Pointe AccessoriesDancing is hard. Dancing on pointe is really hard. Here are some little pointe accessories that I used to help me get through rehearsal more gracefully.The King (or Queen) of all pointe accessories is!... Toe Pads
If you are stuck with a teacher who doesn't believe in toe pads, my condolences. Ask if you can use lamb’s wool or at least paper towels. If you're new to lamb’s wool, I'd recommend the basic box of fluff Lambs Wool.
If you can use toe pads, great! My favorites ended up being the gel pads from BunHeads. I liked BunHead's Ouch Pouch Jr. because they stayed put and didn't bunch up weird and squish my toes. They also now have fun BunHead Colors! But like everything else, you have to find what works for you. Ribbons
Every pointe shoe maker has their own recommended ribbon that matches that makers color of shoes. Grishko's pink is not Capezio's pink. Beside that, you can use whatever ribbon you want, especially for rehearsal.There are some specialized elastic insert ribbons by makers like Bloch and Bunheads. These are usually 7/8" ribbons with an elastic piece sewn into the middle. The goal is to keep the ribbon from restricting the ankle. They work for a lot of people. I could never make friends with them. They irritated my Achilles tendons. But if your ribbons do that "slip and grip" thing around your ankle, give elastic ribbons a try. There are another group of specializes ribbons that are called "stretch ribbon." This is a ribbon that has elastic knit into it, so the whole thing is stretchy. They are very comfortable, but be careful. I've seen more than one dancer unable to untie the knot because it pulled so tightly on itself. Elastics
Like ribbon, pointe makers all have their own elastic that mostly has to do with color. There are a lot of options in size, weight and design and which elastic you choose will make a difference in your shoes. The thicker and heavier your elastic is, the more tightly it will hold your shoe to your foot (depending on how you sew it). Because of the support, some teachers are anti, but I have used the and eventually grew out of them as I got stronger. Thin and light or mesh elastic, offers support but are more about stabilizing your shoe on your foot. Like everything else in pointe work, don't be afraid to try different elastics and see what works for you. Toe Tape
I blew through this stuff, because it made such a big difference for my feet! You'll want this to protect heals, knuckles and the outside of your pinkie and big toe. And it is one of the least expensive accessories but so effective!
BunHead has a tape I wish I would have had when I was dancing pointe. Gaynor Minden tape is a couple bucks more, but it is stretchy and slightly squishy, so it is nicer on your feet. There is also less sticky residue when you're done. Which makes the transition from pointe shoe to flip flops much smoother. Dancing on pointe can be hard on your feet, but hopefully these accessories will help you out as much as they helped me.
Foot Roll Ball
Have you tried rolling your feet after pointe class? It is a must do. Fabulous.I'll be honest, I don't always do this. But when I take the time to roll my feet after class, I wonder why I don't. You can use a tennis or racket ball, or this super cheap Foot Roller Ball. It has little nubs for extra rubby-ness. I don't recommend it to people with really sensitive feet, a smooth ball would be better, but for everyone else, oh boy!
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