Bloch offers a comprehensive line of high-quality pointe shoes, ranging from student models to professional/performance shoes. Each model is designed to fulfill a particular purpose or to fit a particular foot-type or dance technique. With so many designs and options to choose from, nearly any ballet dancer can find a Bloch shoe to fit her particular needs.

You'll find ribbons & elastics (pre-cut, by-the-roll, and support), as well as all the other stuff you need for class, rehearsal, and performance in the Dance Accessories Section.

Bloch's recommended Break-In Techniques are listed below.

Note: prices and availability are subject to change without notice.

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Break-In Technique "A"
A little extra time needs to be taken to break in these shoe types. They are made with a harder paste than shoes requiring Technique B, and are therefore susceptible to 'snapping' if treated roughly at first. Once broken-in correctly, they have a long life span.

Doing barre is the best way to break in a pointe shoe. We understand however that you can't stand at the barre with a new pair of pointe shoes and expect to do a tendu, so the shoe needs to be prepared for barre by gently softening the shank and box by hand. Concentrate on the demi-pointe area of the shank, being careful not to crush the box. Then work your way up to the heel, gently massaging the shank until it is at a point where tendu and relevé to demi-pointe is comfortable.

Softening the box is not always necessary, and is left up to the individual dancer. If softening is necessary, then concentrate on gently softening the sides of the box. Lots of dancers stand on the top of the box in order to soften and widen it. We advise that if you stand on the box, you need to concentrate the pressure on either side of the box centre. This is important because the top centre of the box is the weakest point and prone to damage if stood on.

Once the shoes are ready for barre, 1 to 3 barres will be a sufficient time to shape them to your foot. At this point the shoes will be evenly softened with no weak points resulting from an incorrect breaking-in technique.

Break-In Technique "B"
These shoes are made from a paste that is designed to soften when moisture (perspiration) is applied. The technique here is simple to understand. Follow all steps in break-in technique A (above). After 1 to 3 barres the shoe will become moist and shape itself to the dancer's foot. Once the shoe has broken-in to your liking, allow it to dry thoroughly for 24 to 48 hours.

When the shoe has totally dried it will have set in the shape of the dancer's foot. At this point it is possible to apply a hardener such as Jet Glue or Lacquer Sizing (both items available in our Dance Accessories section) to the inside of the block and shank. This will not only harden the shoe in its current shape, but also stop any more moisture entering the shoe. So you are left with a strong shoe, molded in the shape of the individual dancer's foot on the inside, and leaving a quiet exterior.