jokes only dancers get

[@aimdunk6435]

pufer duker fiss yeah but you can still dance when the box dies when the shank dies it's super hard

[@omomolol9636]

@aimdunk Thats interesting... Im not a Balletdancer but i consume so much balettcontent. I assumed that you go through the box, so thats what i thougt was the reason to change the shoe. I mean... Doesnt the box get most stress, as it supports your foot and carries your wheight, also doesnt it get the most impact from dancing on it? Why is the shank so important?

[@sofiaperez8577]

Am I the only one who like watching point shoes videos even tho I’m not even a dancer, just me ok 👁👄👁🧍‍♀️

[@FemmeLaV]

Same, love it and not a dancer. Just an enthusiast.

[@g4gillie393]

Very relatable

[@elineo.6263]

I am a dancer but not at ballerina 🩰

[@marandakeck9868]

@@FemmeLaV same here!

[@comic_life_86]

Not the only one, dont worry

[@ywcaman]

Hi I'm a dad of a ballerina. For about 13 years I've been pulling apart the sole removing the tack and then cutting just the hard instep about that much, then my daughter uses gorilla tape to hold down the material of the sole. I've kept the collection of tacks for the past few years.

[@ThePointeShop]

Not all heroes wear capes...

[@stephanieswithers3160]

👏🏻👏🏻 world’s best dad right here

[@akudumb3021]

ywcaman That’s…beautiful…not all heros wear capes…

[@CS-yr5jr]

ywcaman what a wonderful story. Good man 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@amanda.._..]

You should teach your daughter how to do it so she can do it by herself one day!

[@BoglimWrangler666]

finally a pro without insanely muscular archy shoe killing feet lol.. that's me as well, like i have a flexible arch but i don't kill shoes very fast at all

[@paulahills9546]

Anyone else wants to see her up en pointe in the hacked (wrecked!) shoes? I want to see where her arch is as I've never seen a shank broken down so far. When she says she 3/4s her shank, she virtually takes out 3/4 and leaves a 1/4! When normally people take out a 1/4! :)

[@mackrich79]

Paula Hills I found this video. Forward to about 6 minutes and you can see her dance pointe. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iILNf62patqEbc0

[@andreawallenberger2668]

@@mackrich79 thank you so much! Wow, what an Athlete+Artist she is!!!

[@shamrockgirl6595]

@@mackrich79 thank you

[@sewitseams5632]

@Paula Hills I follow her Instagram account and you can see how lovely she dances with her cut shank. She posts videos frequently of rehearsals. Other pro dancers cut 1/2 off too, especially in S. Korea.

[@FitChickGlows]

Yes, I really wanted to see her arch in the shoe also. I wish they had gone further with this demonstration. Thank you so much Mackrich79 for giving us the link to Skyler’s amazing solo! 🙌🩰🤗

[@CatsEyeBeauty]

I was fortunate to have cusom made pointe shoes by Capezio. They were extremely flattering on my feet and lasted longer than the average pair of pointe shoes. Capezio is underrated, for sure. ❤❤❤

[@pineapplekelsey5951]

I really wanted to see her foot standing on the shoe because she kept saying it wasn't flexible and I was curious what it looked like with half the shank gone

[@kathrynhart388]

I love this series! Not even a dancer, I'm just fascinated. Keep it up! I have plowed through almost every video you have.

[@jennapagnotti7822]

Same. I'm 35 and have not done any sort of ballet since I was four. LOL But, I just love watching it and it's so interesting to learn about the shoes, etc.

[@somehorse]

Same here. I have such huge respect. Ballet to me is perfecting the art of masking physical torture to look graceful and effortless. But there has to be something completely wonderful about it for them to choose to do this. Just the concept of going en pointe falls under insanity to me, but they do it AND make it look effortless. It's shock and awe.

[@LaylaSwin-hi8tz]

@@somehorse Behind every ballerinas dead expression is internal pain and suffering... especially when you’re performing a ballet for the 5th time in a week. It’s hard but 100% worth it.

[@Stiffdistantandweird]

I danced when I was younger man. I will always remember the first time I saw a ballerina hack into her brand new pointe shoes. I was horrified 🤣 Then my teacher wanted to improve my feet flexibility so I had do classes en pointe. I got it then! Btw I absolutely loved dancing in pointe shoes. It gives such a different perspective to the way you use the floor and how you move

[@KimberlyJohnson81]

This is almost exactly how I prep my shoes. When I was working with a private teacher they recommended half shanking and it makes your shoes last WAY longer! Many pros prep their shoes in this manner. It basically takes all the extra pressure off other areas in the shoe allowing the shoe to “break” where it needs to. My arch also breaks low.

