pastel

Hello, moderators - please let me know if this post is in the wrong place. I have added the website to my signature, hope I have done it the right way, open to corrections. My daughter has been using a customised pointe shoe pouch for over a year now. It has made a huge difference to her comfort. She had a lot of pain with pressure on her big toes and was almost at the stage of having to quit ballet rather than applying for vocational school. We were told about this relatively new product and decided to give it a try. We moved from Australia to the UK for her to start school in September. Just before leaving, I took the En Pointe fitter training course and am now qualified to fit dancers. It has taken me a few months to settle into our new home so I'm only just starting to spread the word about this. So, this post is simply to let people know that we are offering the pouches and have set up a website with contact information. I am most happy to answer questions on the forum or privately. The pouches are individually made on the dancer's foot and inside a new pointe shoe. They consist of a custom toe separator and material to even out the weight distribution of the body when en pointe. The material is a two part, soft putty which dries to a flexible consistency to allow the dancer to work through demi-pointe and feel the floor. The product was developed after extensive research and is medically approved for dancers. The pouches help the foot to remain in the optimal alignment position while dancing and allow even distribution of weight thereby preventing deformities. The link to the website in Australia is http://www.enpointeorthotics.com.au My daughter and I also make a range of ballet hair accessories and jewellery. This has been her little project to help pay for pointe shoes. My details are below. Thank you!

Bruce Wall, yes, we thought we had missed the boat with seeing Isabelle Ciaravola (another of my dd's favourites). Her body certainly doesn't look ready for retirement! Perhaps she will freelance.

They were wonderful! But it wasn't 'again' for us It was a very much appreciated one and only time. We were able to speak with them afterwards (while waiting for the bus) and tell them both how thrilled we were. Very special

Well, this is a little belated, but we have not had internet access until today. My dd took part in the IB Stage summer school in Barcelona for the last 3 weeks of August. It finished with 2 gala performances (each slightly different) with guests from various ballet companies. I attended the second performance on 31st August, which was magnificent. The students performed a few classical and contemporary pieces including some repertoire from La Bayadere. The guests performed as follows: White Swan PdD Lucia Lacarra & Marlon Dino - this was beyond words! Carmen - Isabelle Ciaravola & Stephane Bullion Flames of Paris - Rebecca Storani (winner of last year's 'On stage with a principal dancer' award) with Vadim Muntagirov Lady of the Camelias - Isabelle Ciaravola & Stephane Bullion Black Swan PdD - Marianela Nunez & Federico Bonelli La Bayadere - Nikya Variation - Xiomara Reyes La Bayadere PdD Daria Klimintova & Vadim Muntagirov I think my dd gained more from watching these dancers close up from the wings, than the entire 3 weeks of long days of class. She was particularly thrilled to see Daria K. dance because she was incredibly disappointed that she had her final performance with ENBS just 2 weeks before we moved to the UK and thought she would never see her dance on stage. Coming from Australia, it was a real treat for us to see so many principal dancers in one show - an opportunity we have not had before. We were both utterly blown away by the beauty, grace and artistry of the performers.

Very happy to read your update. I have been wondering about your dd. We are travelling and have limited wifi, so haven't done much that wasn't super urgent - but really kept meaning to ask about her. Best wishes

Thinking of you and wishing you all the best.

Hope your dd is feeling better today.

Glad she is out the other end! It must be a relief to you and your family. Wishing her all the best for a speedy recovery from the surgery.

Thinking of you and sending love and prayers for your dd's operation.

Wow! That sounds very intense. I agree that the truth is our children are competing with that level of training and dedication. I don't know how kids can work until late at night. They must get so exhausted.

Hope to meet your dd at ENBS. All the best for Thurs/Fri.

Yes, it was a lovely display.

I took my dd to see the LAB presentation this afternoon - we had a lovely time! I saw you Michelle, but didn't spot you afterwards to introduce myself. Great work everyone! Such a lovely atmosphere

I will pm you Angel

DD said all the boys are in one group.... No, she is not in blue, she's in green. Will you be there on Friday this week or next (for the demonstration)?

Yes, mine is loving the classes but also exhausted at the end of each day.

Excellent news Regattah

Hi, my dd is doing both weeks. We are staying in a hotel in Battersea. Our room is small, but if you were able to get a separate room for your dd, I would be happy to look after her. She could just sleep in her room and travel, eat etc with us. We have been buying salad supplies from the local supermarket and eating simple meals in the room. Please PM me if you think this may be an option and I'll let you know more details. I don't feel comfortable advertising everything on a public forum. Alternatively, could you contact ENBS and ask if they know of anyone who could help. My dd said 90% in her class (she's 17) are from Italy and Spain, so doesn't sound like too many locals. She did, however say there were some English students in the younger group.

Balletteacher - that looks very similar to the product my dd was fitted with. Interesting. Her dance physio was really happy for her to use them (she has been doing pointe work for over 6 years). Not sure what the situation is with less experienced dancers. With regard to the hygiene issue mentioned in the article. We were told the material doesn't absorb odour/bacteria. So far they don't smell at all. Time will tell.

Legseleven, we've just decided to get a second pair because they won't last for 3 years. Dd got one pair fitted into her paste shoes and the second will be for her Gaynors.

Just thought I'd make a comment about something we recently bought for our dd. She's had quite a lot of issues with pointe shoes, mostly due to really bendy feet. But the past few months, her 4th toe has been dislocating and causing a lot of pain while doing pointe work. After trying several brands, we saw a dance physio who sent us to a special fitter......that didn't help. Then, someone showed her their pointe shoe orthotics (which are quite expensive) but since we were desperate, we tried them. They work!! The fitter basically makes a custom toe separator and then moulds the 'putty' around the foot to fill in the area below the smaller toes, then they cover the front of the foot like an 'ouch pouch'. When the putty stuff hardens, the dancer has a custom made toe separator/pad. Not sure if you have such a thing in the UK. Here is the link to the ones we used. http://www.enpointeorthotics.com.au

That is an amazing resource, toursenlair! Very helpful

Thanks Alison - I remember Time Out - can't believe it is still around...

Thanks for those links

Is there a thread on this forum about upcoming performances (other than ticket exchanges)? I'm trying to find out what performances are on in London during the second half of July, when dd will be at ENBS summer school. It is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack on Google! Can't believe you have SO many choices! How on earth do you decide what to see????