The Pointe of it all....

The pointe is to have fun, isn’t it?

For many Princess Tutu players, the pointe shoes are a big part of the costume, and it should be. However, the problem with pointe shoes is that they are a specialized piece of equipment that only experienced ballet dancers should be wearing. For the untrained cosplayer, the decision to wear pointe shoes is one that requires thought…



Firstly, let me explain exactly what pointe shoes are. They are not slippers, but hard supportive shoes that allow a dancer to dance on her toes. The foot is completely pointed inside the shoe, and the shoe is constrictive and tight, giving her support. Dancing in a loose shoe could be disastrous! For this reason, it can be a stressful process getting shoes fitted, since they must fit the dancer perfectly. Most pointes are made out of natural materials in a process that has remained nearly unchanged for years. They are molded out of layers and layers of burlap, paste, cardboard, and paper mache, making them very hard, yet able to break in and mold to the dancer’s foot with use. There is an inner and an outer sole, but it is the hard “shank” in between that supports that dancer’s arch. You will find the soles to be too short for your foot when you stand flat, but this is normal, if not a little uncomfortable. Because your foot shortens as you point, the soles will become the right length en pointe. The outside of the shoe is covered in a “European Pink” or light pink satin. Different brands of pointes will have different colors - Capezio tends to make very pink shoes, Charcotts have an orange tint, and Grishkos are nearly white. They can be tightened around the foot with an elastic drawstring that is then tied off after fitting, and satin ribbons and elastics are then sewn onto the shoe. The ribbons are tied around the ankle, and elastics are sewn across the shoe to held keep the shoe in place.

While the shoe helps a dancer get on her toes, the shoe does not to the work for her. A dancer must remained “pulled up” out of the shoe to be able to achieve the graceful and effortless looking dance, requiring a strong core and technique. Ballet may look easy, but it is one of the most involved and difficult sports you could take up. There is a saying in the dance world: “If ballet were any easier, it would be called football.” It takes an enormous amount of strength, discipline, and technique to dance well in pointe shoes. Even to just stand up in them.



But why the big fuss over beginners or even complete greenies in pointe shoes? There IS a danger in using pointes, even if you claim that you will only go en point while holding on to something.
When you go up en pointe, in addition to needing an insane amount of strength just to get up and stay up there, your foot and ankle need to be positioned correctly in the shoe. If you “sickle”, you can easily fall and break your ankle. It’s not difficult to get hurt en pointe at all. Even professionals can suffer injuries.

~“But I’m gonna practice at home!”
No amount of practice at home, even with instructional videos, can take the place of classes with a ballet instructor. Ballet involves a lot of fine body placement and engagement that takes years and thousands of repetitions to learn. Even if you know what is correct and what is not, it takes training to get your muscles to automatically do what is correct. That’s why it takes years to learn ballet - it’s about muscle memory and kinesthetic intelligence. You can learn about the positions and movements from books in a few hours, but getting your body to do them correctly can take years. For ballet dancers who have trained for pointe, their feet are automatically in the correct position when they get up on their toes because they have the muscle memory. A few sessions in front of the TV is no replacement for years of classes.

But what if you -really- want those pointe shoes? If you truly want to learn the art of ballet, then go and take lessons and EARN your pointe shoes. You can begin ballet at ANY age, and while you will not be able to join a company or become a full blown professional if you start after 13 (the sad truth), you can still become a great dancer and you certainly can start pointe work. There are many, many adults who have started ballet late in life. Go online and find some ballet studios close to your home - many offer adult classes or classes for teens. Always give them a call and ask - they may start a class if there is enough interest. Also check into classes at your community college or college. Dancing in pointes feels so much more fulfilling if you have actually earned them.

But there will still be cosplayers who want the shoes anyway, but don’t really want to devote themselves to some lessons. Personally, I feel that this is fine. It’s your cosplay, your feet, and you can do as you like. I would like to offer some tips, however:

-Get your shoes professionally fitted. This means finding a dance store (they are not that hard to find), and calling in to ask for a pointe fitting. Ordering pointes from a catalog is not wise - feet come in all different sizes, and you may even have one foot that is larger than the other. You need to try on many different shoes to find the ones that work for you. If the store asks you anything, tell them you will be wearing them in a photoshoot, on flat. Don’t lie and tell them you are in ballet lessons when you really are not - they might give you a shoe that is too advanced for your feet. (You’ll be surprised at the number of options pointe shoes have). Be professional, mature, and kind at the fitting. Be patient. You can also purchase a selection of pads that go inside the shoes. The inside of a point shoe is nothing like the inside of a sneaker - no padding, so gel insoles, and usually no flocking, just plain canvas, so a bear pointe shoe can be very rough and scratchy. Most shoe fitters will have you try on the pads you plan to purchase along with the shoe.

-Do you own research on how to the tie the ribbons and elastics. Putting in the time and thought into good research makes for a better cosplayer.

-Don’t try anything stupid. You will regret it. Keep to poses on the flat (time to get creative!) and don’t try standing on one foot en pointe. If you really want to go up on pointe, than hold on to someone/something.

-Remember that real dancers can tell that you don’t know what the hell you’re doing. Even in a waist-up shot, we can tell. While this shouldn’t stop anyone from cosplaying what they love, don’t try to pass yourself off as an actual dancer. Get creative and make up some poses that are not balletic, if you like. Even the placement of the arms is very specific and takes a good deal of training, so try for some fun poses that don’t require knowledge of ballet technique. If you are playing Ahiru, as opposed to Tutu, make fun of your lack of ballet knowledge! This photograph by WindoftheStars illustrates this pretty well: Here. Rosebud also has a fantastic Ahiru cosplay - her facial expressions and use of her body help capture the character and make every shot entertaining: Look

-Pointes can be beautiful, even on flat. This photo by Allspice as Femio illustrates this: Here It all depends on your pose! Make up poses where you can sit and lounge in your shoes!

Remember, the pointe of it all is to have fun!