Whether you’ve just bought your first pair of pointes, or are a well-seasoned pro looking for a couple of tips and tricks, you’ve come to the right place for the best pointe shoe hacks and exercises to get those boots well and truly broken it. Chances are that your pointe shoes will never meet the comfort level of a pair of fluffy slippers (sorry to disappoint, but honestly what were you expecting???), however, luckily for us, there are a couple of things that we can do to break in our pointe shoes to make them feel less like giant blocks of wood on our feet!
Sound good? If so, then stick around for your guide to the best hacks and exercises to break in those stubborn shanks and vicious vamps. Still wanting more? Check out my articles Foot Strengthening for Pointe Work and The Best Foot Strengthening Exercises for Dancers.
Exercises
Some of the most useful exercises to help break in your pointe shoes involve increasing the flexibility in the shank. A more supple shoe can really help a dancer to get up on to the platform or box, which in turn will improve their confidence and ability during pointe work. Dancers with weaker feet should work extra hard to increase this flexibility in the shoe, as they are likely to find it more difficult to manipulate the shank to create the desired arch or banana foot when dancing en pointe.
Exercise #1 – Plié en pointe in parallel and second position
A great one for if you’re aiming to achieve the insta-worthy banana foot, I recommend really pushing into the arch of your foot as you plié to help break in your pointe shoes by manipulating the shank into the desired dome shape.
Step 1) Standing facing the barre with your feet in parallel.
Step 2) Rise up through the demi-pointe on to the platform of the shoe.
Step 3) Use the barre for support as you plié whilst pushing into the arches of your feet.
Step 4) Hold for 10 seconds.
Step 5) Repeat in second position.
You may feel a stretch across the top of the foot however this shouldn’t cause pain. If you do experience any discomfort during an exercise, it’s always better to stop and ask a professional for advice.
Exercise #2 – Calf Raises
Calf raises are most beneficial when performed both in second position and on each leg individually. Make sure that you rise up slowly onto the platforms of your shoes through the demi-pointe in order to increase flexibility in the shank, and try not to push yourself up using the barre as doing so will only increase strength in your arms rather than your feet!
Step 1) Stand facing the barre in second position.
Step 2) Rise up onto the platform of your pointe shoe.
Step 3) Lower by rolling down through the demi pointe.
Step 4) Repeat on each leg individually.
Exercise #3 – Forced Arch Tendu
Very similar to the above, this exercise is performed on flat feet, and once again uses the dancer’s weight to manipulate the shank of the shoes into an arch.
Step 1) Stand facing the barre in first position.
Step 2) Tendu the left foot to second.
Step 3) Bend your left knee so that the platform of the shoe touches the floor. To do this, you will have to transfer your weight from the supporting leg (right leg) to the working leg (left leg).
Step 4) Do not try to lift your body, instead, push down into the arch of the left foot and use your weight to break in the pointe shoe.
Step 5) Hold for 10 seconds.
Step 6) Repeat on the other side.
As dancers, we are often told to ‘lift’ our bodies (yep, that age-old ‘piece of string’ analogy is exactly what I’m talking about!), but when stretching, it can sometimes be beneficial to give in to gravity and allow its force to take us further into the stretch. This exercise is a prime example of one of those occasions. That being said, never allow yourself to slouch or develop bad posture during your stretching routines!
Exercise #4 – Upper Instep Stretch
As well as helping to break in the shoe by improving its malleability, the upper instep stretch also helps to increase flexibility in the foot. For dancers who struggle to stand comfortably on the platform of their shoes due to a lack of flexibility, this one is for you!
Step 1) Stand facing the barre in parallel position. Place your hands on the barre.
Step 2) Take the right foot and cross it over the left, tucking the toes ever so slightly under the foot.
Step 3) Slowly bend both legs, you should feel a stretch along the upper instep (across the top) of the right foot.
Step 4) Hold for as long as is comfortable and for no more than 30 seconds.
Step 5) Repeat on the other side.
Exercise #5) Heel-into-arch stretch
Once you figure out how to balance, this exercise will become one of your best friends when breaking in a new pair of pointes.
Step 1) Stand facing the barre with the feet in first position.
