suzysue Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 It's curiosity really but wondered if anyone had any thoughts on how on earth my daughters pointe shoes have lasted so long? She started on pointe at age 12 in February 2014. 2 1/2 years later and she is still in the same pair of pointe shoes! The ribbons haven't even needed resewing. She usually only does 1/2hr pointe class a week although recently there's been extra exam prep and rehearsals for shows and festivals on top, they must have been danced on for 50-60-70+ hours. How can this be? She's been told she has strong feet (and her shoes are Bloch serenade strong), is it that her feet are strong so she is not needing support from the shoes or did she not need the stronger shoe? I am grateful for the expense I have been saved, as we approach their 3rd birthday I am also mystified by their long life! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cara in NZ Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 Ha, you should just be VERY grateful! My DD has only gone through 3 pairs in 18 months, and only broken one pair. The other two she outgrew, so I would think you have also been fortunate if her feet haven't grown in that time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzysue Posted December 17, 2016 Author Share Posted December 17, 2016 Yes, that's true, pretty sure we're done with the foot growing. If it's any consolation, my son must have had about 10 pairs of football boots in the same time! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MumToTu Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 (edited) You are so lucky my dd's first pair of pointe shoes Grishko Pro Flexes lasted 4 weeks before being broken in. She is nearly 12 and only wears them 30 minutes a week!! Her second pair are Grishko 2007 medium shank. Which she has worn 3 times now and don't look to be wearing out as fast. But 2 pairs this term! Hoping this second pair last longer as she I assume going to be dancing En Pointe a lot more as she progresses... Edited December 17, 2016 by Snowflake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 (edited) Lucky you, my DD was going through a pair a week for a while. She has very bendy feet, so now they have strengthened they do last at least a month! Edited December 17, 2016 by Loulabelle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 It's usually bendy banana feet that go through pointe shoes quickly But half an hour per week isn't very long so it might be the fact she's not doing much. Dd's Bloch shoes lasted two terms (but didn't suit her feet). Her Merlet are gorgeous but only last 6 weeks. Her Gaynors last around a year (she has very bendy feet) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygirlsmum Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 DD is in third pair in 9 months but only due to growth. I have no idea if her feet are strong or not but I do know that they have changed shape quite considerably since starting in MIDS in September. The fitter in Freed commented that it is quite usual that a narrow foot becomes much wider as the metatarsal gain strength from all the exercises RB have given to her to do. Is there a rule about strong feet needing strong shaft shoe etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 (edited) I think it's the opposite actually. Weaker, bendier feet need a stronger shoe both to support & to last longer. Professional dancers who one would assume are strong often like to dance in softer, almost dead sometimes, shoes. Edited December 17, 2016 by Picturesinthefirelight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 No Pictures is right, the stronger the foot is the less need for a hard back. A bendy foot needs a strong back until strength has been built up. My DD used to break Grishko hard backs very quickly, she now wears a Russian Pointe medium back and can wear them until they are fairly soft. She used to need a hardened wing as well but she doesn't need to Shellac her Russians. Flexible ankles, high arches and bendy feet are very pleasing to the eye, but are high maintenance and hard on the bank balance! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzysue Posted December 17, 2016 Author Share Posted December 17, 2016 Her teacher said dd's feet are strong and flexible. They look like feet to me, long and thin and definitely smelly. Anyway I very pleased to have only had to pay one pair so far!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygirlsmum Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 Thanks for explaining, that does make sense. DD's first two pairs say studios professional on the bottom (I don't know if that is the name of the style or if they all say that) latest pair are custom ones made for someone else but best fit freed could manage. I actually think the first two look nicer but what do I know ???? Dance teacher has previously said DD has good feet but I don't know exactly what she means by this, she is hyper mobile with swayback legs. I don't know if this indicates bendy feet ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miracle Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 At least 2 pairs a month rotated. She rotates about 4 pairs that are in varying degrees of hardness.x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygirlsmum Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 So you don't always buy the same shoe - is that because fitter recommends different shoes or different shoes/hardness for certain dances? Sorry for all the questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 I think some fitters