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Pointe Shoe Fitting 🩰 \u0026 Old vs. New Gaynor Minden Pointe Shoes || Back en Pointe #4
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Everything You Need to Know about Gaynor Minden Pointe …
After hours of dancing and sweating in the shoes, the cardboard, burlap, sometimes leather, and glue starts to loosen and becomes pliable which most dancers …
Source: stlouisdancewear.com
Date Published: 3/14/2022
View: 3391
Gaynor Mindens Review: The Lazy Dancer’s Pointe Shoe?
Gaynor Minden pointe shoes have a reputation for being a “cheater’s shoe.” Why? Is it true? Why do ballet teachers dislike them so?
Source: hobbylark.com
Date Published: 8/24/2021
View: 3561
Ballet Arts Ensemble – Featuring all my dead pointe shoes I …
It was hard to find shoes that worked for me because I had big feet that need really soft shanks. Gaynor Minden’s pianissimo shank works like a charm for me and …
Source: m.facebook.com
Date Published: 7/14/2022
View: 325
What Makes Them Better – Gaynor Minden
Pointe shoes perform a remarkable job — enduring tremendous forces and repeated strains, all the while appearing as dainty and delicate as the ballerina …
Source: dancer.com
Date Published: 6/1/2022
View: 9279
Ballet Pointe Shoes – Russian Pointes or Gaynor Mindens?
I can’t do fast footwork and I can’t straighten my legs (which may be a technical issue) and the shoes are dead within two months. My teacher fit me with Gaynor …
Source: www.balletdancersguide.com
Date Published: 5/29/2021
View: 9094
Read – Dance.net
how to tell when gaynor mindens are dead. By robinkat … I’ve been doing pointe work for about 3 years, and I’m now on my first pair of Gaynors.
Source: www.dance.net
Date Published: 6/16/2021
View: 4493
Are Gaynor Minden pointe shoes good for beginners? – Quora
I wouldn’t recommend them, for one simple reason: you’re less likely to get a chance to try them on before you buy them. Gaynor Minden pointe shoes’ big …
Source: www.quora.com
Date Published: 1/1/2022
View: 3801
Best 25+ Deals for Gaynor Minden Pointe Shoes | Poshmark
Get the best deals on gaynor minden pointe shoes and save up to 70% off at Poshmark now! Whatever you’re shopping for, we’ve got it.
Source: poshmark.com
Date Published: 10/27/2021
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Everything You Need to Know about Gaynor Minden Pointe Shoes
Everything you need to know about Gaynor Minden pointe shoes
Gaynor Minden Pointe Shoes – Fact and Fiction
Authors, Robyn L Hartley & Sarah Wood
Ballet is steeped in tradition. As it should be. Traditions carry the art form from one generation to the next and ensure the longevity of the classic technique. However, it can also be argued that maintaining tradition for tradition’s sake is not always the wisest course. Artists need to be open to new technologies, safer alternatives and industry trends or they will be left in the dust of other dancers.
Remember when the classic tutu first appeared on the Paris ballet scene in 1832, sparking a controversy over indecent exposure? In the same year, pointe shoes made their debut on the stage. Wow, times have changed! Now shorter and much more revealing tutus are the centerpiece of costumes and are loved by dancers and audiences alike. Not much has changed when it comes to pointe shoes. Most styles are still constructed the same way.
Enter Gaynor Minden: The pointe shoe that offers “new” rules to the tradition of ballet, because the old rules don’t seem to serve everyone as well as everyone assumed. The creator of the Gaynor Minden pointe shoe, Eliza Minden, was at a loss as to why pointe shoes were so antiquated. Other athletes accept modernized gear that makes the difference in comfort, safety and enjoyment of their particular sport, but ballerinas – the best athletes out there – still dance in shoes that haven’t been much improved in 185 years.
