Resplendent Turn-of-the-Century Photographs Of Ballet Dancers!

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | May 31, 2014 | Ballet Photography, Pointe Shoes

Delight your eyes with these beautiful black and white images taken at the turn of the century to ballet icons on pointe either in their dressing rooms, class or backstage. It always amazes me how the lack of color in a photograph gives great contrast in lighting and depth. Here, the subjects, Anna Pavlova and Ida Rubinstein appear to be suspended in time. Take a close look at the effect the shadows have in making the images come to life. Eerie, right? Resplendent Turn-of-the-Century Photographs Of Ballet Dancers! Resplendent Turn-of-the-Century Photographs Of Ballet Dancers! For more images go to BuzzFeed.com. Resplendent Turn-of-the-Century Photographs Of Ballet Dancers! Share this beautiful gallery of Anna Pavlova’s with your friends!...

Should You Deshank Your Pointe Shoes? [Video]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Jan 20, 2014 | Pointe Shoes

Should You Deshank Your Pointe Shoes? Cutting off part of pointe shoe shanks is common practice among many highly trained and experienced ballerinas. (Also known as deshanking or 3/4 shanking). Personally, I do not advocate doing it. However, many ballet students want to know why other ballerinas do it and how it is done. Should You Deshank Your Pointe Shoes? For educational purpose, I’ll show you in this video how it’s done, and explain the reasons for this practice. If you’re a student still, I recommend you get a good fitting at the pointe shoe store and avoid de-shanking your shoes. They’re expensive and you can seriously hurt yourself! Video uploaded to YouTube by Romy Macias. Should You Deshank Your Pointe Shoes? I don’t deshank my pointe shoes. I want them to last as long as possible. Our company does not pay for ours so we have to make them last! What did you think about this video? Please give us your Like if you enjoyed and learned something new. See you next time. And shanks for stopping by! 😉...

How To Harden Your Pointe Shoes [Video]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Jan 13, 2014 | Pointe Shoes

You love the fit of your pointe shoes and you know they cost a bundle (your mom is going to be so mad if you ask her for another pair next month). What can you do? You can strengthen the box of your pointe shoes by adding Jet Glue (I’m not promoting only this brand. There are several, but this seems to be the most popular with lots of ballerinas). You can find a link at the bottom of this post with several alternatives. How To Harden Your Pointe Shoes It’s very easy to harden your shoes and therefore extend the life of your pointe shoes. How to Jet Glue your pointe shoes: Here’s what you’ll need: Jet Glue or the brand you prefer. (Check out bottom of this post). Small paint brush or old blush brush. Make sure it’s free of dust and dry. Newspaper to avoid spilling or staining your surface. Gloves for protection. Follow the video below to apply glue inside your pointe shoe box to stiffen your shoes. How To Harden Your Pointe Shoes Video from Romy Macias’ YouTube channel. How To Harden Your Pointe Shoes I hope this video was helpful. Please comment below: Do you use glue to prolong the life of your shoes? Do you apply yours differently? And make sure to “Share” with your ballet girlfriends too. Their moms will be...

Why I Love/Hate My Pointe Shoes [Video]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Jan 4, 2014 | Pointe Shoes

Why I Love/Hate My Pointe Shoes If you’re just starting to train on pointe or if you’re a seasoned ballerina, you’ll enjoy this video where Romy tackles three questions: 1. How did Pointe Shoes appear in ballet? 2. What don’t you like about pointe shoes? 3. And what do you LOVE about dancing on pointe? Why I Love/Hate My Pointe Shoes I’m sure you’ll relate to some of the experiences I share in the video below. Make sure to share your own in the comment box below! Source of video at YouTube. Why I Love/Hate My Pointe Shoes Here are a few links where you can learn more on Marie Taglioni and the evolution of the pointe shoe....

Pointe Shoes: Do You Get Blisters or Calluses?

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Jan 4, 2014 | Pointe Shoes

One of the “fringe benefits” of dancing on pointe are blisters and calluses, which can later turn into corns, or even worse… you can get all three! Do You Get Blisters or Calluses? So what kind of a dancer are you? A callus kind of girl (or guy) or a blister-prone one? I’m prone (for the past 2 years) to bunions, but not so much to calluses, nor corns. My small toes (pinkies) have formed cushions (calluses) for protection and have not changed much in the past years. (Please, do NOT get pedis. These “natural” cushions have formed there to further protect your toes.) Earlier on though, I did blister frequently. Like my ballerina friend above (María de Jesús) I would blister frequently. I mostly got mine on my big and small toes. If this is your case, you need to first figure out the root of the cause. Is your pointe shoe box fitting correctly? Is the box the right width? Or is the box too wide causing you to “fall” into the box? You also need to check you toe pads. Are they smooth inside? Are they bunching up in anyway, causing the blisters? These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself. In Mary Chuy’s case (see photo above), she might have to adjust her draw strings, perhaps loosen them a bit. Or she can check the length of her pointe shoe I suggest you consult your ballet teacher or if you have a certified fitter, ask him or her. Do You Get Blisters or Calluses? Now, concerning calluses and corns, I asked Chase Johnsey...

Pointe Shoe Drawstrings [Video]

by Romy Macias, Senior Editor | Dec 30, 2013 | Pointe Shoes

Pointe Shoe Drawstrings Draw strings are the finishing touch to  your pointe shoes. After having gotten well fitted pointe shoes, sewn on ribbons and elastics, prepped your shoes and softened them, now it’s time to put them on and adjust the draw strings. There a two type of materials used for draw strings as well as two different placements. You’ll learn how to properly tie them for ultimate comfort! Pointe Shoe Drawstrings Video found at Romy Macias’ YouTube channel. Pointe Shoe Drawstrings I hope you find this video helpful. If you do, please “Share” with other young ballerinas by clicking the button below. Thanks!...