Cheyenne

Anjuli_Bai, the truth is I am rather shy and unassertive person, and I was not a match for the boorish man in the shop. I will never make the mistake again, though! This pair, I bought before I came away to uni, I had just left my teacher at the time (couldn't show her the shoes), didn't have time to go to London for a proper Freeds fit and I - I admit - settled for a pair that I knew weren't perfect. On top of that I then had a break from pointe dancing so they didn't get the usual work out, and I wonder if my feet changed a little. I have actually broken the shank (which I never had in this style before) but I haven't touched the box - even with all the good old techniques I could never get it to soften - after many many hours of classes in them and of home practise (I don't have enough class time in the week to get away with not practising in my kitchen, I'm afraid) it looks almost new. Maybe I just got a bad pair fitted by someone who wasn't 100% on it - my own fault I know for buying them, but the point is I now need to rectify the mistake.

Thanks Aurora, My plan was to take my current shoes and my old favourites (I could never throw them out, because they were the best shoes I ever wore) and explain the issue. Perhaps a bit of jumping up and down on the spot while I'm waiting to be seen will help, ha. Do you know the area? I heard the place in S. Shields is supposed to be good?

Hi all, I have been dancing en pointe for (ooft) maybe 6 or 7 years and I made the AWFUL mistake last time I needed new shoes of going to my local shop in my home town rather than taking the trip to London. I have always had Freed Studio 2s, I have a very strong arch and was warned off the student shoe because I would break them and I have a short but broad foot, so the wider box and platform was really useful. I should say, the shoes I currently have have never been a perfect fit (I kind of felt bullied into buying them to be honest), if anything the box is a little large and the shank was slightly too hard until I snapped the left one in class last week. However, my dance teacher's main problem with them is that my feet look like they're bulging out over the vamp. She suggested the vamp is too high, but when I practice at home in front of the mirror they look okay. I realised it is because after an hour and a half of flat work, my feet are a bit hot and puffy when I come to put my pointes on. I am finally able to afford a new pair and I am definitely back off to London but I don't know how to predict how they will look when my feet are hot. Does anyone with experience have any advice? I will of course let the fitter in Freeds know that I have this concern, but how can I be sure that they won't look beautiful on my cool feet but then have muffin tops when I've warmed them up again? I don't recall ever having this problem before so it could just be this disastrous pair of shoes...

Hi, I am a student at Newcastle University, currently doing my Masters year. I always knew I couldn't give Ballet up when I came to Uni but never really sought a Uni for its dance scene (although we do have a very active dance society at Newcastle). I decided that it was better for me to continue lessons with a teacher outside of University and that has proven to be a fantastic decision. It gives me something away from the pressures of Uni life that is all mine. When I finished 6th Form, I had just completed a Grade 6 exam with IDTA so I found my school by looking up teachers of IDTA and contacting them all once I got into Newcastle (literally, the day after results day!). I basically went with the teacher that seemed a best fit for me, and who wasn't too expensive! I would really recommend finding a consistent class or teacher away from Uni, and if you want to get involved with anything at University then do. I always avoided things at Uni, largely because I am shy. Hope this helps. Cheyenne