Think of the evolution of golf clubs, tennis racquets, snow skis and basketball shoes… can you imagine these athletes using equipment that dates back to the 19th century? No way. Maybe it’s time to change the sport of ballet after all.
where is the love Like anything new in the ballet industry, Gaynor Minden was not welcomed with open arms. Teachers and dancers were skeptical about the newly patented, technically advanced plastic shaft. A Gaynor Minden pointe shoe does not break, so the dancer cannot experience the life cycle of an old-fashioned, traditional cardboard and burlap upper.
If you’re new to pointe shoe construction, here’s a little background:
Traditional pointe shoes have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Shanks, which can be thought of as the “sole” of a pointe shoe, start out stiff and inflexible. After hours of dancing and sweating in the shoes, the cardboard, burlap, sometimes leather and glue begin to peel off and become pliable in what most dancers call “the sweet spot.” With more dancing and more sweating, the lower legs eventually become too flexible, break, and die. Time to buy a new pair before injury sets in and the cycle repeats.
Sometimes the death of a pointe shoe happens after a long day of rehearsals. Pros can go through 3-6 pairs of pointe shoes in one performance! Other dancers who only dance a few hours a week can keep their shoes alive for 3-5 months. The industry claims that a typical pointe shoe lasts less than 20 hours of pointe work. That’s not much considering that most young ballerinas dance en pointe for at least two hours every week.
So when Gaynor Minden’s revolutionary pointe shoes came along and offered a fantastic solution for quickly replacing pointe shoes – actually proving that the shoe lasted three times as long as the traditional shoe – they met a surprising resistance.
Simply put, dancing on a plastic shaft was alien to the industry and unfortunately most people, especially ballet teachers, just don’t like change. And being a ballet teacher myself, I say that with love and appreciation.
Now that Gaynor Minden has been in the business for over 20 years, there are thousands of positive testimonials from new dancers to professionals. As these young dancers of the past have grown into teachers, traditions slowly evolve.
A developing tradition is the expectation that a dancer’s feet must suffer as a rite of passage en pointe. Not true anymore. Pointework will never feel “good” on the feet, but teachers and dancers will have a better understanding of the physical demands of pointework and what it takes to strengthen the dancers’ toes, metatarsals, arches, ankles and Achilles tendons to protect. Because of their unique construction, Gaynor Mindens help protect dancers’ feet and teachers definitely appreciate that. (Dance moms too).
The old myth that dancers endure severe pain has been dispelled, but some myths about Gaynor Minden’s pointe shoe persist. Here are two of the most common ones you might hear from your studio, teacher, or fellow dancer:
Myth #1 – Scammers, Scammers! You’ll still hear the old misconception that Gaynor Mindens are a “cheat shoe” because the upper is plastic and doesn’t break. The origin of this rumor was rooted in misunderstanding because ballet teachers assumed that a plastic socket would remain stiff and inflexible like a brand new traditional socket and never establish that “sweet spot”.
When dancers dance on thighs that are too hard, one result is that they “bounce” to the top while bypassing the demi-top altogether. Also, because the upper remains rigid, the dancer does not have to support herself in the shoe while standing on the pointe as the shoe literally does all the work for her.
Finally, a shaft that is too hard will restrain a dancer’s foot and not allow it to kick over the box. Of course, these three things combined — no roll-up, no working to stay on top, and no proper alignment — actually create weak dancers and open a Pandora’s box to a multitude of potential injuries.
MYTH DEBROKEN: Any pointe shoe can be a “cheat shoe” if it fits badly; hindering a dancer’s ability through a combination of problems, thighs being too hard being one of them. Following this logic, if the dancer were put in the correct shoe and upper for their foot, problems such as “bouncing” on the toe would not occur. Working through the metatarsals in demi-pointe, bracing on the toe, and protruding through the box would happen with a properly fitting pointe shoe.
The same goes for Gaynor Mindens. A good fit is a good fit. A bad fit is a bad fit.
As more dancers try Gaynor Minden pointe shoes, they’re pleasantly surprised to find that the complete opposite of the “cheater” myth is true. Yes, the Gaynor Minden has a plastic stock – one that won’t break – but the stock is not only flexible, it’s also adjustable.
