#Ballerina #PointeShoes #Ballet #Dance #ShoeCare
Have you ever wondered why professional ballerinas spend $100 for each pair of pointe shoes, and they only last 3 days? The reason behind this is a fascinating mix of science, tradition, and artistry. Let’s dive into the world of pointe shoes and explore why they can’t be made to last longer.
The Science Behind Pointe Shoes
Pointe shoes are not your average ballet shoe. They are specifically designed to support a ballerina’s weight as she dances on the tips of her toes. This requires a delicate balance of flexibility, support, and durability. Here’s why pointe shoes are so unique and why they can’t be made to last longer:
1. Materials Matter: Pointe shoes are typically made from layers of satin, canvas, glue, and most importantly, layers of paper, fabric, and leather that have been stiffened with glue. The combination of these materials creates the sturdy yet flexible structure that ballerinas rely on as they dance on their toes.
2. Pressure and Friction: When a ballerina dances on pointe, she puts an incredible amount of pressure and friction on the shoe. This constant wear and tear leads to the rapid breakdown of the materials, making it impossible for the shoes to last longer than a few days.
3. Fit and Feel: Pointe shoes are highly individualized to each dancer’s unique foot shape and size. They are often broken in and customized by the dancer to ensure the perfect fit and feel. This level of customization also contributes to the shoes’ short lifespan, as they are designed to conform to the dancer’s specific needs over time.
Tradition and Artistry in Ballet
In addition to the scientific aspects of pointe shoes, there are also traditional and artistic reasons why they can’t be made to last longer. Let’s explore these factors:
1. Aesthetic and Performance: Pointe shoes are not just functional; they are also an integral part of a ballerina’s performance and aesthetic. The delicate appearance of the shoes, combined with their ability to support a dancer’s weight, is essential to the overall look and feel of ballet performances. As a result, the tradition of using traditional materials and construction methods is deeply rooted in the artistry of ballet.
2. Craftsmanship and Quality: Pointe shoes are handcrafted by skilled artisans who understand the unique demands of ballet and the individual needs of each dancer. This level of craftsmanship and quality control ensures that each pair of pointe shoes meets the highest standards of performance and durability, despite their short lifespan.
The Bottom Line
While it may seem frustrating that professional ballerinas go through pointe shoes so quickly, it’s important to remember that the unique blend of science, tradition, and artistry that goes into making these shoes is what sets them apart. The combination of materials, pressure, friction, fit, tradition, and craftsmanship all contribute to the short lifespan of pointe shoes. In the end, the investment in quality pointe shoes is an essential part of a ballerina’s performance and livelihood.
In conclusion, the reason why professional ballerinas spend $100 for each pair of pointe shoes, and they only last 3 days is a complex interplay of scientific, traditional, and artistic elements. While it may be tempting to look for ways to extend the lifespan of these shoes, their unique construction and purpose make it almost impossible to do so without sacrificing the integrity and performance of the shoes. So the next time you watch a breathtaking ballet performance, take a moment to appreciate the precision and dedication that goes into the design and construction of the pointe shoes that make it all possible.
Intrigued to learn more about the world of ballet and pointe shoes? Visit our website for more fascinating insights and exclusive behind-the-scenes content from the world of dance. #BalletInsights #DanceWorld #PointeShoeSecrets #BallerinaLife
Durability is not the priority for the shoes, especially when professional ballet dancers can afford all the shoes they need for the performances.
EDIT: Explaining why durability is not a priority.
The shape and direction of a ballerina’s feet are an important part of the artistry in ballet. Therefore thick long lasting footwear that might be seen in other dance styles are just not acceptable.
If you want to preserve the accepted shape of a dancer’s feet that is custom in ballet, the shoes have to be very thin. Durability has to come second to safety and treating the shoes as disposable is how most dancers trained and therefore feel safest.
