Q&A for How to Tie Pointe Shoes

Going on pointe requires many, many years of training and strengthening your footwork, calves, and feet. It's a wonderful thing to strive toward. There are many factors that determine when you can go on pointe, including your age, the size of your feet and toes, your level of strength, and whether your teacher thinks you are ready.

Most certainly, it just takes more time to get that arch in the back of your foot, but you will get the hang of it!

No. It is not safe to go on your toes in ballet flats. Only go on pointe in the shoes that are made for standing on your toes: pointe shoes. Let your teacher show you how to properly, and safely, go into pointe.

No, definitely not! You need years of experience before pointe. I have done 5 years of ballet just to be en pointe! Do not attempt pointe without an instructor that approves you and supervises you!

Roll them up and tuck them under the ribbons around your ankles. Dancer's tape works great, too.

There should only be one "X" across your foot. Then, you go around your ankle almost twice until you have just enough ribbon to tie.

It depends. Sometimes you will wear one pair for a while that fit your feet perfectly, but then your feet grow and you have to try another brand. I would suggest you try out a variety of brands and sizes until you find the one that's the most comfortable for you.

No. Pre pointe shoes are just for practice, so you can get the feel of pointe shoes. You should just roll up then come down with them.

You can try bathing your fingers in salt water and they should feel better.

You can cut a little bit of it off, but it doesn't really matter if it shows. My rule of thumb is, if you can't see it from ten feet away, don't worry about it.

Just put a bit of rosin on the ground, then step on it while wearing your pointe shoes.

Well, if you are sewing them yourself, just work on them whenever you can. Pointe is hard. It will take years to fully become good, so try to be patient!

If you get it wrong the first time, don't worry. You might need to rip them out, cut them, and start again. I am on pre-pointe and had my mom do them my first time. Ask your dance instructor for help if you're not sure you know what you're doing.

Yes.

It depends on what kind of ribbons you have. If you have stretchy ribbons, you can try tying them a little tighter. If you have silky ribbons, you could try tying your shoes with your foot on pointe, instead of at a 90 degree angle.

Put your foot through the elastic, then tie them using the steps in this article.

That depends on some factors. It doesn't hurt too badly if you don't have any cuts, bruises, etc., but it is easy to get those once you really start dancing en pointe. It also depends on the shoe you are in. Shoes that don't fit or are super hard will hurt more.

No, it is not! Do not attempt to stand on your toes in anything other than pointe shoes. Anything else could be dangerous!

There is no "best age" for this. Ballet is for everyone. As long as your body is fully developed, you are strong enough and you have received sufficient training in ballet, you're good!

It really depends on your foot type! I would recommend going to an experienced pointe shoe fitter. The most common pointe shoe brands are Freed, Grishko, Bloch, Gaynor Minden, Capezio, Russian Pointe, and Suffolks.

Put some nail polish on the ends of the ribbon. Or, carefully burn the ribbon with a match at the end, taking care not to set the ribbon alight.

You can unstitch the ribbons and resew them onto your new shoes if they are still in good condition.

It all depends on your feet and the shoes. The pointe shoe fitters should help you with any accessories, so ask them about whether or not the spacers would help you.

Pointe shoes do hurt, but if they are extremely uncomfortable, then perhaps you could sell those shoes and try a new pair that fits better. That is, if the shoes aren't broken in too much. It may take a while to find the perfect shoe for you, and it is quite expensive. Discuss the problem with your ballet teacher.

Boys rarely go on pointe because of the differences in weight and size. It is traditional for women to appear weightless and to "float." That being said, a man might go on pointe to experience what his partner is feeling or to play the role of a woman.

It's hard. Along with the pain that comes with it, you need to take care of your shoes. (Sewing, breaking in, making sure your ribbons don't fray, etc.).

No, but it's easy to fix. Before you put your shoe on, tuck it into the inside!

No. It depends on lots of things. You should be around 10-15 to dance en pointe because your feet need to be developed well. Make sure your instructor/teacher will let you get a pair. Be responsible, and be ready to manage pain.

No. Most dancers start pointe from around 10-15. You should make sure the bones in your feet are developed and your leg muscles are sufficiently strong before dancing en pointe. And only when your instructor advises that you are ready.

Elastics hold the backs of the shoes up and ribbons hold the sides of the shoes up.