demi pointe shoe frustration (whilst on the flat) doing arabesque and

[leanne]

Hi,

I am getting exceedingly frustrated with a problem I have

Whilst wearing my Bloch demi pointe shoes, on the flat, doing a long attitude or arabesque exercise my shoes feel like see-saws and my arches keep twitching and pushing my feet side to side! Causing me imbalance and sometimes even totally unable to hold attitude or arabesque for longer than 5 seconds!

 

What on earth could be causing this please?

 

I am fine doing these exercises wearing ballet slippers or bare feet, but it's just in demi pointes

 

I have tried shaving the outer sole to make it more flat but that didn't solve my problem.

The shoes fit me fine, right length and width, size UK 4, width B. I'm a UK 4 street shoe with a narrow foot, compressible metatarsals, tapered toes.

 

I do 2-3 ballet classes a week and pilates once a week too.

 

I have worn both demi pointe and pointe shoes since last spring and took a break from beginners pointe but I do some beginner pointe work once a week or so too.

 

Thanks in advance!

[LaFilleSylphide]

I'm curious to know if your shoes very new. Shaving the outer sole is a good first step though. Anyway, are they?

[leanne]

Hi!

They are about 5 months old and very worn in

Any idea what to do?

Thanks

[Miss Persistent]

Shhh.... Don't tell anyone else this but I'll let you in on a secret

 

I personally think these Demi-pointe's are the worst invention ever, and you would actually be much better off in a pair of de-shanked old pointe shoes (Both for balance, and practice for future dancing). Also, the official RAD uniform for VGE exams according to the Teachers Handbook, is not for Demi-pointe's, but for "Soft Pointe Shoes". The RAD have just come to accept these demi-pointes...

 

If the Bloch Demi-pointes are the same as they sell here in Australia (which I'm assuming they are) it's not the outer sole you need to worry about, it's the inner sole. Now - This is my own personal cheat, not all Teachers will approve (and I'm pretty sure the RAD might not!) but here goes...

 

Have a look inside, under the thin leather inner sole layer, there is probably a thick spongy layer which is a psudo shank. The problem with this "shank" is that it's spongy, and it doesn't support your foot very well - hence you are wobbling because the shoe is giving way under your foot. This is why I believe most girls are better off in a soft or de-shanked pointe shoe as it will support your foot better - But back to our secret.... Peel off (carefully) the leather innersole and save it for later. Now, pull out the horrible spongy shank, give it to your dog to chew, and re-glue the leather inner sole into the shoe with craft glue. You now have a "demi-demi-pointe" shoe! Ta dah! Far better for balance, and probably makes your arch look nicer, but we have also just destroyed the reason that the RAD want you to wear soft pointe shoes, to learn to dance in pointe shoes... which takes me back to my earlier point about demi-points being a silly invention and soft pointe shoes being the better option.

 

As I say, it is not a sanctioned practice! But I have seen girls go into exams with shoes like this and nothing has ever been said (Maybe just make sure you put them onto your feet before anyone notices!)

[Balletlove]

Now, pull out the horrible spongy shank, give it to your dog to chew, and re-glue the leather inner sole into the shoe with craft glue.

 

beautiful, just loved it.

[Guest Pas de Quoi]

Yes, yes and yes! I agree Ms. Persistent! My students already had these shoes when I took over the pre-pointe classes. I really tried to like them and then just gave up. They are expensive, and don't do what they are supposed to do, in my opinion. We have gone back to just working in soft slippers in preparation for eventual pointe shoes. My students don't present for exams, but I will pass this valuable tip along to those who would still like to work in their demi-pointes.

 

Thanks!

[chocakety]

Leanne, I feel for you! I personally dislike the Bloch demi pointes and I always thought that it is a technique problem for me when my feet keep moving to the side. My teacher says that the purpose of the Soft Pointe is to check if the dancer is sinking or not sinking into the shoes. (Isn't all shoes are able to check that problem? :l)

 

If you have access to the Sansha Soft Toe shoes, I feel that you should give them a try. They are not as thick as the Bloch ones and make soft pointe work much easy compared to the Blochs. It makes you be able to feel the floor except that you need to smash the box several times to make it fit to your feet.

 

Miss Persistent, any idea what the box is for in the demi-pointe shoe? We wouldn't be going up en pointe with them

[leanne]

Excellent advice guys thank you all!

