Sheila Beelam

Their website is: https://dancer.com/

The most flatering camisole's we found are the Degas 9501 and 9502 styles. We try to keep these in stock in various sizes and colours all year round. And yes, we can order any of the Gaynor styles in for you - usually takes about a week

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Hi Balletallday and thanks everyone We exclusively distribute Degas items in the UK and although their delivery can be slow, they are worth waiting for!! We try to keep a selection of leotards in stock, but they offer a huge range of styles and colours, so impossible to keep them all You can see what we have in stock now, on our website. The leotards are made in France and have the most exquisite ballet cut. Very flattering! You can choose from two types of fabric "Meryl soft" or "Matt Lycra". There are different colourways available in each fabric. The Meryl soft is by far the most popular. We tend to order once a quarter and the leotards are usually delivered in anything between 4-8 weeks. Getting delivery dates from them is nigh impossible! Our next order is due to go in tomorrow, but if you need more time to browse, I can hold fire until Monday. You can browse the collection on their French site (www.degas.fr) which is for viewing only, they don't retail, then just email us or message me here with what you would like. They have their own sizing system and please bear in mind their leotards are the uniform for the Paris Opera Ballet School, so they are ballerina sizes, so if in doubt, go up a size. That said, they go up to a size "T5" which is suitable for a UK 14-16. If you look at any of the Degas leos on our site, you'll see a link to a size guide, but any questions please ask. We have most sizes in stock, so I can compare sizes to other makes if that helps! Best wishes Sheila x

Lovely news!!! Congrats xxx

Welcome Sarah We have an auditions and courses page on our website (that probably needs updating!) if you email me the details I'll put your info on there x

We find Silky and Bloch are popular in children's sizes. In adults' Gaynors are our fave, followed by Danskin and Bloch, Russian Pointe and Merlet. But everyone's different!

Thank you for all the lovely comments! ❤ Tutus are £35-45 to hire for a two week period. They can be posted out to you and returned by post too. Any questions at all just give me a ring or send me an email . We have more tutus in store than online and more being added regularly! If you have a look on our Facebook page you'll get a taste of them too Sx

Good luck in your quest for perfect pointe shoes! As mentioned the Southend JB has sadly now closed. I have decided to move everything under one (much larger) roof in Wisbech. We have 100's of pointe shoes (literally!) and similar selection of leotards etc, so worth a trip to NE Cambridgeshire! We also have oodles of tutus for sale and hire and costume making on site Sx

No Amos73, we do sell the Bunheads ones, but they are £3.95-4.25 for 12, depending on the size. The JB ones are a flat pin with waves down each side (which help the pin to grip the hair) x

Ah Pixiewoo, take a day trip to Wisbech and come and see our huge new shop! Unfortunately we are closing our Southend store on 25th Feb, as we have decided to consolidate Just Ballet into one location, from where we will run the website, make tutus and other costumes, plus of course, our pointe shoe fittings and general dancewear x

We have VERY strong bun pins that are £1.50 for 10 and virtually unbendable! ???? If you want to buy some give me a ring in Wisbech shop and I'll ship at large letter postage rate, rather than our usual flat postage rate 01945 581534 Sheila x

Hi Noobag06 We sell gel toe tips in store and online £3.99 for a pair in size small or large Large is ideal for big toes and small for other ties, the length can be trimmed down with scissors to fit. https://www.justballet.co.uk/products/just-ballet-gel-toe-tips?variant=25724059975 Sheila x

How about the So Danca SD69 leather shoe? Full sole, soft leather and elasticated around the top so no drawstring and a snug fit We stock them at Just Ballet - we can try to fit by email

Oh my that's an awful first pointe shoe experience. I agree with pas de quatre, take them back and go somewhere else. You need to be able to try LOTS of pointe shoes on to be able to decide what feels right! Your feet should always be assessed before you get near a pair of shoes, as should your general strength, core and any injuries or weaknesses noted. Sometimes first timers are unsure whether they are sinking in their shoes and bearing weight on their toes or not, so we get them to try a wider shoe on and whilst safely sitting, then put their foot onto pointe so they know what the wrong shoe feels like. Your foot is at its biggest when you are on flat in a pile in 2nd. In this position your toes should still be straight and flat, not scrunched up in the shoes. Shoes have to fit in this position, and also in the shorter position when you rise on to pointe (without the sinking I mentioned above!) I don't know where you're based, but if you're able to get to our shops in either Southend or Wisbech you're welcome to visit for a fitting x

Hi Liv56, I echo what everyone else has said. I've fitted 100's of dancers with shoes and there is no magic age to start on pointe. Many dancers come to us at 15 or 16 for their first shoes and we also have adults of varying ages! The MOST important thing is that you're ready both physically and mentally and your teacher will guide you on this. Rest assured you wont get left behind. Attempting pointework when you are not ready is far more likely to cause problems. Keep listening and working hard and you'll ge there! Sheila x

Welcome Sarah and Swaybacksapphire is quite right!

Yes I would second Bloch prolite split sole satin shoes - they go down to an A width fitting and start from a UK 2. Huge issues with supply from Bloch, so we stockpile them!

Ah Happy Birthday!! And a huge thank you to all the mods for their tireless work, to keep this forum going! As an adult dancer and mum of a DD I've loved following threads and learnt lots as my DD grew up! I remember tentatively seeking opinions on the old forum as to whether a Just Ballet website would be a good idea and thanks to your positive reactions and support, we started from my dining table and are still going strong! My DD is now 21 and still dancing at uni, all be it studying for a science degree, and I'm still dancing too! Thank you Bruce Merry Christmas everyone xxx

Gaynors always have been a "marmite" pointe shoe! You either love them or hate them! Personally, For my feet, I can't get on with them, I've tried different combinations and custom made pairs, but that doesn't stop me fitting them if they are right for the dancer concerned. I love my Russian Pointe Rubins, but would not try to fit everyone in them. When pointe fitting I usually look at the feet and think she'll be a ..... shoe, but then keep an open mind and try EVERYTHING suitable for the strength and shape of the foot. After an hour of fitting, the dancer may be in the first pair we tried on, but it may take a dozen shoes to reach the conclusion that it was the best. One shoe certainly doesn't suit all!

Congratulations!!! And proud to have made tutu and tiara for one of them xxx

We have lots of Lion bun nets in store! Light brown, dark brown, black or blonde - 75p for 3 And if you need pins we have a bag of 10 which I challenge anybody to try and bend for £1.50 https://www.justballet.co.uk/products/lion-bun-nets

Gaynor a should certainly last more than a couple of weeks Lildancer96! What part of the shoe is dying, the box or the shank? Sx

We sell pointe shoe glue on our shops in Southend and Wisbech and also online £6.99 www.justballet.co.uk

Hi BalletBean, At Just Ballet our Grishkos are: Soft Block £33.99, 2007 £44.99, Pro-flex £46.99, Triumph £46.99, Nova £49.99, Dream £52.99. Coloured or special order shoes from £5 on top of regular shoe price, depending on customisation needed. Also, we stock Model 6 canvas shoes and Model 6 vegan shoes at £21.99. We do also sell pointe shoes online at the same prices, but would only recommend buying online, once you've been fitted in store Kr Sheila x