Balletopedia

Sewing Ribbons & Elastic

Sewing Ribbons Even before you go on pointe, you may need to know how to sew ribbons. Some schools require ribbons on technique shoes for exams; some require students to wear shankless, “pre-p...

Peek Inside

They are all covered in lustrous pink satin; they all look very similar on stage. When seen in cross-section, however, the differences among pointe shoes become clear.  Most traditionally mad...

Pointe Shoe Anatomy

Binding: the fabric channel through which the drawstring runs Box or Block: the stiff toe cup that encases the toes Box Liner: the soft fabric that lines the inside of the box Girth: the measur...

How a Pointe Shoe Works

Pointe shoes enable the dancer to balance, spin, hop, pounce, slide, and linger on the tips of her toes. Before the advent of the modern reinforced pointe shoe, around 1900, ballerinas wore soft...