soft blocks

[straceydor]

my dd is only on her second pair of pointe shoes and I don't want to deshank her first ever pair of pointes so I need to get a new pair. So are they soft blocks fitted like pointes and are they about the same price or more expensive or cheaper?

[Anon2]

Fitted the same as pointe shoes and if your dd has worn padding en pointe de shanking may mean the shoes are too big. Normally cheaper than pointe shoes.

[Anna C]

Freed soft blocks often come up smaller than their pointe shoes, so it's always a good idea to get them professionally fitted. Yes, they are cheaper than pointes. :-)

[SwaybackSapphire]

Straceydor - always had my DD's fitted by Dancique in Birmingham. X

[straceydor]

swaybacksapphire - I have a lead on a place in the summer hols. Which is highly recommended by dance teacher. This place has stopped fitting recently and will be discounted. But if they don't have what is required I will try dancique in brum

[SwaybackSapphire]

Straceydor - what a shame, we need more shoe fitters not less X

[straceydor]

I think the other part of their business took over

[Anna C]

I've added the tag "soft blocks" to the thread in case you would like to read through previous threads, straceydor. Lots of useful info about quieting them down etc. :-)

[straceydor]

Thank you Anna C. I'm a good girl and read the posts i could on soft blocks before posting my question

[Anna C]

Thank you Anna C. I'm a good girl and read the posts i could on soft blocks before posting my question

Well done. ;-) It was more in case you'd like info on steaming/bashing/breaking in the shoes once they've been fitted. :-)

[Dance*is*life]

I found a couple of films on youtube about turning pointe shoes into demi-pointes and in both the instruction was to soak them overnight, remove absolutely everything and then stuff them with newspaper until they dry out.  I have never done this and I am very curious about it.  First of all they seemed to have turned them into totally soft ballet slippers - maybe the RAD would find them unacceptable - I mean they looked exactly like soft satin shoes!  Second I would be terrifyied of their disintegrating!  Has anyone ever used this method?

[SBallerina]

I have used de-shanked pointe shoes for all my RAD Vocational exams. However, I've never soaked my shoes before pulling out the box or sole.

[sarahw]

We tried once - I pulled shank off but didn't come completely so washed them in machine and then pulled out rest. They dried quite hard but dd found them very uncomfortable on sole.