Pointe Shoes: Toe Pads and Cushioning, (think beyond bulky toe pads)

In this episode I show you some different options for padding inside the pointe shoe. Try to think beyond a bulky toe pad and layer small items inside your shoes for cushioning.
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#ballet #toepads #pointeshoes #ballerina #dancer #ballebrity
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Hi I'm Mary and welcome to my channel I'm a professional fitter in New York with over 20 years of experience I've worked closely with students teachers and professional dancer on finding the best shoes here on Dancewithmary NYC you'll find useful information and tips on every and all things pointe shoes. Thanks for watching and I hope you'll enjoy
My bio:
Mary trained at CCM, Butler University, David Howard Dance Center on scholarship, and the National Shakespeare Conservatory. She performed in numerous musicals and plays and danced for The Metropolitan Opera Ballet at Lincoln Center. She also performed with Ohio Dance Theatre and Granite State Ballet as a principal guest artist, as well as Charleston Ballet, Lexington Ballet and Maryland Ballet as a soloist. She is a former faculty member of Barnard College, The New School University, Ballet Hispanico school, and Broadway Dance Center. She currently teaches ballet and Pilates for Steps on Broadway and American Liberty Ballet in New York. Mary has created nine ballet classroom music CDs and appeared in three instructional DVDs and was a featured dancer in several of the late master teacher David Howard’s instructional DVDs. Mary is a master pointe shoe fitter and shares her expertise on KZbin at her channel - Dancewithmary NYC “for any and all things pointe shoes.”
Mission statement - Dancewithmary NYC was created to provide dancers with the best possible information in monthly videos. As a fitter I have worked for: Repetto, Gaynor Minden, Capezio, Capezio professional division, Freed of London, and Chacott USA. I have lectured all over the USA on the history and making of pointe shoes and how to find a proper fit. It is my goal to get every dancer, no matter what age or level, the best possible fit for their feet.
For private ballet, Pilates, Progressing Ballet Technique/PBT email [e-mail]
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[@goya4u77]

Thank you so much for this video I really think this is really going to help me with the foot pain & blisters I had been experiencing

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Thanks for the message. Please let me know how it goes for you and if any of these work for you.

[@kieranmcbride200]

I recently tried this to help correct my winging and bunion pain, and even after a few days I feel an enormous difference

[@davidgreen2353]

Thank you so much Mary Carpenter. Your videos are so great and super helpful!

[@ultravioletspirit]

I love the pads from pillows for pointe made of lamb's wool, they are super soft and thin and I can feel the floor perfectly.

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Aletia Gonzalez Are those the pads with gel on the end?

[@ultravioletspirit]

Dancewithmary NYC yes they are

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Aletia Gonzalez those are good, I like that they are not bulky.

[@amystarfish]

Thank you very much it really helps!

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Thank you so much, the channel really was made to help dancers get the most from their shoes.

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

This comment is for Bexzica - if you are using that much cushioning in your shoe and you are still getting blisters it may mean the shoe is too big, or not the correct box shape. Try some different styles and see if that helps. You could also try paper tape instead of lambswool. Tape the toes and see if that helps. The ankles hurting could be due to shanks that are too hard, or too soft. If you are muscularly fit, dancing at your correct level, and have well fitted shoes, the discomfort should be manageable.

[@TheOptimalLife]

I use lambs wool, a spacer and a gel toe cover over my big toe. It took me a while to figure out what worked best for me!

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Glad you found something that works. 😊

[@AsyaThere]

This is great ! And thanks again for a great class

[@loz567]

do you think these toe spacing methods could work for an Irish dancer?? i've been dancing 14 years now (i'm 18) and i'm already starting to get bunions and my physiotherapist wants me to quit which isn't an option for me

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

I love Irish dance, I think you could try it and see if you get good results. The Irish dance shoes are tapered, right? That could be affecting your feet, especially if you have a wide metatarsal.

[@laurabass4741]

wonderfully done!

[@maybudha]

I don’t dance on pointe but this video makes me thinking about putting on a toe pad while wearing heels.

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

There is a company called ProFoot - they make pads that go into street shoes. If that doesn't work Bunheads makes a pad called Junior large size pro pad - that might work.

[@gemmaryan5095]

I usually use a gel toe separator, like the one you showed first, with a gel pad over all my toes. I've struggled a lot with finding a good fit in the few years i've been dancing en pointe, and I've tried a ton of different shoes and padding options. I used ouch pouch pads, sports tape wrapped around the first and second toes, gel toe caps, gel pads, and combinations of all of them. My current combination works decently well, especially because the shoe I'm in is fantastic for my feet, but the gel toe separators are a bit too short, because my toes are very long. I really want to try those pedifix pads- they seem like they would be a better fit and would prevent my big toe from bending inward.

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Gemma Sherman thanks for watching and your comments are interesting. I am curious what kind of feet you have and what brand of shoe you are wearing?