Dancers who like a shrunken, almost dead pointe shoe can achieve the same effect with a Gaynor Minden Feather or Supple Shank, which are extremely pliable to the touch. No matter how many dance lessons, the shaft stays in that “sweet spot”.
Dancers with particularly strong feet and arches are the ones who tend to break their pointe shoes the quickest. This dancer needs extra arch support and may (but not always) need a stronger shank such as an Extra-Flex or Hard Shank.
It doesn’t matter which of the 5 different shaft thicknesses a dancer chooses – stiff and inflexible does not describe any of them. If anyone thinks Gaynor Minden’s plastic shafts are rigid, they’ve obviously never tried them on.
Myth #2 – Beginners beware! Some have claimed Gaynor Mindens are a good choice for the more experienced dancer due to their longer lifespan, but beginners should steer clear of them. This misinformation is backed up by claims that a new dancer should experience the life of a traditional shoe and that the shoe is too comfortable and does not properly prepare younger dancers for the rigorous work of pointe training.
Myth shattered: Gaynor Mindens aren’t constructed like traditional pointe shoes. They are constructed more like an athletic shoe with padding, shock absorbers and a flexible but strong upper. Proper fit balances everything previously mentioned: working through demi-pointe, bracing en pointe, being over the box, etc. Everything these young dancers get from a traditional shoe except instantly – no break-in time .
Gaynor Mindens are an excellent choice for beginners as the shoe promotes proper foot and ankle alignment for the life of the shoe. When new top dancers dance in a traditional shoe, their foot alignment changes as the shoe changes. We’ve already discussed why dancing on a hard calf is a disadvantage, but dancing on a broken calf can be downright dangerous.
Because Gaynors aid in proper foot alignment, they also minimize ankle flare and sagging – two things that can cause serious injury. In addition, they have shock-absorbing materials that reduce the pressure on a dancer’s joints. All of this means that beginners have the opportunity to have a safer entry into the world of lace.
Marina Leonova, director of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia, said in 2017: “Gaynor Minden pointe shoes are high quality, professional ballet shoes, ideal for both beginners and experienced dancers. In these shoes it is possible to achieve a truly perfect fit, minimizing injuries and general discomfort. The shoes are stable, perfectly balanced and form a nice foot line.”
However, part of this myth is true – the shoe feels more comfortable than a traditional pointe shoe due to the soft inner material and the multiple layers of poron foam that surround the toes, metatarsal bones, sole and heel. No shoe can eliminate all the inconveniences of pointe work, but there is no real benefit in choosing sore when less sore is available.
Protecting the feet of all dancers is very important. All ballet teachers agree on that. An injury could put them on the sidelines or out of the game for a long time. This is devastating for a dancer.
Encore, encore! Change is hard. Especially when it stubbornly goes against what we know and love. The bottom line is that pointe shoes are individual to the dancer. Each dancer must find the shoe that best completes their line and serves their technique.
The magic sauce in every pointe shoe is the fit. Professional pointe shoe fittings are a must. For Gaynor Mindens it is important to see a shoemaker who understands how that particular shoe is made, works and fits.
Breaking rules, breaking bad, breaking tradition – whatever you call it – these pointe shoes have earned their rightful place in the ballet world. You are here to stay and we are all the better for it.
Watch the Gaynor Minden ladies debunk 8 common myths, some of which we covered in the blog post, but it always helps to hear from the experts. St. Louis Dancewear is proud to be a Gaynor Minden retailer.
We offer professional pointe shoe fittings and are happy to help you with your next pointe shoe shopping experience!
To schedule a fitting, call (314) 733-5678 or visit our website at www.stlouisdancewear.com.
*Author disclaimer: Sarah Wood is the owner of St. Louis Dancewear
Gaynor Mindens Review: The Lazy Dancer’s Pointe Shoe?
Kate Swanson is an Australian writer and dancer with almost 40 years of experience in ballet, jazz, flamenco, ballroom, Latin and belly dancing.
There are many prejudices against pointe shoes from Gaynor Minden. Is that fair, or are ballet teachers just traditionalists and don’t like change?
The main criticism of Gaynor Mindens is that they “do the work for you”. Not many ballet dancers would complain about that! But seriously – the concern was that your feet would get weak because the shoe was doing the hard work for you.
Does Gaynor Minders Make Your Feet Weak?
I believe the idea that GMs make your feet weak is based on a fundamental misconception.
When GMs first came out, dancers (and fitters) chose the same shaft stiffness they were used to from their old pointe shoes. However, due to the way Gaynor Minden pointe shoes are made, the added springiness of the plastic meant the upper was stronger than the foot. It would “pop” the dancer right on top, rather than allowing her to roll through the demi-top.
The dancer, especially if she was inexperienced, probably wouldn’t complain because she was suddenly flying on and over the box with ease!
This led to the problem of “weak feet”. Today, most assemblers should be aware of the need to choose a shaft that is not too hard on the dancer’s feet.
It’s difficult to verify a fit without straps or elastic, but the right shaft for you is one that allows you to roll through the semi-lace. If you find yourself “popping up” it’s too stiff.
In fact, if you’re one of those dancers who has to keep switching to a harder shaft because you keep breaking it, GMs can actually make your feet stronger because you’ll be able to use a much softer shaft, without breaking it.
What’s good about Gaynor Mindens?
There are many good things about GMs.
Comfort, for one. Most people feel locked in almost from day one. The box feels soft, but you can still feel the ground.
Ease of getting over the box is another feature that fans often mention.
When you perform, you’ll also appreciate the fact that GMs are quieter than the average shoe.
But their biggest “plus” is that they last two or three times longer than a traditional pointe shoe! It’s one of the greatest frustrations in a dancer’s life that they die as soon as she breaks in her pointe shoes – but not Gaynor’s.
In fact, one of the difficult things about Gaynor Mindens is training after they’ve died, as the shoe will still hold together for some time past its expiration date, which can be dangerous (see ‘Negatives’ below).
How weak is weak anyway?
In the days of Taglioni, dancers had to develop unusual strength to get to the point in shoes that offered virtually no support. As pointe shoe design improved, the force required for pointe work decreased. Couldn’t one say Gaynor Mindens are just the next step in this process?
Does it matter if the feet aren’t strong enough to stand in old-fashioned pointe shoes, provided they’re strong enough to handle all the other technical requirements?
What’s not so good…
The one thing few people dispute is that Gaynor Mindens don’t look as pretty as other pointe shoes. Even GM fans admit it!
The longevity of GMs can be another negative aspect as (again) it’s hard to tell when they’ve reached the end of their lives. If you dance on it for too long, the upper can suddenly snap or the shoe can just fall apart – not a nice thing when you’re mid-flight over the ground!
The early GMs were hard to turn on because the box was too fat – this has been fixed. That’s one of the good things about Gaynor Mindens: they have a modern, dynamic design that’s constantly being tweaked and improved.
Finally, sewing on ribbons and elastics can be a hassle due to the plastic construction. However, Gaynor Mindens makes their own special ribbon for this purpose, which I’ve had better luck with than other ribbons.
All other negatives really depend on your personal preference and the shape of your foot!
All in all, I’d recommend that you stick with a traditional pointe shoe when starting out with pointe work, just so you know what’s involved – unless you find yourself breaking thighs all the time, in which case you could use a good one Candidate for his Mindens.
Later, when you understand your feet and what they need, you can better decide if Gaynor Mindens is right for you.
© 2009 Kate Swanson
Abbe on February 27, 2019:
I naturally have a very high arch. When I started Synergy, my front foot fell out, which was actually more dangerous for me. Now that I have Gaynor Minden my feet don’t fall out and it doesn’t look or feel like breaking my feet in half. This is my second year on Pointe.
charlise on May 04, 2018:
Can you deshank Gaynor Mindens?
