'Pointe Shoes' Documents The Story Of Ballet Shoes From Factory To Stage (VIDEO)

A baseball player has his bat, a photographer his camera -- every pro has the perfect piece of equipment that helps them excel at what they do. Ballerinas and their pointe shoes are no different. "Pointe Shoes" is a short video documenting the importance of the shoes, and the time and attention that goes into finding the right pair.

The video follows Megan Fairchild, a principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, and her search for the perfect pointe.

"I think every girl in the company would say their shoe is the most important part of the performance," Fairchild said. "You want to make sure you don't have to worry about any extra things besides your dancing."

The ballerinas often have their shoe custom-made. And on top of having tailored-made shoes, the ballerinas then have a process that include busting, breaking, shaving and sewing the shoes to make them ready to wear. Even after that, the ballerinas tape their toes to prevent blisters from up to eight hour work days.

Due to the importance of shoes, the New York City Ballet even has their own ballet shoe supervisor. Angel Betancourt is the expert of the pointe shoe and is in charge of all of the ballerinas' feet in the dance company.

Despite the amount of time dedicated to each pair, they do not last for long. The ballerinas use a pair of pointe shoes per day, Betancourt says in the video. At $67.50 per pair, the company spends $500,000 per year on pointe shoes alone.

"When people put them on, they create miracles," Betancourt said.

"Pointe Shoes" was directed and edited by Galen Summer for the New York City Ballet.

Watch below for "Pointe Shoes:"

Comments

[goforitlisa]

03:02 PM on 04/27/2012

A very well done documentary. I wish it was longer! Ah... the memories....

[PEHW]

01:49 PM on 04/26/2012

Loved the analogy of baseball players and photographers with ballerinas. I did know that the shoe does not last long, but i didn't know about sewing and other things done to put them on.

This also made me think about the umpire in baseball checking the ball and pulling out a new one. That seems like a waste to me, but the pointe shoe supports the dancer's foot .

Good article.

[Marina Skachak]

02:37 AM on 04/26/2012

I gave 10 years of his daughter in a ballet college. And believe me, we admire on the stage dancers, but what a work! It is true that pointe shoes hurt his feet, but any kind of sport, art requires sacrifice. People differ in condemning and doers. Do not be afraid, just please be grateful for this, "a line stretching to infinity" ...

[metoo123]

12:04 AM on 04/26/2012

I loved dancing en pointe and still have my very last pair of shoes. Thanks for the video!

[Leelu5]

11:21 PM on 04/25/2012

i took ballet for about 6 years and pointe for about 3 years. it was fun and i enjoyed it. i was an ok student. i did not care that i was not the best. my mom made great costumes for our dance studio. having her support really helped.
i did not have any problems with my toes, other than the fact that they stayed a little short. otherwise, they are formed perfectly fine. however, i am of short stature, so that plays into it, i'm sure.

[edejan]

12:59 AM on 04/25/2012

I wanted to be a ballerina at age 5. I was too fat and had short legs, so I didn't take lessons. But I've never lost my fascination with pointe shoes and this video just fed into may "obsession" with them. There is nothing more beautiful than a ballerina's foot and satin shoe en pointe. It's amazing that they are so customized. Thanks for the great and informative video!

[TinyDancer1]

11:06 PM on 04/25/2012

I also wanted to be a ballerina for as long as I can remember. My mom wouldn't let me do it. So when I was about 25, I took my first ballet class. I usually took 5 classes a week - two during the week and 3 in a row on Saturday mornings (because I had a full time job that didn't involve ballet). I can't remember when I got my first pair of pointe shoes, but I'm on my 3rd pair now. You are right - there is nothing more beautiful than a ballerina's foot and satin shoe en pointe. If you want it, you should try. NYCB is never going to come knocking on my door asking me to perform with them, but when I dance, I dance for me. It's something I love and I'm grateful I have it.

[viciousvirago]

02:30 PM on 04/24/2012

Mother tried to get me into ballet when I was l2 because she saw too much tomboy in me. I got into the ridiculous outfits, got the shoes, did the stretching, etc. and lasted one month. My feet hurt so much I couldn't walk properly for a while.

Look at a long-time ballerina's feet and they are the ugliest in the world because of the unnatural pressure you put on your toe(s). I've seen some and they definitely do not wear sandals in summer.

[cyoohoos]

08:42 PM on 04/24/2012

I wanted to take ballet. My mother told me I was too fat. Later in life I learned she didn't want people laughing at the fat little girl on stage during the recitals.

[viciousvirago]

12:21 PM on 04/25/2012

Your mother was dead wrong. If you had the guts to try, you should have been allowed to and more importantly, your mother should have been on your side l00%.

Why not try it now? Doesn't matter how old you are. No one says you have to be good at it, but try it now and see how you feel. Good luck to you. At least I believe in you.

[p---]

02:39 PM on 04/25/2012

that's sad. there was nothing i wanted more than to take ballet, but my family couldn't afford it. i found other forms of dance, however, and have recently rediscovered that dance is one of the things that makes me truly happy.

you can still dance. there are exercise classes based on ballet - find one near you!

[Curandera]

04:35 PM on 04/25/2012

Um, whoever tried to put you into pointe shoes without years of training was an idiot.

Girls who are 12 and go on pointe have already completed 2 to 3 years of technique training BEFORE pointe. And even then you do 1 1/2 hours of technique 4 to 5 days a week and only 30 minutes to 1 hour twice a week on pointe right after your technique class.

Don't blame ballet, blame that incompetent teacher.

Pointe work does affect your feet but no more than any other sport affects joints and muscles.

[Charles Harless]

11:27 PM on 04/25/2012

Word

[qrvt]

11:36 PM on 04/25/2012

Agreed, putting anyone into pointe shoes without the training and physical preparation to make sure that you are ready is setting that person up for a dismal failure! I took ballet as a child and never progressed into pointe shoes, but I remember watching, with awe the girls that were at that level. It is a beautiful thing, but your body has to be ready for it. Expecting anything else would be like taking a couch potato and expecting them to run the Boston Marathon! I am sad that the teacher dis you such a disservice.