prefer and/or stock different brands and styles so that influences. Also the foot shape changes as you do more pointe work as well as with growth. Some use different shoes for different tasks. Eg the shoes that look best may not last long so save for performances etc. My dd used a different shoe once as the Bloch she needed were out of stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 Yes similar for dd. She wasn't overly getting in with her Bloch & changed to Merlet which she said felt like an extension of her own feet. They looked lovely. However they only last a matter of weeks hence the move to Gaynor's when she first tried Gaynor's she couldn't get on with them but after a while her needs changed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2dancersmum Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 My DD has had a few pairs of the Bloch Serenade Strong that have lasted the same number of hours as that, though over months not years as she was at vocational school and doing a lot more pointe than 1/2 a week. Equally she has had bloch serenade strong that have worn out in half the time of other shoes. She did not start out in the strong though and only switched to them when she started killing shoes more quickly. She has worn a mixture of Bloch and Freed mostly over the years and generally had 4 pairs on the go, rotating them with her own preference for performance ready, exam ready or just for class. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shygirlsmum Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 Thanks for answering everyone x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzysue Posted December 19, 2016 Author Share Posted December 19, 2016 That's interesting 2dancersmum, thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pups_mum Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 My DD seems to make her pointe shoes last longer than the average. She's worn Gaynor Mindens for a good number of years now and they definitely last longer than traditionally constructed shoes, but even when she wore other brands she seemed to keep them longer than her friends did.I'm not sure why. She's never had any that lasted as long as suzysue's DD's though! With the Gaynor's it seems to be the box softening that ends their life, or simply that they look battered (and smell somewhat iffy!) that consigns them to the bin - the shanks do seem to be pretty much indestructable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canary Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 My DD is the same as you 2dancersmum - would prefer to stick to Freed but they just don't last as long as Bloch Senergy for her. Used Gaynors for one show as she hoped they would last the rehearsals but they are just not good for you, they don't let you use your feet so she stopped using them. Usually has four pairs on the go depending on the dance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legseleven Posted December 19, 2016 Share Posted December 19, 2016 DD can definitely use her feet in her GMs, Canary so I think it must definitely be that they work for some but not all, as with every pointe shoe. She feels that they have strengthened her feet further by making them work hard to roll through her feet correctly. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Just as a heads up gaynor minden a can be washed either by hand or on a gentle cycle in the washing machine to make them clean or to stop the smelling funny???? Because they are made of synthetic materials they don't break down when washed???????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canary Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 My DD suggests to other DD's that Gaynors are a performance shoe for professional dancers to cheat, they were not made to be trained in. My DD does not know of any teacher who would encourage a student to use these in training. If you look at the shoe before you buy it, you can see that it is pre arched, this means that any dancer that doesn't have exceptionally strong feet can go from flat to point simply by hopping on to the shoe, this damages the achilles and shin and weakens the dancers over all point work ability. Yes some professional dancers do use them, but that is because they have acquired the strength in their feet to be able to break them in enough and because in the long run for some professionals they are cheaper if you are paying for your own shoes. My DD was surprised to think young dancers were wearing them for years during training and recommends that dancers in training buy a proper pair of pointe shoes and a Thera band and ask their teacher to give them metatarsal, foot and ankle excersises to get them back on track, otherwise they could be in trouble soon. The best people to ask are S&C coachs that specialise in ballet, they will advise the individual dancer what's best for their feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moomin Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 I don't really have any knowledge but I don't understand how you can 'cheat'? I've heard Gaynor mindens are harder to roll through which put me off because as a beginner practically everything involves rolling through your shoes! Surely it would make you feet stronger though? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straceydor Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 forgive me but who are S&C coachs Canary? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 (edited) I would thank your daughter to keep her opinions to herself especially if she has not seen the dancers in question. I find it amazing that someone over the Internet can over-ride the combined opinion of two physiotherapists, and several vocational school teachers. Edited December 20, 2016 by Picturesinthefirelight 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Couldn't agree more pictures!! I use gaynor minden after trying very many shoes( just ballet can vouch for that) and going through them at quite a pace. I've found since using gaynors that my pointe work has become stronger and I've found no problem with the springing onto pointe. None of my teachers at full time school have expressed any concern over my choice of shoes. Every foot is different and what works for one person doesn't neceraaarily work for another Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 My DD suggests to other DD's that Gaynors are a performance shoe for professional dancers to cheat, they were not made to be trained in. My DD does not know of any teacher who would encourage a student to use these in training. If you look at the shoe before you buy it, you can see that it is pre arched, this means that any dancer that doesn't have exceptionally strong feet can go from flat to point simply by hopping on to the shoe, this damages the achilles and shin and weakens the dancers over all point work ability. Yes some professional dancers do use them, but that is because they have acquired the strength in their feet to be able to break them in enough and because in the long run for some professionals they are cheaper if you are paying for your own shoes. My DD was surprised to think young dancers were wearing them for years during training and recommends that dancers in training buy a proper pair of pointe shoes and a Thera band and ask their teacher to give them metatarsal, foot and ankle excersises to get them back on track, otherwise they could be in trouble soon. The best people to ask are S&C coachs that specialise in ballet, they will advise the individual dancer what's best for their feet. In regards to the pre arched comment there are also other shoes that come pre arched so are those 'cheater shoes' also?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legseleven Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 Pre-arched shoes are harder to balance in on flat and the fact that dancers CAN 'spring' onto pointe in them does not mean that they will do so! My daughter feels that because it takes work and strength to roll up onto pointe correctly in her Gaynors, this has strengthened her feet and legs further. Her strong and very arched feet basically meant that even hard shanked traditional shoes were simply not lasting for her and she tried Gaynors on the recommendation of all of her teachers, 2 of whom were RBS trained and including an experienced RAD examiner - I can assure you that they would not and do not let her 'cheat' in any way. As I said before, they won't suit everyone but then neither do the many traditionally made pointe shoes. DD feels that for her the negatives of having to balance on flat in pre-arched soles (which she certainly doesn't need) and the real work needed to roll up and down from pointe are more than compensated for by having a shoe she trusts - and my wallet agrees. Nobody can make a blanket statement about Gaynors being 'cheat' shoes for everyone, certainly when DD, along with many many others, is not allowed to 'cheat' by her highly trained and extremely experienced teachers. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Gaynors are unique in their construction (as far as I understand it) but other pre-arched shoes don't work in quite the same way as Gaynors. My dd has high arches and insteps, and wears pre-arched Russians. They are made on a curved shoe last which means that the fabric around the sides is cut to a different shape. They hug her feet much better than shoes which aren't pre-arched, which tend to gape a lot on demi-pointe. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 My daughter wanted to try Russian Pointe shoes but they don't make them to fit her size 2 G fitting feet & we didn't feel it was worth the risk of custom made if they may not suit her anyway. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheila Beelam Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 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! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulabelle Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Gaynors are unique in their construction (as far as I understand it) but other pre-arched shoes don't work in quite the same way as Gaynors. My dd has high arches and insteps, and wears pre-arched Russians. They are made on a curved shoe last which means that the fabric around the sides is cut to a different shape. They hug her feet much better than shoes which aren't pre-arched, which tend to gape a lot on demi-pointe. My DD also wears Russians although sometimes customised Freeds. The Russians she wears are definitely not constructed in the same way as Gaynors which she has tried and could not get on with. She has high arches and insteps like Taxi's DD and they are the only shoes we've found that hug her feet well, Gaynors didn't despite being pre-arched. Different shoes suit different feet but I will say we were advised by a top London dance physio for DD not to wear Gaynors for similar reasons as Canary has said. This may only apply to my DD though, I wouldn't make a sweeping statement and suggest that the advice we were given applies to anyone else. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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