MAK Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 Hi everyone, DD is looking for her first pair of soft blocks and we will need a lot of help from the fitter as we are very much novices in this game. I have read a few other threads but interested in recent experiences of similar fittings in London or nearby. DD is very small and will be looking for shoes in a 1 or a 2 if that makes any difference. She doesn't have great arches and her toes are quite long and feet narrow to medium. As I say, we will really have to rely on the fitter so recommendations would be very welcome. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeafterballet Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 I have found Dancia International very knowledgable and helpful. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 Soft blocks are a lot easier to fit than pointes. I don't have much experience of the London shops but had good service in Dancia, appalling in Sansha & wasn't overly impressed with Freed for ballet flats (it was like they wernt bothered). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifeafterballet Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 I felt really unwelcome in Bloch so go to Dancia to buy Bloch soft pointes ???? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAK Posted April 9, 2016 Author Share Posted April 9, 2016 Thank you both, much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 If you go to Freed, I would always recommend asking for Beth, Sophie or Jade. The only other soft blocks than Freed that dd has tried were Capezio and they sounded like tap shoes - the boxes literally never quietended down. If dd ever needs proper soft blocks now (as opposed to de-shanked and bashed used pointe shoes) she goes to Freed. Their soft blocks fit her beautifully and they soften and quieten down really well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 Dd wears Bloch soft blocks but I know what cotes means about feeling unwelcome. We felt a bit like that when buying tap & jazz shoes. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 I'm glad it isn't just us that have had bad experiences at Bloch with staff attitudes. You always wonder if you are being overly sensitive! Until a few years ago I couldn't fault the service but it has deteriorated and last year we walked out of a pointe shoe appointment and have not returned. Ironically walked over the road to Dancia and bought Bloch shoes there, served by friendly staff despite shop being very busy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taximom Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 How about our own Just Ballet if her shops are accessible to you? Heather Aka Taximom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAK Posted April 9, 2016 Author Share Posted April 9, 2016 I'll message you Taximom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirouette Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 Dancia International and Freed are both excellent. I'd try the Grishko soft blocks in Dancia - Bloch tend to be quite wide, especially at the heel/sides. They stock Sansha too I think, or at least they used to. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAK Posted April 9, 2016 Author Share Posted April 9, 2016 Thanks Pirouette. Dancia and Freed look like the best options. Dancia is easier based on opening times so think it will be our first port of call. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cara in NZ Posted April 13, 2016 Share Posted April 13, 2016 DD is in demi-pointes this year but we didn't worry about getting fitted as they aren't supporting her body-weight. She only wore them for a short time before she was able to mutilate a pair of broken pointe shoes, but if they are just to get them used to having a block at the end of their foot, I wouldn't fret too much about it. It's not half as important as the fitting for the first pair of pointe shoes! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anon2 Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 DD is in demi-pointes this year but we didn't worry about getting fitted as they aren't supporting her body-weight. She only wore them for a short time before she was able to mutilate a pair of broken pointe shoes, but if they are just to get them used to having a block at the end of their foot, I wouldn't fret too much about it. It's not half as important as the fitting for the first pair of pointe shoes! At some vocational schools the students wear them for all ballet classes apart from when en pointe. In that case you want them to fit properly as they are harder to work in and the girls want their feet to always look at their best. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Also dd liked to have proper soft blocks rather than her usual de-shanked old pointes for her RAD exam where they have to be worn. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I felt really unwelcome in Bloch so go to Dancia to buy Bloch soft pointes ???? Same 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akh Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Freeds very helpful 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAK Posted April 14, 2016 Author Share Posted April 14, 2016 Thanks everyone, great advice. Hoping for success when we shop next weekend and then I'll be able to report back on the experience for any others at this stage! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legseleven Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 We felt unwelcome in Freed so wouldn't go there again - Bloch were lovely - so it seems that everyone has a different experience! