Apr 5, 20238 min read

9 Essential Accessories For Pointe Work

Pointe work can be painful, complicated and tiring, but your shopping list doesn't have to be! Here are the pointe shoe accessories I would most recommend for dancers en pointe. First, let’s talk about the main star- the pointe shoes themselves. What are the most popular brands? And how do you find the right pair to fit your feet? It is vital to have pointe shoes properly fitted, for safe and effective pointe work. There are a multitude of different brands and the only way to be confident of a perfect fit is to select a few of the well-established makers and visit their shops in person. They will have someone there, trained in fitting pointe shoes professionally, who will help with a selection of their different shoes. Popular brands to consider: Freed of London: Most of these shoes are hand-made in England. They have the reputation for allowing the dancer to "roll down" through their shoe smoothly. This means that the shoe passes from the "en pointe" position to the "demi-pointe" with more ease and control than other brands might allow. The downside is that because the shoes are hand-made, they don't last as long as machine-made versions. Bloch: A popular Australian brand with a broad selection of shoes. Sansha: These are French and made in a distinctive, light coloured silk. Repetto: Another popular, traditional French brand, established since 1947. Nikolay (Grishko outside the U.S.): A Russian shoe with a wider sole, recognised for their resilience, they tend to wear better than most. Gaynor Minden: These are the only brand making both the shank and the box with flexible polymers. Often considered the ‘Marmite’ of the pointe shoe world! Capezio: An Italian staple with a wide selection of shoes. Dancers tend to be very loyal to their chosen brand, so it is important to first find a shoe that fits your foot comfortably, performs well and looks elegant. It is tempting to be lured in by look of a particular brand. Remember: Try a variety of different shoes and make a note of how you feel in each pair when you have them on - marketing can sway your emotions later…. Each maker will offer several models of shoe and customisation options, so keep going until you find the right pair. Just because one model, size or brand suits your feet now, that may not always be true; be open to changing brands if necessary.

Once you've found your pointe shoes, you'll want to consider theses accessories:

1) Pointe Shoe Glue So, you are probably thinking that buying a selection of these perfect little satin creations sounds expensive… Well, yes, and that leads us neatly to the first must-have accessory- pointe shoe glue. This glue is used to strengthen the box and shank for added longevity. (You can also darn the shoe platform to extend the life.)

How do I choose?

Jet glue vs Shellac

Jet glue comes in a small 2oz/60ml bottle and is the faster, neater way to strengthening shoes. Shellac varnish is typically in a tin or bottle (sometimes a spray) and is applied using a small paint brush. Jet glue

Bunheads Jet Glue from Capezio

Pros:

Transparent
Easy application
Durable
Dries quickly
Can be applied at any stage in the shoe’s lifespan
Odourless

Cons:

Expensive
Dries rock hard, so is difficult to layer

Shellac

Shellac from Amazon

Pros:

Easy to layer so you can choose the strength you need
Cost-effective

Cons:

Each layer slightly shrinks the shoe
It can be messy
Leaves a light amber colour
A slow drying time
It leaves a distinctive odour
Requires a paintbrush to apply

2) Ribbons and elastics:

While most pointe shoe brands will offer pre-cut ribbons and elastics, ready to be sewn onto your shoes. However, dancers often find that it is more cost-effective to buy both in bulk. You can even try...elastic ribbons! They're a bit more expensive, but a lot more comfortable and allow for a greater range of movement. Watch this video for a demonstration and tips on how to sew ribbons and elastics perfectly:

Ribbons are ribbons really, they don't vary much. The only decision is whether you want the elastic variety or not (and if you want to match your ribbon colour to your skin tone).

Link to roll of non-elastic ribbons

Non-elastic ribbons from Amazon

Link to roll of elastic ribbons

Bloch elastic ballet ribbons from Direct Dance

There are more varieties of elastics than ribbons, and more choice as to where, precisely, to sew them… How do I choose?

Wider elastics tend to be more popular as they are less likely to dig in to the dancers‘ skin, however, thinner elastics can have more actual elasticity, which allows for more stretch and range of movement. Where to put it: Most commonly, they are sewn into the back of the shoe, to help prevent the heel sliding off. If your foot has a particularly high arch, you may want to consider sewing criss-crossed ribbons over the top of your foot (see below). If your vamp is too low you can sew a strip of elastic just below the drawstring. Link to wide elastics

Tendu wide pointe shoe elastics from Amazon

Link to narrow elastics

Move Dancewear narrow elastics

3) Toe pads

These little miracles are a pretty essential pointe shoe accessory. They cushion the toes and act as a soft barrier between you and the pointe shoe, delaying blisters and protecting the nails….to a degree! There are many different styles of toe pads, so choosing the right pair for you can feel daunting. Here is a list of the most popular types and the pros and cons that inevitably come with each. How do I choose? Foam toe pads: Foam toe pads from Dancewear Central

Pros:

Great value
Provides a reasonable level of padding

Cons:

These wear out quickly
They can be bulky
Not as durable as other toe pads
They can quickly become odorous

Gel/ Silicone toe pads:

Gel toe pads from Dancewear Central

Pros:

Great value
Easy to clean
Durable and long-lasting
Provide excellent padding

Cons

They are not very ‘breathable’ so can quickly become damp from sweat.
The gel can create fiction, making movement within the shoe less easy.

