Fitting and Wearing Pointe Shoes
Information for students from Grishko Oz

It is recommended that to wear a Pointe Shoe a student should be 10/12 years of age or older and not be overweight, (excess weight puts too much strain on young bones)

It is recommended that students should have had at least 2 years training in ballet and be taking 3 classes per week consistently (4 1/2 hours weekly).

The student should have arched instep to be able to stand en pointe,
& have sufficient strength to; 
     hold their turnout while dancing
     have a strong straight back, especially the lower back
     keep the heels forward toward the big toe (without sickling)
     use a plie, while dancing
     be capable of holding a passe balance on half pointe
     do 16 releves in the centre without stopping.

It is recommended that a student trying on pointe shoes should wear tights, the correct fit is precise, wearing socks could result in purchasing the incorrect size.
If you wear padding of any type, this should be tried at the same time.

The shoe should fit snuggly, as pointe shoes do not generally last a long time, the snug fit will not endanger growing feet. Grishko Pointe shoes are hand made by specially trained cobblers, there is no left or right shoe in pointe shoes. Each shoe should be tried on and checked in the following ways:

• No wrinkles in the box area while standing flat or en pointe - if there are it is probably because the shoe or box is too narrow.
  

• You should not be able to put your finger between the box & the top of the foot, 
  Try pressing with the heel of the hand to see if the foot fills the shoe, otherwise it is probably too wide.
  

• When standing flat footed the pointe shoe should feel very snug, this is because feet when stretched or pointed are shorter in length.
  

• Check the length by placing the the foot en pointe, the heel of the shoe should lie smoothly over the heel of the foot. Try to pinch some material, if you can the shoe is too long. The dancer will also possibly feel as she rises onto pointe that she is slipping down into the shoe - this is a sure way of gaining blisters.
  

• There should be little or no room to wiggle toes.
  

• A shoe should not be baggy at the sides when standing flat.
  

• Your toes should touch the front of the box , try standing flat in 2nd position and grande plie. 

It is important to remember that when you are en pointe, you need to pull up out of your shoes, you must not allow your toes to support your whole body. Always keep your knees & back ,straight and pulled up. Remember that shoulders should be down and your chest lifted and slightly forward.

Do NOT roll in or out at the ankle en pointe , this is dangerous - push out at where the ribbons cross in front.