So, whats the Pointe?
A pointe shoe is a complex piece of equipment. It may not seem so at first, because on the surface, you see everything we want you to see: effortlessness, elegance, grace, all wrapped up in the light pink satin of the shoe. But if you look closer, you'll see there's much more to it than just a pretty shoe. The inside of the shoe is lined with layers of plaster and netting as well as hard plastic, suede and canvas. It is built this way to support the weight of the dancer. Pointe shoes are one of the most important aspects of the female dancer’s life. I know this from experience. I may not be a principal dancer at New York City Ballet, but I know what it’s like to depend on a pair of pointe shoes, so that is what I am here to talk about today: Pointe shoes, and what I’ve learned from them so far.
