Bloch Aspiration Pointe Shoe

These are the shoes I have worn pretty much since I started on pointe, although I think that my very firt pair of pointe shoes were a pair designed for beginners.

These shoes are specially designed for students, and are my ballet schools recommended shoes. I personally love them, they're comfortable, provide good support and stability and they look good too. They're a dream to dance in!

The shoe has a wide toe box and platform, which provides a lot of stabilty - it allows the "toes to spread" according to the description. The shank is flexible, making allowing the foot to move much more easily, yet still provides adequate support - the description says that "the shank construction encourages the shank to bend at "three quarters"" They take a while to break in, but once they are broken in, they are wonderful. They provide plenty of support even when broken in, and they take longer to wear out than other shoes I have danced in - I have a friend who has been on pointe for two years I think, and she has about 20 pairs of dead shoes. I do five ballet classes a week, and two of those are pointe (one of them is helping out the little kids, but shush, I count it as a class!) and one pair of these shoes will last me about a term.

They aren't the prettiest shoes available, I only wear them for classes not for performance, but they provide so much support that I love them just the same!

 

Callie xx

Bloch Amelie Pointe Shoe

I believe that this shoe was formally known as the protegee.

This is an intoductory pointe shoe, or so it says on the box. I personally would be happy to dance in it now, although I recognise that it is probably meant for somebody just starting en pointe.

It has a large platform, larger than your average pointe shoe, and wider too, which makes balancing much easier, a definate bonus for somebody just starting pointe work. It is claimed that it has "noise reducing foam" but it makes the same amount of noise as my normal pointe shoes (I had my sister dance at the same time, and my brother listen. He says that there is no definate audible difference.) It has a much softer insole than more advanced shoes, which I personally don't like, but would be good for a beginner as it allows the foot to move and work in the shoe easier. It also has a graded shank to allow beginners to rise onto pointe more easily.

The look of the pointe shoe is nice - perhaps not as nice looking as the most expensive of pointe shoes, but as this shoe is for beginners and is retailed at below £30 the look is good for it. The satin is shiny, and the slight v shape of the Vamp (slightly more pronouced than other shoes I have seen) makes the foot look longer and is more flattering to the foot than more rounded vamps I have seen.


Peace Out,

Callie xx