Evan Smiley on January 4, 2014:
@Marisa You may be right about the fit, but I still think Gaynor’s should be avoided, at least for beginners. 9 years of top work and I will probably never go back. They’re nice, quiet and comfortable, but in my opinion they take the real work and muscle memory out of the point work.
Kate Swanson (author) from Sydney on 01/04/2014:
@Evan, it sounds like your shoes don’t have the ideal fit. The biggest fitting mistake with Gaynor Mindens is choosing the same shaft as regular tips – which gets you high and maybe sends you “over the top”. It sounds like you’re sinking too much into the shoe too when your toes take a beating like that!
Evan Smiley on January 4, 2014:
I had practiced pointe for three years, and my teacher used to call Gaynors “cheat shoes.” I decided on a pair anyway because they looked beautiful. They retract very easily but I had to be careful because it was very easy to go too far over the box due to the support provided. Once at the top, the Gaynors were nice, but they were terrible for classwork. I would say they are for “weak feet” because during relevant exercises the shoes bypass the muscles in the ball of your foot and you pretty much only use your ankles. Dancing on them was really nice! You look beautiful! But after a week both of my big toenails turned black and fell off! I will never use Gaynor’s again! They’re good for people who can’t stay on top, but you’re better off just working in a traditional shoe and hard work is the best way to get to the top!
jamterrell on 07/01/2011:
I enjoy reading this hub. I’m learning something new about pointe shoes. Thank you for sharing.
Kat on May 08, 2011:
I’m with Marisa, make sure your teacher is okay. I, for example, was introduced to the shoes by my teacher because I have very good muscle memory and insanely strong feet… which means I snap to shoes very quickly. I’ve had Dimonds they didn’t even last 2 months, I have Blochs now and the box is dead while the stem is fine so those aren’t great either. Now I’m off to buy a pair of GMs because my parents are frustrated with the constant purchase of pointe shoes.
Kate Swanson (author) from Sydney on March 15, 2011:
dancrgrl, just make sure your teacher is okay with this. Some teachers still don’t like them or prefer to start with a “regular” shoe to learn what that feels like.
dancrgrl on March 15, 2011:
amazing article. I’m getting my pointe shoes this summer and I think I’m going to get Gaynors
Loryn on 11/06/2010:
@rosebea Maybe you should try Gaynor Minden again. They could suit you now! 🙂
Loryn on 11/06/2010:
I love these shoes. People on the news video are talking nonsense, I think Gaynor Mindens look better because they look pointier (excuse the pun) which makes the dancer look more weightless and makes the dancing look even more effortless, so I think they look better . They are also MUCH more comfortable. All other pointe shoes hurt like hell. Gaynor Minden’s RULE!!! 😉
L. Perry on July 10, 2010:
I love this article! It is beautifully written and the photos are beautiful.
Ballet lovers on June 29, 2010:
Gaynor pointe shoes are the best! i thought i wasn’t made for top work until i found gaynor mayden. Sansha are way too hard for me, I can’t even stand up, and Capezio last about two months before they’re all worn out. Gaynor shoes are my lifesaver 🙂
Dancers on April 23, 2010:
I have these shoes for one reason and that is to improve my arch. Because of the caved in arch, they squeeze my arch (I’m flat footed) and make them look so much better.
rosebea on January 24, 2010:
I almost bought some, but the store didn’t have my size, so I opted for Gambas.
sbeakr on August 27, 2009:
I have researched these shoes extensively but have yet to customize for a pair. ‘Weak feet’ ha! I get what it means, but I just find the concept of someone having particularly weak feet on the top funny.
Wonderful dancer-only hub, very informative!
Ballet Arts Ensemble – Featuring all my dead pointe shoes 💀 I have worn @gaynorminden for the past 3 years now and have loved them! It was hard to find shoes that worked for me because I had big feet
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