Fabric-covered gel toe pads (aka: Ouch Pouches)

Bunheads OuchPouches from Dancing In The Street

Pros:

Easy to clean
Most durable
A great level of padding
There is little friction, as the layer of fabric has a smoother feel

Cons:

They do not fit very wide feet

Moulded toe pads

Toe pads by Perfect Fit Pointe

Pros:

Promote foot alignment
Provide extra padding and protection
Less likely to need extra accessories like toe separators
They tend not to get as smelly as other toe pads

Cons:

Time-consuming to use
Can be messy
Reduces articulation of the toes
Extra xpense

Lambs wool:

Tendu lambs wool from Amazon

Pros:

Good for building up the skin’s resilience
Eco friendly
The soft fabric allows for a good range of movement within the shoe

Cons:

Not cost-effective, as not very durable
Limited protection
Limited size range

4) Toe separators/spacers These jelly spacers are placed between the toes, typically between the big toe and 2nd toe. This is to help maintain a straight toe alignment when en pointe and prevent bunions or joint misalignment. They come in 2 sizes: a thinner version, in the shape of a comma, and a thicker one, shaped like an hourglass. How do I choose? Someone once told me that the difference between the two was generational- if you started pointe more than 10 years ago, you probably chose thicker toe separators, and vice versa. Naturally, I am far too young to be in the first category……But after further investigation I discovered that choosing thick or thin spacers actually depends more on the shape and length of your toes and the shape of your pointe shoes. If you have a longer second toe (in sculpture, known as the desirable “Greek foot”..) or if you suffer from bunions, you’ll probably find the thicker spacers give you more support. If you want spacers between other toes, or if your shoes have a narrow box, you’ll likely prefer the thin ones - whatever age you are! Wider

Toe separators from Stars Dancewear

Better for: long 2nd toe & bunions

Narrower

Toe separators from Bloch

Better for: narrow pointe shoes, support between the 3rd, 4th and baby toes

Still undecided? Try a mixed pack of both here:

Bunheads space pack from Planet Dance

5) Bunion gel guards: These are fabric-covered tubes with a gel interior that reduces pressure on bunions and inflamed joints (the hint is in the name there, really!). How do I know if I need them? Do you have bunions? If so, they may alleviate discomfort and are fairly inexpensive. If you already use other padding, like toe pads and separators it could get crowded in there - so maybe choose which is the greater need!

Bloch bunion guard

Fabric bunion guard from Bloch

Pros:

The padding eases joint pain and misalignment
They are re-usable
Can be used instead of toe separators
Inexpensive
Can be cut to preferred length

Cons

The risk of over-stuffing the shoes if combined with other padding.
Lack of variety in thickness sizes

6) Foam rollers Foam rollers are a great way or relieving muscle tension and delaying the inevitable physio sessions. They are cylinder or tube-shaped and vary in texture and size. They can be a great way of massaging tired legs after a pointe class. I even use mine to stretch (see below video) How do I choose? Flat/smooth foam rollers:

PhysioRoom smooth foam roller from Amazon

Pros:

Cheaper
Lighter
Less intense pressure on the muscles, so better for beginners

Cons:

Less durable
It won’t reach the deeper tissue as well as the textured rollers

Corrugated/textured/trigger point foam rollers: Tendu foam roller from MoveDance

Pros:

Good for more experienced dancers; the experience is more intense.
More durable and some find them more effective

Cons:

They can be more painful to use
They are heavier to carry
More expensive

7) Therabands/ resistance bands (AKA power bands) These are a strip of latex, used to strengthen particular areas of the body, using resistance. They can be especially useful for dancers en pointe to help strengthen the lower legs, ankles and metatarsals. Typically, these bands will come in 3 different strengths. How do I choose?

Light: ideal for en pointe beginners or for experienced dancers with injuries. If you want a Theraband, choose red (yellow is even lighter), and mint green if using Bloch.

Medium: suitable for most dancers and a great option to have alongside the light band to interchange with resistance strength. When buying THERABAND, choose green (blue is slightly stronger) and Royal Blue if buying from Bloch.

Strong: best for experienced or professional dancers who have strong lower legs, ankles and metatarsals. When using a THERABAND choose blue or black, if buying from Bloch, Teal Blue.

8) Toe tape/Plasters (band aids)/Cooling gel pads/Compeed How do I choose? Plasters/band aids:

Amazon blister plasters/band aids

These are designed for use on open blisters or wounds. I would recommend the stretchier fabric, as the glue is stronger and allows more flexibility when dancing. They can also be combined with toe tape for extra padding and coverage.

Toe tape (fabric/zinc oxide/micropore):

Zinc oxide tape from Amazon

The cheapest in this section is micropore. It is medical grade, hypoallergenic, tearable and inexpensive. However… it has a papery texture, so provides less padding and it is less durable than zinc oxide tape or fabric tape. Zinc oxide tape has slightly more stretch, it is also tearable and the softer material feels more comfortable in pointe shoes. This is the tape I use, available from Boots or Amazon. Finally, fabric tape is the most ‘breathable’ and provides the most padding and elasticity, however it is not tearable so you'll need to carry a pair of scissors.

Cooling gel squares:

Spenco 2nd Skin Gel Squares from Amazon

Despite being the most expensive option, these gel squares are popular. When dancing in professional companies I usually know several dancers who won’t be parted from them. They are hypoallergenic, latex-free and initially give a cooling sensation on the skin. However, the cool feeling is transient and the gel wears down, sometimes exposing the skin and the gel dries out quite quickly. Importantly, these cooling gels are not sterile so should not be used on open blisters or cut skin as this could increase the risk of infection.

9) Massage ball Like foam rollers, massage balls are great for relieving muscle tension. The genius of these small rubber balls is they can reach the places a foam roller can’t, like the soles of your feet or in the centre of your calf muscles. There is a wide range to choose from, but essentially it boils down to wanting either a smooth or spiky ball. How do I choose? Smooth rubber ball: