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Dancers’ feet are under a lot of pressure, especially on pointe. Appropriate foot care can help you avoid injury and discomfort.

Toenails
Before any fitting, class, rehearsal or performance, a dancer should attend carefully to her toenails. The nails should be trimmed so that they don’t protrude beyond the flesh of the foot, but they should never be cut low enough to cause inflammation or soreness. Using a file is preferable to using scissors or a clipper, so that the length can be reached gradually, gently and precisely.

Blisters
Dancers should learn their personal requirements for padding and/or taping their toes to avoid blisters and other abrasions, and should care for any injuries with appropriate foot products or by seeing a specialist.

Clean and dry
Feet should be kept clean and dry to minimize growth of fungus and bacteria. Wearing pointe shoes and padding made of natural materials may help in this area.

Dancers vary greatly in how much padding they prefer in the toe box. Some use as little as possible, so as to feel the floor and articulate the foot without interference. Others prefer substantial padding, to minimize blisters, pressure on the toes and other discomfort. Generally, it is advisable to choose the lightest pad that provides the desired level of comfort.

Many different types of toe pads are available, as well as lamb’s wool, which some dancers prefer because it can be molded into the exact shape and thickness they desire. Beginners should only use pads made especially for pointe shoes, not experiment with other materials.

Some dancers benefit from spacers, which fit between the toes. They should be used only when needed; when they are not needed, they add unnecessary bulk inside the shoe.

Many dancers tape their toes in addition to, or instead of, using toe pads. Taping can help dancers avoid blisters and other abrasions.

Even very light padding can change the fit of a pointe shoe’s box and width, so it is essential to wear the same pads for fitting as will be worn for dancing.

First, make sure to buy ribbons and elastics, which hold the shoes onto the feet. Most dancers use a variety of toe pads for comfort inside the box. Lighter padding usually leads to better control and fit. Beginners should only use padding designed for pointe shoes and avoid experimenting with other materials. Many dancers also tape their toes to reduce rubbing; ask the teacher’s advice about what kind of tape to use, whether it is needed, and how to apply it. Extras such as toe spacers or heel pads should only be added if the fitter or teacher considers them necessary.

After her teacher has approved the shoes (for beginners), it is time to sew on the pink satin ribbons that secure them to the feet. The teacher will show students how to cross the ribbons across the instep, wrap them around the ankle, and tie them on the inside of the ankle (never on the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle).

Most dancers also sew elastics to their pointe shoes, for added support. Elastics may be sewn in a single length around the ankle from one side of the heel to the other, or in two lengths crisscrossing the instep of the foot from heel to side of shoe.

Properly fit pointe shoes require little or no other preparation. Professional dancers may have elaborate rituals for preparing their shoes, but beginners should never alter their shoes in any way unless their teacher or fitter recommends it. Banging or bending the shoes, or attempting to modify their design, can compromise their structure in potentially dangerous ways. The breaking-in process should be accomplished through exercises in pointe class.

Just as for more advanced dancers, shank choice for beginners is mostly determined by the individual dancer’s foot shape, strength and technical development. So, there is no “best” shank.

Building strength
Many instructors do prefer that beginners start in lighter or softer shanks. Lighter support allows beginners to experience roll-through and develop the strength in their feet, without over-reliance on the pointe shoes to prop them up. Other instructors like to see beginners “working” their shoes more strongly, which requires a stronger shank.

Just enough support
For any dancer, the right shank choice is the one that gives adequate support without restricting movement. The shank should facilitate proper placement on pointe while providing the degree of flexibility in roll-through desired by the dancer and instructor.

Read more about Russian Pointe Spotlight and Jewels shanks and Classic shanks.

What shanks are available in the Classic Collection?

Classic models are available in six shank choices, including both Standard and Flexible options.

MF – Medium Flexible
MHF – Medium Hard Flexible
HF – Hard Flexible
S – Standard Soft
M – Standard Medium
H – Standard Hard

Flexible
Russian Pointe’s innovative Flexible shanks have a special cut-out design that enhances lightness and flexibility in roll-through and demi-pointe.

Standard
Standard shanks have a solid construction, while Flexible shanks are cut out behind the ball of the foot. Standard shanks are designed for strength behind the ball of the foot, for springing to pointe, hops on pointe and other high-impact choreography.

Spotlight (Lumina, Brava, Encore, Muse) and Jewels (Almaz, Rubin, Sapphire) models feature “next generation” shanks. These shanks have extreme pliability and durability, and are made of completely natural materials.

Spotlight and Jewels models are available in six shank choices, including both Standard and Flexible options.

FS – Flexible Soft
FM – Flexible Medium
FH – Flexible Hard
S – Standard Soft
M – Standard Medium
H – Standard Hard

Flexible
Russian Pointe’s innovative Flexible shanks have a special cut-out design that enhances lightness and flexibility in roll-through and demi-pointe.

Standard
Standard shanks have a solid construction, while Flexible shanks are cut out behind the ball of the foot. Standard shanks are designed for strength behind the ball of the foot, for springing to pointe, hops on pointe and other high-impact choreography.

Pointe shoes have reinforced soles, thanks to an inner shank between the outer sole and the insole. This section is called the shank, which supports the entire foot on pointe. Shanks are usually made of several layers of material, in different amounts and configurations to provide different degrees of strength, or stiffness. With a good variety of shank options, each dancer can choose the amount of support she needs.

Shank choice
Some dancers think that they should choose a stiffer shank to hold them on pointe. The shank should support the dancer properly and safely, but without developing her foot strength she will never succeed on pointe. The pointe shoe must be a partner to her dancing, not a prop that holds her up on its own. In a well-chosen shank, the dancer is developing her own strength while being supported adequately.

Shank longevity
Other dancers hope that a stiffer shank will last longer than a more flexible one. This can be true to a certain extent, as long as the shank is chosen with the dancer’s strength, foot shape and technique in mind. But, sometimes a stiffer shank can actually last less time! If the shank isn’t suited for the dancer, it is more likely to snap rather than break in – and wear out – naturally.

Two parts of the shoe work together to support the entire weight of the body on the platform of the shoe: the toe box and the shank. The box, firm yet malleable, holds the toes together and keeps them straight. The shank is a stiffened part of the sole, usually a layer or several layers of material between the insole and the outer sole, which supports the entire foot on pointe. Shanks are made in different degrees of strength, or stiffness, so that each dancer can choose the amount of support she needs. The dancer should never rely on an overly stiff shank. Instead, she must develop so much strength that the shoe is a partner, not a prop. Choosing the correct shank strength facilitates this development.

Read more about pointe shoe structure.