Tuco123

I didn't buy any toe pads before the first fitting, the shop had them there and so gave my DD some to put on when trying shoes. We found the right pair of shoes (eventually) and so we kept the toe pads that she had on during the fitting. When we went back for the second fitting we took the 1st pair of pads with us and my DD wore those while trying on shoes and that's when I didn't buy a fresh pair of pads. Rang shop today, the fitter said one pair of pads will definitely last two pairs of shoes and if her pointes are decrepit (which they are, they've softened quite a bit) she'll be in more pain than usual. Plus her foot shape may have changed and so might need a completely different shoe. They have a few different pads to try anyway so we should be fine. They're very good where we go, they have an excellent reputation so I'm confident 👍

Thanks everyone It's her 3rd pointe shoe fitting. The fitter supplied the toe pads there and then the first time so she could try pointes on whilst wearing them to get the correct fit. I didn't get new toe pads the second time, maybe I should have done and it's all my fault of why she's felt so much discomfort! I'm going to ring the shop to ask what choices they have.

That's great, thank so much for the advice. I shall look into those suggestions 👍

Hi all, can anyone recommend good quality cushion toe pads for pointe shoes? The last pair my daughter had were a bit on the thin side, didn't offer much padding. She has a pointe shoe fitting next week and so want to have them ready to take with us. Many thanks in advance

Indeed, all the girls chuckled on this occasion too! I've seen actual pics of a girl wearing the capezio ones and they look way too dark for my DD. I went out yesterday and couldn't find any in Primark, H&M, Asda, Tesco or Morrisons. I think I'm going to be left with no choice but to get the bloch ones and hope for the best :-/

Oh yes, I see that now haha!! Thank you

Ah, so if it says that on the packet it means they'll have that line?

The tights are for two things. One for a Greek exam to wear with leotard and Tunic, the other is for her lyrical modern routine at festivals to wear with her lyrical dress. Of course, I've noticed that some girls wear them for lyrical at festivals and some don't. I personally think they look better without but at one festival, an adjudicator commented very strongly that all girls should wear them in lyrical modern. I have to say it's the first time I've heard that and my DD's teacher said every adjudicator is different and that there are no rules as to wearing them for lyrical, but seen as she needs them for her Greek exam, we may aswell keep them for the lyrical just incase. As I mentioned at the beginning of this thread, I bought some, they turned out to be a yellowy tan colour. She wore them for her first time performing the lyrical and they stood out a mile on stage. They looked awful!

I didn't realise that, I'll have a look on the high street then...feeling more positive about finding some now

The thing that put me off looking for some on the high street was that I was under the impression womens/girls tights sold in clothes stores have a gusset seam line across the top of the thigh....unlike specific dance tights that don't? Is that not necessarily the case?

Well I have searched the entire internet and have gotten nowhere. Revolution tights are no longer available so my options are down to two.....Capezio light suntan or Bloch light tan. Both of them look too dark and images on the internet differ greatly. My local dance shop doesn't have them for me to see by eye so I'm going to have to risk ordering one of the above knowing I can't send them back if they're wrong....and with the price of them, that's a lot of money to waste. Can any of you help me out with the shade difference between the two? Which one is lighter?

Thank you very much everyone. I'll have a look at the bloch ones then....I don't want them to be as thick as Nora Batty's haha!!

They have to be completely footless and non shimmer

Hi all, I'm hoping you could help. I'm trying to find some tan footless dance tights for my DD but I'm struggling to find ones that aren't too dark. I did buy some that looked light on the internet but when they arrived they were quite thick and almost a yellowy colour. They're awful actually and very obvious. She hasn't got a tan at the moment so all the ones I've seen look too dark. I need them to be seamless, light/nude colour, matte and semi opaque....so that they basically look like skin. Any ideas of brands?

Thank you ???? I know there are lots of changes within the BBO with the rebrand etc. Website is still playing catchup re information, current leotards aren't supplied with logos until the new one is available, syllabus changes aswell as new musical theatre syllabus etc. I know the scholars scheme used to only be in London so it's fantastic that it's now more accessible here in the north too, otherwise it wouldn't be an option to audition where we live. Plus the mids is a great new addition which makes it available to all levels. My DD'S teachers went to the new headquarters last weekend, they said it was lovely. It's very reassuring you've all said the audition process is taken as a class, my DD will be pleased to hear that!

Ah, so is it the case they don't have to attend the scholars weekend?

Thank you for clearing that up. I don't want her to audition, possibly get through, but only find out about these costs afterwards only to realise we couldn't fund it all. I would hate to disappoint her in that way and so want to find out what we'd be faced with financially before she auditions. The BBO website only tells you the audition cost, there's no information on costs after that. She's definitely going to the Dance Days next year regardless of whether she gets on the scholars scheme, so a reduction in cost would be welcome if she does. Thank you

It's the Ballet North that she would be auditioning for. She was worried that a string of steps would be rolled off the tongue and she'd have to dance them straight off without having chance to think. I know the cost of the scholars scheme is £160 if she were to get through but is there extra cost (apart from travel etc) for the Oct Elmhurst weekend or is that included? Same question for the April Dance Days...is that a separate cost? She did the April Dance Days last year but not through the scholars scheme so we just paid for her to go. Thank you for your replies

Hi all ???? Does anyone here have any experience of their children taking part in these? I'm interested to know in what form the auditions are i.e are they free work or taken as an instructed class? Also, I know it's one session a month but is that over 10 months/12 months? Any information would be gratefully received. It would be my DD's first time auditioning for it if she decides she wants to, so knowing what it involves or what to expect would really help ????

The fitter actually said that the heritage may not always be the shoe for her because over time the more pointe work she does, the more muscle she will build in her feet and so her shape may change. She advised always trying on multiple pairs at future fittings just to be certain. Yes I also have to darn....the teacher prefers it (also I think it looks better). Of course I've never done it before so I've watched some YouTube videos to help me. I'm scared lol!

She got the Bloch Heritage. They really do look stunning on her, we took them to ballet class this evening and got approval from both her teachers (phew!) She is absolutely thrilled with them...I'm certainly going to have to crack on with all the pointe shoe prep this week otherwise I'll never hear the end of it!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to update you all on the pointe shoe shopping. We had an appointment at Barnums on Saturday and it went extremely well. So much so, my daughter now owns her 1st pair ☺ The appointment lasted an hour and a half and she tried on 8 pairs. The first pair the lady picked out were actually THE pair right for her....it was as if she knew just by looking at my daughter's feet which pair were right. Still tried on all the others just to be sure. Very professional and patient, she certainly knew her stuff. They are absolutely beautiful, fit perfectly and we're all so pleased....especially my girl....she's in love with them. Thank you all for your knowledge and advice, it really did help ☺

I think that's sensible, otherwise I'll just get bombarded with all the different brands, who sells what, the different prices and the fuel needed to drive all round the Northwest will cost a fortune! There's been a few recommendations for That's Entertainment and my daughter's teacher, plus a couple of people here, have recommended Barnum's so I'll stick with those two to begin with. Asking what brands they stock beforehand is a great idea, I shall do that

Ah that's really helpful to know, thank you very much. I'm going to ring some of the recommended places tomorrow and get some appointments made! You have all saved my bacon here. You've given me confidence in these shops, that they know what they're doing and my daughter will be fitted properly. A huge relief for me so thank you :)

Great thanks, I'll look into that also. I will definitely keep you posted on our pointe shoe adventure I appreciate all your help, thank you again. No doubt I will have other questions to ask about all things dance now that I've found this very helpful forum