The Pointe Book; Shoes, Training, Technique

A complete examination of the pointe technique and pointe shoes is provided in this guide. Dancers tired of their pointe shoes wearing out too quickly benefit from a thorough explanation of the shoemaking process, and the book includes tips that show how to best fit, care for, and custom order toe shoes. Interviews with ballet stars reveal their highly evolved but proven methods of caring for pointe shoes, while the basics of the pointe technique, different methods, and its history are also discussed. With a handy reference on pointe-related injuries and their remedies, this new edition also offers the latest information on contemporary designs, materials, products, and suppliers. A sampling of pointe technique schools around the country offers an authoritative syllabus for teachers and students alike.

Janice Barringer is a musical consultant for Stepping Tones Records in Los Angeles and has been spotlighted in the PBS Dance in America series. She has been on the faculty of the American Dance Center, Ballet Hispanico, Harkness House, and STEPS and is a columnist for Pointe. Sarah Schlesinger is the former owner of the Capezio Dance Theatre Shops in Maryland and Delaware. She has extensive experience in fitting and repairing pointe shoes and is chair at the graduate musical theater writing program at New York University’s Tisch School of Arts. They both live in New York City.