Informative Essay On Grishko Pointe Shoes

Every young ballerina’s dream is, “when can I stand on my toes?” Knowing how a pointe shoe should feel, what pointe shoes are made of, and what shoe will be the best fit for the individual dancer is a great concern. Going to get fitted is an exciting adventure. Fitting can also be very nerve-racking due to the large number of brands and styles to choose from. I was a professional dancer in the New Orleans ballet for four years, and I have worn my fair share of pointe shoes. Grishko pointe shoes are my favorite. They have wider boxes and a variety of shank strengths that give dancers comfort and protection not offed by other companies. A perfect pointe shoe will allow dancers to reach their full potential without a constant worry about
permanent damage. The shoes will protect the tender parts of the feet, especially the toes and toenails. The shoe should closely follow the line and contours of the feet offering support in the box, the shank, and the metatarsal areas to define the dancer's lines. It will allow dancers with less than perfect feet to dance to their highest potential, and also help correct certain bad habits or physical limitations. Grishko's unique U-shaped medium vamp is extremely supportive and comfortable for different types of feet. The special design of the suede sole provides an easy transition from the demi-pointe to the pointe and back. The shoes are distinguished by its perfect placement to the feet that muffle noise and allow dancers to get fully over the box and avoid standing sickled or pronated. The Shank which is a piece of rigid material that serves to stiffen the sole and provide support to the arch of the foot is a crucial aspect.
Grishko shanks come in five strengths super-soft, soft, medium, hard, and super-hard as opposed to the normal hard or soft choice of other shoe brands. The shank choice is up to the individual but, needs careful consideration. Shoes with improper shank strength are sometimes broken incorrectly and lose the support to dance on the box. When improper breaking happens the shoe is ultimately useless. Grishko's shank strength variety can give dancers a more comfortable shoe that can actually make the shoe last
longer.

Grishko shoes are handmade in Russia and are exceedingly beautiful. The cotton drawstring protects against tendonitis and the shoes are hand balanced. The cobblers use a special glue that allows the box to mold to a dancer's foot to maintain excellent balance. They allow the shoes time to breathe and rest between manufacture stages is a critical factor in shoe quality. Handmade shoemakers let the shoes naturally rest, mold and breathe between stages which makes a huge difference to fit, durability and look. However, on a factory production line this doesn't happen and they even have to speed up the process by using artificial stiffeners and synthetics that compromise on quality. The wonderful thing about Grishko is dancers do not sacrifice quality and stability for the price. Every shoe is handcrafted with care to give the dancer the support and comfort they need. Pointe shoes can range from twenty-five dollars to five hundred dollars depending upon the style and who makes them.
Grishko shoes start right around eighty dollars and cost upwards of three hundred dollars for second and first-level shoes meant for professionals that use them every day. Grishko's attention to detail is impeccable. The shoes are made with all natural materials. There are many grades of leather quality and machine made shoes are usually made from synthetic leather or poor quality corrected-grain, split or bonded leather whereas handmade shoes are made from premium full or top grain leathers. Synthetic or poor quality leather tends to smell and the dye sometimes runs. Also, low-grade leather cracks and splits and does not mold to your feet or patina well with age like top or full grain leather does. But, Grishko still offers the handmade details on their lower level shoes that computerized machines used by other companies do
not.

Dancing is a beautiful art but, is also very dangerous if you are not equipped with the right shoe. A dancer's shoes can make or end her career and cause irreversible damage in the feet if it is not made correctly. Grishko provides comfortable and stable quality shoes at affordable prices for every dancer on any budget.