[@gemmaryan5095]

I have egyptian feet with normal arches and a medium-high instep. I'm wearing Suffolk Spotlights, and so far they're the best shoe I've worn. My feet are also very strong, so the hard shank is better than the standard, but the standard works great as well- I just wear it out quicker.

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

I am glad you found something. It is pretty tough for people with Egyptian feet, there are not a lot of choices out there. I find the Chacott Veronese fit well, but sometimes are not strong enough and there are a few others out there. I am glad to find out the Spotlights are another option.

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

It really is trial and error, like a lab experiment. Each dancer has to figure out what works best for them.

[@m1221983]

Suicide documentary

[@emma1714]

I use the toe caps sometimes and I won't always use the whole thing...it can come in a long tube so I will just cut it apart and put it around my toe knuckles for extra padding because I find pointe so incredibly painful and just the toe pad isn't enough. But then I also have a very pronounced arch and Egyptian feet so my toes get incrementally smaller and recently switched to hard, full shanks because medium 3/4 were causing me to just pointe right through the shoe in a bad way....but I struggle to pull up from my legs because I am so hypermobile/hyperextended. Makes it more difficult because everything is so loose and my muscles are much weaker

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

It sounds like you are having a lot of challenges. I usually try to get people with Egyptian feet to use foam toe separators and then tape the first toe, toe separator and third toe all together. It is supportive like a split. I also try to make sure that people with narrow feet are correctly fitted in the width AND the profile of their foot. The shoe has to fit to the height of your foot, if you can stick a finger in your shoe when you are standing flat it means the crown is too high. Try a slim profile shoe or a low crown shoe. Look for segments in the future on foot types and what works for them.

[@emma1714]

Dancewithmary NYC Thank you for the tips! I will try them in the future. I do have lots of issues, I am a 9/9 in hypermobility (and hyperextended in my knees, back and elbows) so I have to approach pointe with extra care as my ankles subluxate for no reason all the time (and I have no proprioception). But I have great fitting Grishkos with a hard full shank that has done lots of good in increasing my foot strength and posture. I do know about the finger trick for sizing and I cannot fit a finger in at all! I mean, a tiny tiny bit like a fingertip (so my foot has room to breathe) but not a whole finger. Having slim heels can be frustrating sometimes, it feels like shoes will bag around the heel area. I am in California right now but I usually live in London and finding professional fitters is very difficult...it is a well overlooked area and a dancer who takes pointe all the time isn't always the right person to fit you...but often that is who works in these shops!

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Daily Polish Hi Daily Polish! I understand the frustration. I am hoping this channel will help students, teachers, and fitters learn more about this topic. I am glad the harder shank it working out for you, Grishkos are a good choice for narrow feet.

[@TSeeker1]

+Daily Polish I know exactly what you are going through to find the perfect fit in a pointe shoe, especially when your feet are kind of "special needs", haha. My feet are also Egyptian (tapered) and cardboard shoes used to cause me immense pain; I've tried them all and every model for my type of foot! Feeling desperate in spite of every kind of pad, boxliner, shoeliner, gel caps, lambswool, tape, etc. I finally decided to give Gaynor Minden a try - it was the only one left. I had refused to even think about them for years before because of the ridiculous "cheat" rumor instead of finding out for myself. Wow! I regret all those years struggling and fighting with my shoes, when I could have instead, avoided pain and advanced so much quicker after having found them! They feel like pillows - I mean NO PAIN, and the shock absorption is incredible! And they are NOT cheater shoes, in fact, I tend to have not the strongest feet, but my strength improved so fast, I couldn't believe it. They are made to keep your feet aligned the proper way; they hug every curve and are like a second skin, no joke. Lined with flannel/cotton means no blisters, ever! There is a built in gel pad for your toes that is even, so it doesn't shorten the shoe like when you put one in, leaving the poor second toe with a space, either. There are almost 3000 combinations just off the rack. Many principal dancers swear by them now, the stigma is proving to be passe. You can always have unlimited special tweaks done with or without going to the NY office; they are excellent at fitting you "long distance" if you cannot get there, but if you're near NYC it would be to your advantage. Some fitters don't know how to fit them properly; I've seen that happen if all they are used to is cardboard. (Correct fit is crucial) like any shoe, it makes all the difference. They are podiatrist approved, unlike cardboard shoes. They are virtually indestructible, lasting me about 8 times longer than any other shoe, so the savings is immeasurable. The incredible talent of the manufacturer was amazing, and the result was RAPID advancement in my dance in just the first month alone, doing things I had struggled with for years because I was fighting my shoes! They are basically silent, too so jump away. I feel sorry for any dancer that feels like pain is some kind of badge of honor, only to end up with deformed, arthritic feet and then has to stop dancing when older. (I'm in my 50s)! Good luck to you!

