HistoryIn the 1600s as ballet started to become more movement oriented with leaping and movement, it was perceived that ladies started to take principal roles because of their smaller frames and weight. At the same time shoe fashion was emerging with Louis the XIV wearing brithsly buckled shoes and pointing his toes "gracefully" in ward. At this time the standard ladies’ toe dance shoe had heels. The mid eighteenth century Italian dancer Marie Camargo of the Paris Opera Ballet was first to wear non heeled shoes. Then after French Revolution, heels were totally removed from standard performance shoes.

How ballet dancers prepare pointe shoes for performance

Breaking In: The proper breaking in of the shoe will ensure longer life. This includes deforming them in shape, striking against hard objects, wetting them and more. Very similiar in concept to breaking in a new baseball glove.

Pointe shoes typically cost $50 to $70 dollars with some of the better quality manufactured shoes going over $100. Ative full time dancers can go through shoes very quickly. The beauty of the pointe shoe has developed over time into the classic ballet slippers we are also so familiar with today.