I will go modify my shoes but I will also try my deshanked Suffolk solos too!

Yay I feel hopeful now!

[Miss Persistent]

Miss Persistent, any idea what the box is for in the demi-pointe shoe? We wouldn't be going up en pointe with them

 

Pointe work is definatly NOT advised! Unfortunately there is no box in the Bloch demi-pointe. Have a look at these pictures - they are (left to right) a new Capezio Contempora, a worn Bloch European balance, and a worn Bloch Demi-pointe. You can easily see difference...

 

http://s1136.photobu...misspersistent/

 

Sansha also make a "demi-pointe" shoe, but I have not had much experience with it so can't comment. I still honestly think a pair of old pointes is cheaper and better!

[chocakety]

Wow it is really different from the demi pointes that is sold here. All the demi pointes here comes with a box and one would need to literally smash the box first before wearing it

[stitchfan]

I also found bloch demi pointes harder to balance in! Have switched to grishko demi pointes and the problem was gone. the only problem with the grishko demi pointes is that the box is way harder so you'll have to try to soften them up a bit. Once the box has soften and moulded to your feet, they're great! Hope this helps

[leanne]

Hi!

I had grishko demi pointes but they were the wrong size and the box too hard (though I didn't try smashing it!)

 

I removed the padding under the innersole in the Bloch's but alas still same problem, so I tracked down a Gamba stockist in UK and I now have a pair of Gamba delco demi pointes in a N fitting and they are perfect! I still get the odd twitching foot when trying to balance but nothing as bad as the Bloch's! They are also made way better in my opinion!

[DaPixie]

I have never tried Bloch's Tensus Demi Pointes, but I am about to find out in a week.

 

I personally think these Demi-pointe's are the worst invention ever, and you would actually be much better off in a pair of de-shanked old pointe shoes (Both for balance, and practice for future dancing). Also, the official RAD uniform for VGE exams according to the Teachers Handbook, is not for Demi-pointe's, but for "Soft Pointe Shoes". The RAD have just come to accept these demi-pointes...

 

That's confusing. What's the difference between demi-pointes and soft pointe shoes?

 

If you have access to the Sansha Soft Toe shoes, I feel that you should give them a try. They are not as thick as the Bloch ones and make soft pointe work much easy compared to the Blochs. It makes you be able to feel the floor except that you need to smash the box several times to make it fit to your feet.

 

I have been working with Sansha's DP802 (UK Style) for a number of months. In fact I like them a lot. For some reason I can actually balance in them a lot better on demi pointe than I can in regular flat ballet shoes. That's why I am a bit puzzled when I read that so many people hate soft blocks.

 

I have not worked with Sansha's DP801 (US Style) but I've touched and tried them. The box is much harder than the DP802, much more like the box of a pointe shoe. There's just no shank, but there's nothing soft about them.

[Miss Persistent]

I have never tried Bloch's Tensus Demi Pointes, but I am about to find out in a week.

 

I personally think these Demi-pointe's are the worst invention ever, and you would actually be much better off in a pair of de-shanked old pointe shoes (Both for balance, and practice for future dancing). Also, the official RAD uniform for VGE exams according to the Teachers Handbook, is not for Demi-pointe's, but for "Soft Pointe Shoes". The RAD have just come to accept these demi-pointes...

 

That's confusing. What's the difference between demi-pointes and soft pointe shoes?

 

 

The Demi-pointe shoes being spoken of here are a particular shoe model sold by Bloch. They do not have a traditional shank or box, and cannot be used for pointe work. They are essentially a "mock" pointe shoe - one designed to give a students part of the feeling of dancng in pointe shoes. However, in my personal opion, they are a poor substitute for just learning to dance in old pointe shoes that have had their shank removed (or better yet - leave the shank in and build some foot strength!)

 

The Bloch demi-pointe contains a soft, foam shank, only 1 or 2 thin layers of newspaper/material in the vamp, and the box is significantly flatter and smaller than any kind of normal pointe shoe.

[DaPixie]

So it looks like the Bloch Tensus demi-pointes are just like the Sansha DP802 (which has a semi hard box made of 4 layers), but with a thicker foam shank.

The Sansha DP801 have a really hard box. They are essentially pointe shoes (actually based on the Sansha "Debutante" #D101 pointe shoes) without shanks.

So what is meant by soft point shoes? Pointe shoes that just have a very flexible shank?