The shoes are sacrificial. They are destroyed so the ballerinas destroy their body less. A more robust shoe would either support less/support incorrectly/ weigh more/ destabilize the dancer, harm the dancer more, or would look different and not be acceptable for that difference. Think about the baseball caps for pitchers that were huge and weighed too much, so it messed up their pitching… even if it can save their life, they can’t wear it and perform correctly. Same thing, different athlete.
If you have ever held a pointe shoe you would understand why. They are extremely light weight, have flex in certain directions, rigidity in others, and are covered in satin.
Lets say you made the shoe out of something like light weight carbon fiber and managed to acheive the support and performance of a standard pointe shoe. It’s still going to be covered in satin and look like complete and utter shit after a couple of performances.
” Edit: my daughter’s pointe shoe after 1 performance – [https://imgur.com/a/Fpr986o](https://imgur.com/a/Fpr986o)
After 3 performances they are still ok for practice, but not for being on stage”
The ballerinas or the shoes?
It’s worth noting that most ballerinas have “show” shoes and “practice” shoes.
The practice shoes typically last longer than the show shoes. Some dancers prefer slightly different shoes when performing because they look better, even if they don’t provide the best support. Many dancers prefer shoes that are “almost dead” to perform in (because they’ll have the least support, but they’ll be most molded to the dancer’s foot at that time.)
It’s also worth noting that the practice shoes typically last more than 3 days. Probably ~3 weeks (if they’re lucky. I’ve heard anywhere from 1 week to 2 months depending on the type of shoe. (some brands last longer than others.))
As for the actual reason, it’s literally because “that’s the way it’s been done forever and that’s what’s accepted.” Dancers are expected to look a certain way, ESPECIALLY their feet. That’s quite literally one of the main focal points in ballet dancing. Plus, as someone else said “The shoes are destroyed so the dancer’s feet are destroyed less.” The fact that the shoes are covered in satin means that they’re ALWAYS going to wear very quickly, so why build a super long lasting shoe if the satin on the outside is just going to wear away/get dirty anyway? You can’t wash point shoes. So once they get dirty they’re pretty much done.
For what it’s worth, this “longevity” of shoe isn’t far off from what professional runners go through.
Running shoes last ~400 miles. Many professional runners run 80-100 miles a week. So they go through a pair of shoes a month.
Tradition. When the brand Gaynor came out my studio refused to let us wear them because they were “fake” (have durable plastic inside) but now I’m seeing many professionals wear them for classes.
On the topic of tradition, the shoe hasn’t been changed in hundreds of years and we teach ballet/pointe based on the shoe. It would take every teacher in the world having a symposium of “how feet should look in these new durable shoes” and “how to train dancers to use these shoes” which is obviously not feasible.
Not ELI5, but if you have want to go deeper on the topic in an accessible way, Articles of Interest has a great episode on pointe shoes.
https://articlesofinterest.substack.com/p/on-pointe
This made me think of another situation: The tires on a Formula 1 racecar are extremely expensive but only last for a few laps – why can’t the tires be made to last longer?
One thing I see missing from a lot of answers.
Many of the larger ballet companies will provide shoes for their dancers, easing that cost on the dancer
While many have answered your “why” question, I will add that many companies cover the cost of shoes for their dancers.
As others have said, pointe shoes are built like they are mostly for artistic and traditional reasons. That said! There are companies working with different materials to make shoes perform the same and last longer. A company called Act’able is now making 3d printed box/shanks that are then covered by a cloth sock. I follow a few dancers that tried them and it sounds like they would be good for class but they wouldn’t perform in them.
The Royal New Zealand Ballet has a supporters charity called “Friends of the Ballet” which donates money towards the never-ending supply of fresh ballet shoes required by the dancers.
This is a wonderful podcast episode from Articles of Interest that talks all about this specific question
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/articles-of-interest/id1455169228?i=1000608577266
(Pls delete if links like this are not allowed of course)
The real question is why they cost $100. Is the material cost really that high? Why can’t they just make them cheaper – so we have more ballerinas. Won’t that be wonderful 😄