What should we expect at the first pointe fitting?

Allow up to an hour for the first pointe fitting and purchase. Many stores offer appointments, especially for the first fitting, to provide the necessary time and attention. The fitter will probably start by looking at your daughter’s bare feet in order to choose a pointe model to match her foot shape. Your daughter may be asked to plié and rise to demi-pointe to demonstrate her technique and the strength and development of her feet. Then, the fitter will choose a model and size to try. In some cases, this “first try” shoe will fit the dancer. More frequently, it is just a starting point. In each pair of shoes she tries, your daughter will be asked to place her feet in various positions, on pointe and on flat, to show how the shoes fit and work with her feet. She will also be asked questions about how the shoes feel, and her answers are very important. It takes patience to find just the right pair, but it is worth the effort because of the dangers and discomforts associated with an imperfect fit.