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

You can find all of these items in the video here: www.amazon.com/shop/dancewithmarynyc

[@Lea-uu2el]

Sorry but I'm from Germany and I didn't understand the name of the thing which you like to use between the 1st and the 2nd toe😊

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Lea me Thanks for watching. You can use a triangle shaped make up wedge or a foam toe separator called Pedifix. I get the make up wedges at the drug store and the Pedifix items on Amazon. I hope that helps.

[@Lea-uu2el]

Thank you that helps very much😊

[@bsdjkgf2939]

Also known as a toe spacer

[@bexzica0972]

I normally use lambs wool and gel pouches in my point shoes but I still seem to get blistering on the big and baby toe and when dancing for longer on pointe my ankles seem to ache a hurt I causes real discomfort any tips ???

[@AR-cx5ze]

Bexzica 0 you can use blister protection bandages and place them where you would usually/have blisters

[@melanieiancu1464]

Tape your toes and it won't happen trust me I have the the same issues

[@sonyybosssonya8804]

Gina!!!!

[@RaheelPervaiz123]

ok taht looks painful they have to do that ?

[@tmw94777]

What’s your opinion on the Perfect Fit pointe shoe inserts?

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Teresa M White I think it is good for people with uneven toes/metatarsals. It can help someone who needs better distribution of weight in the shoe, but unfortunately what I saw was people using it to fill up space in poorly fitted shoes.

[@margoth3847]

Hi Mary! Where would you recommend buying the foam makeup sponge you have on this video? Thanks for the great video!

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

I usually find them on Amazon and they are called Pedfix three layer toe separators. There are three sets per package of varying size, use the largest ones if appropriate. Thanks for watching!

[@margoth3847]

Great! Thank you!

[@jefrizelle]

I just got my first pair of pointe shoes a few days ago and I'm finding that just the toe pads aren't really helping with the pressure on my feet. My second toe is longer than my big toe and it is being bent in the shoe. It makes it very painful even to just stand on pointe for a few minutes. What would you recommend to help with this?

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

+Jacinta Frizelle First check the crown of the shoe. You should check and see if you can fit fingers between the top of the box and the top of your foot. If you can it means that the shoe is too high in the profile or crown. Shoes need to catch the sides of the foot and the top and the bottom. Also check the length, in a demi plie in first position the second toe should be flush against the end of shoe, not crunched. Check your padding and see if you need something additional. Dancers with long first or second toes need more TLC and more constructive padding then dancers with even toes. Also check the box shape - if you need a slightly tapered shoe and you are wearing a square shoe, you are going to sink. Finally, there is a technique where you take a make up wedge and curve it inside the shoe so it lines up with the big toe and fills the space. You can also experiment with the make up wedge and line it up along with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th toe to take up space. See what feels better and good luck.

[@jefrizelle]

Thanks so much, this helped a lot

[@bsdjkgf2939]

I would recommend you get the Gaynor Minden Second Toe Kit

[@samanthakim1975]

My mom doesn't let me order things online, so I have to wear toilet paper, any other homemade recommendations?

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Oh wow, that's a challenge, try paper towels, or handi wipes, or you can even find lambswool in the drug store. There is a company called ProFoot that sells in most drug stores and they make a gel toe pad for street shoes, but it's really the same asad the bunheads gel pads. If that doesn't work send me a DM on Instagram and I can show you a picture if a simple pad you can make from foam insoles. Good luck!

[@samanthakim1975]

@@DancewithmaryNYC thank you, I have also heard about using socks, I will dm you so you can show me that way, I'm beggining point now and I can't stand the pain, but I also know it isn't good to get used to too much padding

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

@@samanthakim1975 you can take sweat socks and cut the tips off and that is a cheap, easy solution. Most people need some kind of padding, so don't feel guilty about using them. Also are you shoes fitting correctly? That can cause discomfort if they are not sized correctly. Follow the link on my page to my Instagram and DM me for additional padding information.

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Rita, I responded to your DM on Instagram- check your inbox.

[@PrisKB]

At the end Mary asked her if the extra toe support helped her. She danced the black swan and didn't know about those things?

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

+Pris. K B Gina was an extra in the movie The Black Swan starring Natalie Portman. She has danced in many companies including PB and Suzanne Farrell Ballet. Even professionals can use tips and assistance sometimes. Ballet and pointe shoes are a constant, evolving, learning process.

[@theknitchic3920]

I use nothing I even take off the big toe of the tights and my point shoes are used to use the occasional paper towel

[@MrAdrianaangel]

The lambswool shifts around too much.

[@alicia-dylanrosechase2286]

Irish dancer here. Don't you guys wear socks?

[@DancewithmaryNYC]

Alicia-Dylan Rose Chase Ballet dancers usually wear tights. In a casual rehearsal or daily class many dancers prefer to go barefoot so they can feel the shoe.

[@prettypointe9919]

Alicia-Dylan Rose Chase some times but mostly no

[@arandomperson8636]

That’s gotta be uncomfortable