New York City Ballet "Pointe Shoes"
by Galen Summer

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Ballet Épaulement.

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I've had many students ask me to clarify what I mean when I ask them to use their  épaulement  (ay-pohl-MAHN)  while dancing.  Correct  é paulement , or placement of the head and shoulders while dancing, can mean the difference between looking like a student and looking like a refined dancer. É paulement requires that the dancer angle his or her head .   I often say to "offer one cheek forward, as if presenting it to receive a kiss."   Exceptions, of course, are the  é cart é   positions, where the head is turned either toward the elbow ( devant ) or away from the arms completely ( derriere ).   Below is an illustration of the correct  é paulement , dependent on the position of the body.  The position that is labeled quatrieme (fourth)   is also referred to as en face (opposite [the audience]). The sooner you memorize the positions of the head and shoulders, the sooner you can start incorporating them into your danc...
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Pointe Shoe Prep

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I received some questions this week about sewing and prepping shoes, so I'll attempt to answer those and include some additional information.  During the week of September 1st-5th, I will be spending the first half of class making sure everyone knows how to sew their shoes, but here are some pointers for how it's done. Elastic and Ribbons Elastic should be 3/4" wide.  Dancewear stores will typically give you enough to sew one elastic per shoe, unless you specify that you wish to "criss-cross" your elastics, in which case, you'll need double the amount. Criss-crossing can help if you find that the heel of the shoe is slipping off with only one. Be advised that dance elastic is much stronger than what you will find at your local fabric store, and more readily comes in pointe shoe-appropriate colors.  Melting the edges of your cut elastics will prevent fabric fraying, but don't let the elastic actually touch the flame--burnt elastic smells pretty nasty. ...
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Preserving The Life of Your Pointe Shoes

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Pointe shoes—those tiny, shiny, glorified piñatas, which today, make it possible for ballerinas to dance complete, three-act ballets on their pointes .   They can be expected to last anywhere from 3 months to 3 hours, depending on the demand placed on them.   For a dancer in a professional company, they are considered work supplies, and the cost is put on the company she/he dances for.   In the case of students, the cost of these educational tools, which can run between $40-$85 a pair, is often on the parents or the student themselves to cover.   The more the student is dancing, the quicker this pointe shoe budget adds up.   Why do the shoes break down so fast?   The answer is simple:   most pointe shoes are made from natural materials (leather, cardboard, burlap, layers of paper, glue, and satin).   These materials create a supportive structure that is also pliable enough to move with the dancers feet.   As the dancer’s feet bend a...
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