[@IAmDuck298]

I’ll take a lot of these tips! But I do have a verrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy veryyyy flexible foot

[@abih5882]

In this whole video Josephine just looked shocked/scared every time she did something to the shoe she 😂

[@viviangarcia2631]

Gosh, I've watched this vid several times and FINALLY I found someone with a foot similar to my own. I've been doing almost the same thing to my foot with my Suffolks and what a difference. It's true that your foot has to be really strong. Thanks Josephine!. Love Skylar too!

[@a.phillips6892]

I cut out half of mine too and tape over the rough part! I’m really surprised to find out she also does this too, minus the tape! Mine also last a long time!

[@smashedpancakes5able]

Please have them stand and go to point after these hack videos. I would love to see the difference.

[@sadiemacdonnell9134]

Capezio is an under appreciated queen

[@rileyrussak7469]

she is like one of the first dancers that doesnt kill her shoes super fast for me i go through so manyyy a month

[@AriRHen]

Skylar is my inspiration! I love that she posts her progress and the tips she gets on her instagram

[@isang1999]

I used to dance. I was also the dancer who's point shoe lasted a long time. I kept wearing the same type of shoe until I went off to college and quite dance.

[@kaykomckayface1097]

omg skylar!!!! Huge fan!! So glad you had her on your show! 😱😱💕💕💕🥰

[@JessieBanana]

I understand her. I don’t have very flexible feet either, with flat arches. My toes are actually quite short too, compared to the length of my feet. I actually had to start with a very flexible shank with quite a short/wide vamp. I just had to develop the strength because those are the shoes I needed.

[@scarlettarenbart5592]

ahh I love Skylar so fun to see her in this vid with you!!

[@adagiosucks548]

I’m totally binging these videos and they are so cool to watch and see what professionals do to their shoes!!

[@gwynithgourd]

I love your channel so much! All of your videos are so informative especially because I’m a beginner teen pointe student!!

[@amylovesmusic1718]

So humble and sweet. Fun interview!

[@rosijosisocool9121]

I can say she’s sooooooooo nice I had her in an online intensive and she’s and amazing teacher !!!!!

[@adiburgos4454]

I can’t stop watching! I got my shoes two days ago!

[@amelietheanomaly7]

Omg I just started watching this channel, and I am really loving this video, because I am just starting pointe!

[@marianne3024]

I just love Skylar Brandt. LOVE!!

[@ThatRomyKate]

I watch a lot of ballet videos and I still wince every time they hack apart a beautiful brand new pair of pointe shoes 😱😱😱

[@annaelsjoki4612]

They have to do that so the shoe moves better

[@charlottegobrrr]

I love watching these!

[@johndavis7875]

I understand 💯 and Respect! Feet strength is beautiful

[@sewitseams5632]

I love Skylar!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@robinborsos2368]

I really wish I’d known about the clear bandaid over the ribbon knot to keep them from coming undone. Mine never came undone, but I had a close call once and stayed paranoid ever after. And I danced in a small town and we didn’t have rosin to keep our heels from sliding or knots untying. We put small elastic loops on the back of our shoes and looped the ribbons through them often the first cross. Kept the heel in place.

[@copleykd]

I wear Cappezio Contempora and I do the exact same hacks that Skyler does to my Pointe Shoes.

[@danavazquez7423]

I love Skylar's IG videos os this is a great crossover!

[@thatlovelydancerIlao]

I like her pointe shoe. Shoes constantly come off my heel so this is a great customizable idea

[@missvee9024]

Love Skylar! 😍 however her shank cutting is terrifying 😂

[@emmycarswell1140]

She is like a dream dancer

[@ursulaking4411]

I hope ABT still pays for *some* shoes during off-season; you'd think they would want their dancers to practise!

[@annaelsjoki4612]

They don’t

[@MsPebbles2010]

Oh man I'm also super paranoid about my heel slipping off. lol Luckily it's never happened in a performance, but I've def had it happen in class.

[@caitelizabeth9475]

Question! What do you suggest for a wide foot with short toes that are still tapered or Egyptian? I know you have made videos about all the different aspects but what about a combination?

