Gaynor Minden wearers speak up!

[spinbug]

I just want to hear from any adults out there who really enjoy wearing their Gaynor Minden pointe shoes and why. If you have any stories as to how your teacher encouraged or discouraged your purchase of them I would love to hear that as well. Also, if you do wear them what has been the reaction or response from other dancers and teachers about that?

 

Thanks,

Candi

[Dance_Scholar_London]

I know that the Royal Ballet School (RBS), Covent Garden does approve GM, however, the lower division has to start with Freedsl. The upper school has free choice of what kind of brand/make they want to wear. I asked this question at the last teacher seminar at RBS as I was interested in their reaction towards GM. Actually, they dont mind as they look more for potential instead of judging the student on her choice of pointe shoes.

 

The two schools I collaborate with do accept GM, especially for 3rd year students (final year of the BA) where students have a lot of rehearsal in addition to their academic curriculum. GM raises also the issue of much lower costs. The students that I asked stated that they change their GM every 3 months. That saves a lot of money.

 

There are certainly students who tried them but did not stick to them for whatever reason. When you dont like a shoe you dont wear it for a long time anyway. My GM are still in perfect condition though I have painted them black

[elise]

GM is on my list to try next. I have a couple more pair of Sansha to kill before I shell out the big bucks. I am curious about this thread because I am concerned their method of customizing the shoe just by adding inserts and stuff might not be to my liking.

[spinbug]

I agree! Be forwarned of the salesperson who does not have your true size and wants to sell you what they do have! Thankfully GM's do have a lot of choices as far as shanks, heel height, box width, etc. It makes fitting them easier. Of course, if a shoe does not fit your foot, a shoe does not fit your foot. (GM has a really cool website that talks about their shoes and how they should be fitted. It might be helfpful to check it out before you go to the store to try them on)

 

Good Luck!

[wembley]

I'm an adult student with a pair of GM's, and I found that my placement was much better in them than in my Blochs. My teacher in Melbourne did not like the teenagers wearing them (it was a very traditional school), but thought that they might be worth a try for me.

 

However, I'm currently not doing pointe as I decided to pull myself off pointe while I worked on my strength and technique.

[Guest fairychild]

I'm a former wearer of GM's, which I have to admit I loved! I switched to Bloch Serenades at the request of my instructor, who's not crazy about GM's. As long as I did one performance on the Serenades, she's fine with me switching back to GM's when my Serenades die.

 

My only complaint is how the foam on the bottom of the shoe gets ripped off...if I'm going to shell out $90 for a shoe...I want it to not get ripped up on the bottom!!! Other than that, I loved them...I love the fact that I can "customize" my shoe and I feel that they fit me better than some others (and there's been a lot) that I've tried! They are very comfortable and I always felt "on" my shoe.

[Avalon]

Like Elise, GMs are the next ones I will try. I am being fitted next week (it took me a while to find a store with a trained fitter and I have to travel about 75 miles). Because I am an adult, my treacher is willing to let me try them, even though she personally has some hesitancy. I have followed the controversy with much interest over the last year and have decided that it makes sense for me to try these shoes. I have difficulty with shoes that can accomodate my bunions and if GMs make me more comfortable, I am willing to see if I lose strength or have bruising or blistering, just to name some of the complaints I have seen regarding GMs. I'll let you know how it goes, and how they seem to compare to my Gambas.

[Mel Johnson]

I wish that Consumer Reports would run a comparison quality control check on pointe shoes, but that's such a small market, they're not really likely to.

[spinbug]

Fairychild,

 

I'm almost certain you can find GM's on line for less than 90$! I think Discount Dance Supply may have them for sixty something. That is quite a savings. Only helpful if you know what size you already wear.

[spinbug]

I wish that Consumer Reports would run a comparison quality control check on pointe shoes, but that's such a small market, they're not really likely to.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I guess one need only ask. It couldn't hurt anything could it? It might be something worth my looking into. Or anybody else out there with some connections want to give it a try?

[shulie]

GMs are the next on my list too.

[Guest fairychild]

Fairychild,

 

I'm almost certain you can find GM's on line for less than 90$!    I think Discount Dance Supply may have them for sixty something.  That is quite a savings.  Only helpful if you know what size you already wear.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yes, I know Discount Dance has them for less, but for a long time, they only carried one type of shank...they are expanding now on their shanks, which is a start. Still...it's an expensive shoe regardless! I love them, I just wish they didn't fall apart on the bottom...it sucks when the shoe is still in great condition shank-wise and the box is perfect...but the bottom is ripped up. I mean, I literally had chunks of foam that came off the platform - made balance VERY hard!!!

[spinbug]

 

Fairychild,

 

Oh... you're talking on the outside of the shoe? My shoes last a really long time without getting ripped up because I put "mole skin" on the tips of them to protect them and I change it out when it gets thin. You can buy the tip protectors directly from Gaynor Mindens and other dance stores but I think it is too expensive. If you look in the pharmacy area of a Walmart you can usually find it there. I think Dr. Scholls makes the stuff. I hope that helps.

 

It's good to know Discount Dance is widening it's selection. I've considered going to a softer shank and knew they only carried the extra-flex.

[Guest maggie]

LOVE THEM!!!

 

I tried everything when I danced as a teenager, and always HATED my pointe shoes (I have very long, very tapered, very compressable feet that never seemed to work with anything). I took a break from ballet for many years, and now that I am back (and dancing on pointe again), I have discovered GM's...and it's the most wonderful shoe I've ever danced in. I probably wouldn't have quit if I'd had them back when I was a teen!

[gerlonda]

I like gaynors. The first pointe shoe I had were Bloch serenades. Then Grishko Elites (which by the way fit my feet PERFECTLY). But you can't beat the comfort of the Gaynors. I can "stand" pointe class until the very end. In the traditional shoes, after 15 minutes into pointe class my form would start to become compromised because my feet started hurting. No longer would I be focusing on placement, turnout etc., my thoughts were only "My achin' toes!"

Pointe in gaynors is painless to me. The only times when I feel pain is when my right big toenail splits (like it did today and like it does very often- NOT because of the shoes; it's been doing this for years).

By the way, I must try the mole skin on the tips of the pointes! You all don't find that it makes things slippery or sticky?