The Future of the Point Shoe
The future of ballet is in our glimpse thanks to new, revolutionary innovations to the pointe shoe. Traditional pointe shoes, composed of a wooden block, leather sole and canvas or satin body, is both painful and harmful to dancers despite its beautiful appearance. Ballerinas en pointe risk ankle injuries, blisters, and toe deformations from the harsh impact that dancing in these shoes has. Not only that, but traditional pointe shoes aren’t very durable, lasting only between 2 and 20 uses depending on their wear. Because of this, shoe companies are attempting to reinvent the pointe shoe to be safer and more comfortable for the dancers who wear them, as well as longer lasting.
A UK dancewear company called Inspire, which prides itself on being the future of dance, has created the Flyte pointe shoe, which “has embraced 21st century technology whilst maintaining the classical appearance of traditionally made shoes.” The sole and block are one flexible piece with a spinal construction for out-of-the-box use and comfort. This piece fits into interchangeable outer shoes, making them much more durable than traditional pointe shoes, as the outer shoe can be replaced when it gets worn out.
Nike is partnering with Bloch, another dancewear company, on a project led by Miami designer Guercy Eugene to create a shoe intended as a “training shoe that will assist developing ballet dancers during the evolution from beginners ballet slippers to traditional pointe shoes.” These shoes, still in the conceptual phase, will have a woven mesh construction and extreme support to virtually eliminate the risk of ankle and foot injuries. This shoe, called the Arc Angel, will also incorporate memory foam into the sole and lacing for added fit, and once they become too stretched for the ballerina to dance in, these shoes will be able to be put in the oven to shrink back to their original shape.
Though these revolutionary shoes are still fighting a losing battle to the elegance and grace of traditional shoes, it is clear that there is a bright future of safety and comfort for ballerinas on the horizon.