[@alliemae128]

In my studio we use hairspray to keep ribbons from flying around when we go on stage

[@haileykorver5391]

What if inside of a point shoe there was memory foam? Wouldn't that feel good 😂

[@katerinaliakou5549]

That would feel amazing but it will be impossible to stand on your tippy toes 😂

[@vincenzoarieggiato120]

Best KZbin video

[@brendaannedufaur6244]

Skylar is too precious

[@balletwithmaddy3012]

Omg I am a dancer and I love your channel so much

[@aydankhalafli]

Thanksss 🥰💕

[@natbug1865]

I go threw 2-3 pairs of pointe shoes a year I’m only 12 with a hour and a half class

[@emilybradshaw55]

It would be nice to see the shoes on after and what they think

[@Lee7699]

I used to cut out half the shank of my Freeds when I danced back in the 1970’s. I did that for years! I also special ordered my shoes with a lower vamp for a better pointe.

[@AgnesBalla9602]

What can I do to my pointe shoes if the profile of the shoe is a bit too low for me but I love all the other things in it and I can't buy another model. It is just the profile that bothers me. ( grishko 2007 )

[@andreawallenberger2668]

#customCapezios

[@andreawallenberger2668]

PS yay #Capeziofeet :)

[@chibimoon0]

My ballet teacher used to do this to my shoes too 😅

[@sadiec4967]

I have been having tendinitis in both of my ankles and I was wondering what the best shoes would be good for that?

[@NYMusic89563]

I was waiting the whole video to see her get up and dance in those.

[@BalletTIPS]

🔥🔥😍 TUS VIDEOS SON GENIALES 🔥🔥¡ Sigue así, mucho éxito, saludos de todo el equipo de BALLET TIPS !

[@official_morganmaher]

yes skylar i love her!!!

[@aaahhhhhh6020]

3:14 im not a dancer, no where near. But I do ride horses. I barel race. And in ur saddle, if u dont feel secure in it, and u just feel youll fall out. We have something called a "Bear trap". And basically what that is. Is a higher front part of the saddle. Which, makes u feel safer, and a little more secure

[@aaahhhhhh6020]

I relate, a lot

[@desd111]

You're on the east coast!!! How do we get you to do more fittings here?

[@andreawallenberger2668]

Ask!

[@Dancelife0911]

Dang I wish I would have taken my shank out this much. I was always afraid to or thought I needed the shank up to my arch. It also never bothered me that they were soft, I wouldn’t notice until I felt them with my hands. The shank always felt like it was in my way!

[@orgamers1]

I wear capezios too

[@ywcaman]

Yes she did start doing the tack removal herself when she went to Peru and then Romania to dance professionallyl. Now in her 30's she's teaching Yoga.

[@JGreen-le8xx]

Josephine❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😄

[@Kimberly-wt1nu]

The Million dollar question is, why wouldn’t custom made shoes come exactly the way you want them? No hacks needed. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@cristinahernandez3249]

Kimberly she explains that her shoe lady tells her to not do that, when she customizes her shoe herself she is bonding with it

[@summer5351]

Dancers feel more comfortable knowing they customized their own Pointe shoe.

[@SkylarPiano]

Finally found someone name Skylar too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@madmudd96]

And seeing all these hacks now, I think cutting some of my shank off would’ve really helped me 😭🥺

[@54321Judith]

Why did you not show her on point? We would love to have seen that!🌸

[@bookwormchic1528]

I got my first pair of point shoes and I had to get the strongest shank because my feet were to flexible

[@madmudd96]

My studio had us start point waaay late… and then I broke my shoes in incorrectly… and they wanted to keep me in class with the younger girls and I ended up quitting pointe 😭

[@balletmeli]

😮 I have never seen that much remove before.

[@CuriosityRocks]

Why aren’t all pointe shoes custom moulded around the specific dancer’s feet when they are made? Why do they continue making shoes that dancers have to batter into fitting their needs?

[@natalielinden]

Because every dancers foot is different. It would be too expensive to customize shoes for 100's of thousands of girls feet. Professionals don't pay for the customization that's why they do it. Companies pay for it.

[@iamahuman869]

I will be on point next year

[@marlenemejias8523]

I'm binge watching you because next year I'll be en pointe💙 ps I'll know it's en Pointe but AUTOCORRECT got it so pls no hate I did not notice

[@freyagraham6971]

MARLENE MEJIAS *en pointe*

[@catherinecooper1795]

Congrats!!!!

[@inessison722]

Freya Graham finally someone who gets it right

[@freyagraham6971]

ines sison I know right 😂😂

[@ThePointeShop]

NICE! Congrats

[@raliedit4070]

How many socks and cups did u use to male those?

[@dreday941]

I read that as “cut out half her toes” 🤣 I need coffee!

[@sadiegarcia2332]

A question for ballet dancers on pointe: how long did it take for you to get on pointe? I want to start ballet a little late and I want to know how long it’ll take me

[@gracebedell7606]

It took me 9 years until I was able to get on pointe but that was mostly because I started dancing at three so, I wasn’t old enough to start sooner.

