Ballet is an enchanting piece of art that most children and teens love to pursue. Executing steps and stunts in lightweight footwear help to maintain balance and support in toe dancing. However, to become an elite ballet dancer, one must render extensive hours in the dance studio to achieve the desired flexibility and strength. And since there are numerous reasons to make pointe shoes fragile, pointe shoes need to be changed depending on their state. Given these situations, how many pointe shoes do you think ballerinas consume in a week?
A pair of pointe shoes typically lasts 12 to 15 hours of usage with an average of 2-3 pointe shoes every week, and four pointe shoes for professional ballet dancers, depending on how strenuous the training is. There are multiple reasons why they don’t last long. While these figures may apply to pointe shoes worn on professional ballet stages, dancers may extend the life of their footwear since a damaged pair of pointe shoes should be destroyed. Most ballerinas cannot afford to replace their regular pointe shoes because of aesthetic concerns, as they cost between $80 and $120 each pair. Hence, they wear their pointe shoes until the shank and sole cease to provide adequate support, which might impede their dancing and pose a risk to them.
WHY DO BALLERINAS CHANGE THEIR SHOES?
Pointe shoes are not sturdy as they deteriorate and mold to your feet. A brand-new pair keeps you up around 4 months on an intermediate for newbies. However, it would get quite soft with dead pointe shoes. So, when the shoe no longer supports your feet, it’s tougher to dance for hours onto the end. For that reason, dancers need new shoes since their old ones quickly wear out from practicing so much. Humidity, sweat, and how you take care of your shoes would determine their longevity. The more you utilize the shoe, the more chances it would break. They’re also really difficult to use. The only option you could do to elongate the lifespan of your pointe shoes is to treat them better than your regular shoes since your performance and physical health wholly depends on your toes or, generally, your whole body. Additionally, the shoes are useless if there are far too many breaks. It can also cause bacteria to multiply if canvas shoes do not replace every 30 days. That’s incredible – consider that this ballerina’s lasted 22 years. Imagine how many shoes she went through!
HOW DO BALLET DANCERS AFFORD POINTE SHOES?
The company mostly settles for the shoes as part of your job materials. Some give their dancer 10 pairs of shoes every week. While some are unlimited, relying on the company. However, most dancers have preferred brands, some of which are more or less expensive than others. A professional ballet dancer could go through 100–120 pairs of pointe shoes in a single season. The firm spends approximately $100,000 annually on pointe shoes, which average around $80 in one pair of shoes. Not excluding the elastic, toe cushions, ribbons, and other miscellaneous accessories that dancers require to reduce discomfort and increase safety. These sunk expenses may have an influence on annual finances for any non-profit organization, as ballet companies almost invariably are. As a result, many dance groups transform pointe shoes into fundraising initiatives. Many ballet companies host yearly pointe shoe fundraisers where they actively solicit funds to support this division in front of a larger audience.
SHELLAC AS SHOE HARDENER
Before wearing your shoes, shellac coats the interior to stop moisture from penetrating the shoe. One of the factors in the paste in the shoe crumbling is moisture. Extending the lifespan of your pointe shoe might be crucial to prevent dampness from entering the canvas from the start. Besides, Shellac gradually solidifies the shoe, keeping it from becoming too soft. You can either pour the fluid straight into the shoe or paint it onto the soles. Leave the pointe shoes afterward for at least one day until it is ready to use again. Then, use jet glue to re-harden if it is slightly damaged.
Keeping healthy and safe must be the top priority of every ballerina, especially since they spend hours and sweat in the dance studio to hone their skills. And because pointe shoes are the best buddy of all ballerinas, having one that works well for your feet can have an impact on your training and performance. Investing in quality pointe shoes may improve the state of your feet as each brand has different fitting or yields for particular kinds of feet. Though, frankly, pointe shoes can still easily be damaged that many ballet dancers from non-profit organizations hardly afford to purchase pointe shoes in their local stores. Thus, many ballerinas are left miserable and hopeless to continue pursuing their pursuit of interest, which is ballet. Despite the demands in pointe shoes, it is yet advisable to modify your pointe shoes now and then for comfortability. Some ballerinas own at least two pointe shoes to use them alternately. This technique can also be used (aside from Shellac), especially if you buy your pointe shoes to save money and time.
