Seeking good pointe shoe fitter in Baltimore-Washington DC area

[Just-the-Driver]

If anyone here can recommend a good place to go to have pointe shoes fitted in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area/corridor, I would be greatly appreciative.

 

My 16-year-old has never really found pointe shoes that are right for her, and every single place we go seems to have either teenagers or college students who are dancers doing the fitting. They don't have any particular expertise, other than suggesting various styles and pairs and having her try them on.

 

I would really like, at this point, to cut to the proverbial chase and take her to someone who knows what he or she is doing, once and for all.

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, which you can post here or send me in a PM.

[BalletK]

Here are two threads on the subject:

http://dancers.invisionzone.com/index.php?...amp;hl=bethesda

 

http://dancers.invisionzone.com/index.php?...amp;hl=bethesda

 

 

I personally have been to Artistic Dance Fashions. The fitter who we saw was an adult and knew what she was doing. My DD wears GM's and had a few fitting issues which we ended up resolving at a later time. However the fitter asked her to pointe her foot firs thing, took one look and said, you aren't going to get any better than GM's with that arch/instep. I don't believe they even sold Gaynor's there - so she wasn't just trying to win our business. We didn't purchase anything there but came away recommending that people go there other than our local store which has teens and uninformed fitters.

 

Good luck!

[djeowmom]

Hi Just-the-Driver, I did not personally experience this, but a friend felt they were well cared for at this store in Frederick MD.

 

Footlights

[Just-the-Driver]

BalletK, is this the Artistic in the Baltimore/Towson area? If so, that's the place we usually go (or have gone) and it hasn't really worked out. Let's just say gluing bits of gray foam rubber into the heel of the shoes (her suggestion) did not solve the problem. We have done business with that establishment for years and they are very nice, but I am looking for someone else.

[DianneC]

My DD's best fitting experience has been at Artistic in Bethesda, MD. Call ahead and make sure that Ellen will be there. She's the owner and the best fitter around. The other staff are very experienced also. They are not teenagers. We had a bad experience at Footlights, although it's a beautiful store. DD was fitted by a teen, no adults on the premises that day. We bought 2 pairs for Nutcracker season and the shoes were not correct when she got back to the studio. We had to make another 1 hour each way trip to Frederick to return the shoes during crazy rehearsal season. Nightmare!!!! I will not go to Footlights for a fitting ever again.

[Just-the-Driver]

Dianne, thanks. I will do that. It's worth the trip. Can you tell me what brands of shoes that they have there?

[djeowmom]

Interesting ... a reminder to me not to pass on other people's information.

[DianneC]

I know that they do have Bloch, Capezio, Grisko and Russian. Those are the brands dd tried. Not sure of any other brands. You should probably call before you make the trip.

[BalletMobile]

I have been lurking here for years, but just had to finally post to second the recommendation of Footlights in Fredrick, Maryland. We have been to Artistic in Bethesda, but Footlights has so many more shoe brands, styles and they are usually in stock. We drive 1 1/4 hours from Virginia to get there. After four years of the wrong shoes, my dd finally got the correct ones at Footlights. If you want to make sure a very qualified fitter is there when you go, call ahead and ask to speak to Joy (the owner) and schedule a time.

 

Now that we have found the perfect shoe (for the moment ) we just call up and have them shipped to us. If they are in stock we get them in 1-2 days.

 

It's also a fun little town to walk around in!

Edited February 18, 2011 by BalletMobile

[Just-the-Driver]

BalletMobile, thanks! I have friends who work for the Frederick News-Post and have been there quite a few times. Glad to get the recommendation. Thanks to all for their input. I am surprised no one in the Washington DC area has responded: you would think there would be several places there, due to the Washington Ballet being there.

[BalletK]

No, not Baltimore, the Bethesda one and I do believe we had Ellen as well.

[NanC]

We've used several places and the two that stand out are Ellen at Artistic in Bethesda - not a huge selection and what she has in stock varies, but she will order if you know what you need. Footlights in Frederick is lovely, but the fitting was not what we had hoped for and DD ended up with a pair that weren't right for her. Won't be making that drive again.

[BalletMobile]

Artistic in Bethesda is the store The Washington School of Ballet sends their students to. We went there 4-5 times, but only once did they actually have the shoe in stock. It became very frustrating when trying to find a new shoe. If you go there you might want to call first and see how much they have available. I suppose it can depend on when their shipments come in.

 

Footlights does have a web site that shows all the shoes and styles they carry.

Edited February 18, 2011 by BalletMobile

[WAballet]

Would anyone recommend a store in D.C. area that sells Gaynor Minden pointe shoes and has a good fitter? A group of international students comes to D.C. area in April (I believe) and some of them really like G.M. They won't be able to drive far, so, the store in a public transportation area would be great. Thanks!

[julisha]

Artistic is walking distance from the DC Metro-Red Line Bethesda stop. If you call Ellen and give her a heads up on the number of students coming and that GMs are needed, I'm sure she would be willing to accomodate. Whatever she doesn't have, she can order and if she knows in advance, she can pre-order.