[@annaelsjoki4612]

If you start at an older age, it might only take 2-5 years!😊

[@bettina4374]

Wow! Poor shoes nothing left! 😉impressive! And she has tiny feet and weighs 32kgs at the most ! Maybe That’s why her shoes last that long.?

[@Kassia_G_]

I wear the same shoes 😱

[@johannahunderwood4596]

Think about any other product that you could do this level of destruction to and still have it work for you. Vehicle - well, I wrecked the transmission and took off two of the wheels off but it works like a dream!

[@thehappyoyster4964]

I’m not even a dancer of any kind and I love watching your vids, lol

[@annamcnultyfan1012]

I have like no felxability in my feet I'm not a professional so I've had the same pointe shoes for 3 months but I dont use them much at all

[@nope4008]

I cut half the shank out too, it feels better on my feet since they are not that flexible

[@elisabethwoitschach5586]

I get to go in points shoes next year for the very first time!!😊😊😊 I'm really excited I'm going in level three in 2 days September 5 Thursday 2019 I'm so excited to see my friends comment if you love ballet and subscribe to her this girl Is amazing

[@brookebrand6033]

Anyone have answer for me? I’ve never done ballet I do acro, jazz, tap, and hip hop hate hip hop I wanted to do ballet not hip hop but not enough people wanted too do it and I’m upset but because I can’t I practice at home when I was fitted for my ballet flat before I was told there was no ballet I was told my the fitter I have a great turnout and pointe and I can walk on my toes do u think I could get pointe shoes away? And do you need a letter or approval from a teacher first? edit: i take ballet twice a week(2 hours a week)) now and might go on pointe soon:)

[@grace11037]

I have a question lol how do you stop foot cramps while going on point. Whenever we do bureaus ( probably spelled that wrong) out in the center I always get a foot cramp in my right foot on my arch but it’s only when my right foot is in front.

[@annaelsjoki4612]

I think you mean bourree (?). But try warming up as much as possible before going to center. That might help with cramping

[@tocaxboca-roadto500subs3]

Oo pretty and nice

[@korablox1435]

Whenever I do point, my toenails end up pushing into the ground hard and pushes it up a lot, any tips?

[@g4merp4nda56]

So she is dancing up en pointe with a shoe similar to a Demi pointe shoe? Correct me if I’m wrong. But she has very strong and tough feet!

[@AlenaFenomena]

I used to wear Glisses, i liked them best out of Capezios. When I couldn't get them anymore I went with Freeds, but Freeds are so ouchie in the budget...

[@jos2364]

Do you also dit for normal ballet shoes

[@rebeccas.7584]

What’s the difference in doing this and buying Demi Point shoes?

[@chxmpagneproblems]

Demi pointe shoes have no shank at all, whereas she does leave some shank in her shoe

[@Samanthaslifeinpages]

So small so cute hehe

[@tomaszcison1421]

Thsi Video🤸💃🏻💪🏼💪🏼👏🏽👍🏽✨🔝💯🎵

[@Hag_of_Fangorn]

What actually wears out after one class? Like, the stitching, whatever is in the pointed toe, the straps...?

[@Alinasophie_123]

Usually the shank (the “spine”) of the shoe breaks and gets too soft or the box where the toes are in gets too soft aswell

[@Hag_of_Fangorn]

@@Alinasophie_123 Thank you.

[@jcsworld1404]

I haven’t taken a ballet class since kinder but I’m teaching my self (I was dumb and went straight to pointe) I have no pain in pointe and I put an arch in my shoes so when I point my foot it just sits on the arch, it helps me a lot. Try it and let me know what you think (I know everyone is different but just give it a try)

[@oOblackeaglleOo]

She kept looking down at her shoe like ‘oh crap.. i cut way too much’

[@nicoleroberts7272]

I am 54 and have been away from ballet for about 46 years. I am interested in beginning ballet again to gain strength and agility. I live in the a tiny town and was going to order a basic ballet slipper to begin lessons, but the sizing seems complicated. If I wear a size 6 regular dress shoe, what size slipper would you recommend?

[@ThePointeShop]

Usually each brand has a sizing chart that is ok to help size for flat shoes. Would recommend a stretch canvas shoe since they are most comfortable and will be more forgiving sizing wise!

[@nicoleroberts7272]

@@ThePointeShop Thank you!

[@ksamol68]

skylar is dancing in flats with a box 😂 i wanna cups never

[@waynejones3428]

Kool!!!👏 😰 💗