Step 2) Keeping the leg turned out, bend the left knee and point the foot so that the platform of your shoe is touching the floor.
Step 3) Push over into the arch of the left foot so that the platform comes off the floor. Aim for the lower section of the vamp to touch the floor instead.
Step 4) Lift your right heel and place it on the outer sole of the left shoe. Try to place your heel in the arch of your left foot.
Step 5) Use the right foot to apply pressure into the arch of the left foot. You may feel a stretch through the top of the left foot however this should not cause any pain.
Step 6) Hold the stretch and then repeat on the other side.
Hacks
Although the exercises above should be your go-to for breaking in a new pair of pointes, the process can definitely be sped up by including a few cheeky hacks into your pointe-prepping routine. With each new pair of pointe shoes you will figure out which hacks work best for you, but until then, let me start you off with a few of my favourites…
Hack #1 – Bed Socks
Ahhhhh my ultimate favourite! Like I said at the beginning, wearing pointe shoes doesn’t always have to be as uncomfortable as it seems!
As we all know, flexibility tends to increase with heat (yep, that is why we’re told to stretch only after we’ve warmed up), and apparently the same principle applies to our pointes! Slip a pair of fluffy bed socks over your pointe shoes to transform your feet into mini ovens, and as your feet sweat (yesss… I know it’s gross) your boots will begin to mould to the shape of your toes.
Have a go at some of the exercises above, where the increased temperature will make those stubborn shanks all the more flexible, before crashing onto the sofa for a Netflix and chill sesh whilst letting the socks do all the work!
Hack #2 – Holding your pointe shoes over the kettle
Making a hot drink? Great, make me one too!… As much as I’d like to sit and have a cup of coffee (or tea) with you, I’m afraid your pointes need to make use of the kettle much more than I do!
This hack is pretty much the same as the above, where again we are going to use heat to improve the flexibility in our shoes. Break in your pointe shoes by holding them above the kettle whilst the water is boiling to soften the shanks and make them more malleable. You should then try to bend the shoe in half.
If you know you have strong feet this hack may not be for you, as by bending the shank too much, you could end up prematurely killing the shoe if your feet are already strong enough to achieve the desired arch, even in the first wear of your pointes. As always, please be careful when you’re around heat and avoid holding your shoes too close to the kettle!
Hack #3 – Stepping on the Vamp
This hack is designed to make your shoes a little more comfortable, but once again it depends on your personal preferences and how you like your pointes to fit.
For those of you who suffer from bunions, or often experience blisters and the rubbing of the first metatarsophalangeal joint against the side of the shoe, stepping on the vamp of your pointes increases the width in the toe box, adding a bit of wiggle room which makes wearing a toe spacer (if you need one) a lot more comfortable.
If you want to give this hack a try, use the hardest part of your heel to step on the vamp of your shoes and listen out for a satisfying crunch.
Hack #4 – Bashing out the Sound
Scroll through Instagram and you’ll probably see a pro ballerina whacking her pointe shoes against a set of concrete stairs. You may have wondered what she was doing, or even thought that she had gone a little crazy, but as it turns out, pointe shoe bashing is actually a brilliant hack for breaking in your boots.
You may have noticed that brand new pointes can be quite loud, and during your first couple of wears can attract a lot of (possibly unwanted) attention to your toes as you land from jumps. For this reason, many dancers have taken to bashing their pointes on a solid surface before wearing them, and this is your chance to try it out too!
Aiming for the pleats on the underside of the shoes, bash your pointes against eachother or on a solid surface to achieve softer landings. And remember, never bash your shoes against anything that could be easily damaged!
Final thoughts on how to break in pointe shoes…
And there you have it; the best hacks and exercises to break in your pointe shoes! Just as I mentioned earlier, the process of breaking in pointes differs from dancer to dancer, typically depending on the strength of the feet and their pointe shoes preferences.
But it doesn’t stop there… as well as making sure your pointes are ready and raring to go, it’s important that you maintain strength and flexibility in your feet and ankles to make pointe work as painless and injury-free as possible. If you’re looking to upgrade your foot strengthening routine, check out my articles Foot Strengthening for Pointe Work and The Best Foot Strengthening Exercises for Dancers.
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