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 At some vocational schools the students wear them for all ballet classes apart from when en pointe. In that case you want them to fit properly as they are harder to work in and the girls want their feet to always look at their best. dd has to do this too and most definitely not at a vocational school. we have found that they only become really good to work in just before they wear out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legseleven Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 Same here mnemo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 In fact, the best pair she has ever had were the result of putting her water bottle in her dance bag without closing it properly. By the time I had noticed the mysterious puddle in the train carriage, it was too late and everything was swimming. When the soft blocks did eventually dry out they were - well soft. But with an unattractive tide mark . But certainly more effective than my usual method of steaming them over a kettle and hitting them vigorously with a rolling pin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird22 Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I've said this so many times, but I used to sit in the bath tub in mine and let them dry on my feet. Worked for satin ballet shoes to make them nice and snug, soft pointes and turning pointes to softs! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted April 14, 2016 Share Posted April 14, 2016 I nearly had a heart attack when I found dd dangling them over a saucepan of boiling water by the ribbons. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TabbyCool Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 Dancia International and Freed are both excellent. I'd try the Grishko soft blocks in Dancia - Bloch tend to be quite wide, especially at the heel/sides. They stock Sansha too I think, or at least they used to. I found the Bloch softblocks to be really big fitting, I bought mine online as there isn't anywhere locally that stocks softblocks! I've had Bloch pointe shoes in a size 7 and Grishko in a 6.5 XXXXX, yet my size 6 Bloch softblocks are too big, they're actually larger than the size 7 Bloch Jetstream pointe shoes I have, which is crazy considering the pointe shoes are generally expected to be worn with a bit of padding, if anything, I'd expect the softblocks to be slightly smaller to make up for the lack of padding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheila Beelam Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 We find both Grishko, Russian Pointe and Sansha soft blocks the most flattering for customers. I agree that the Bloch shoes come up big, but find they can suit a squarer, more solid foot. As Cara said, they're not weight bearing shoes, so comfort is the priority! With this in mind, a low vamp and steaming with a kettle or iron usually achieves a good result! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amber21 Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 I was really surprised to learn from our local dance shop that each make of dance shoe makers only actually supply one design of demi pointe shoe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna C Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 I was really surprised to learn from our local dance shop that each make of dance shoe makers only actually supply one design of demi pointe shoe. That may be true of Freed BUT because their soft blocks are based on the Classic - i.e. made by individual pointe shoe makers to their own specific style - Freed soft blocks vary greatly depending on which maker you like. Also if you get them from Freed's London shop you can have them returned to the factory for minor alterations like elastic drawstring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 That doesn't surprise me st all. It's the same as for ballet flats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 Hoorah I have just performed successful 'percussive maintenance' on dd's latest soft blocks! Was advised to wrap them in a towel and hit them with a claw hammer - and it works they don't clunk anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAK Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 By way of update, we had a lovely experience at Freed yesterday. I have to confess, I'm not sure who we were served by, but she was friendly, knowledgeable and very patient with dd, who was so excited that she was finding it difficult to differentiate between what felt good and what felt great! She has declared they are the best things she has ever been bought. I should have taken more heed of Anna's post as I must have looked completely blank when it was explained to me that different makers' shoes in the same "size" varied enormously, especially in width. DD tried on one pair a size larger than the first and couldn't even get them on. So, first pair now bought. Now to the art of breaking them, for which I am grateful to this forum as I have seen lots of suggestions on this topic! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dance*is*life Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 Has anyone ever tried steaming proper pointe shoes???? A student of mine is bitterly regretting buying really hard Grishko pointes as her feet are not very arched and she finds them very uncomfortable, but doesn't want to waste the money. I was very surprised that she bought Grishko, not what I would have suggested for her. She brought them in to check for size and they seemed fine - at that stage she thought they were comfortable. It was only when she tried working through the feet in them, that she realised they weren't......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moomin Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 I steamed them and then put them on to mold the box, worked well and they rehardened again. They are the ones with the plastic based shank so didn't make any difference to that though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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