I am still taking my 2 classes per week, + a 30 min pre pointe class, and I am in the process of pointe shopping.
There are just so many different kinds... Block, Capezio, Grishko, Gaynor Minden...aaaaagh! The list is endless.
I think I am lucky that although I have been doing ballet for a few months, I like to believe that my feet/ankles are relatively strong. I have for maybe most of my life been accustomed to walking demi pointe... No.. I do not have any kind of mental/neromuscular disease. Its been more of a preference, while wearing socks or bare feet, I usually tend to tip-toe (demi pointe walk) across my hard wood floor/when climbing stairs/running outside to grab the mail... and I like to convince myself that this strange habit has in some way benefited myself in regards to the strength and control necessary for pointe work.
Now, I am not tooting my horn, farm from it.. I recognize my ankles needs more flexibility, my core strength needs to improve, engaging the quads constantly are among my weakness or need to improve lists.
Well, anyways I have tried on some various pointe shoes, I have felt what "supported" feels like and it is actually very nice, not too uncomfortable.. however it was only in ONE foot, sigh. I do have one good foot (toes are the same size,square and all that) and then one bad foot, and the good foot became the problem, it would not feel comfortable or supported at all. The toes seemed to suffer the most. So I am still looking.
Thankfully I have time. It will be a couple months still before I am actually on pointe, I can hardly contain my excitement. Of course the pointe work will be of the most basic, probably less then 15mins at a time, and mostly just roll ups while facing the barre. Not that I am complaining of course, :)
