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Are you searching for the perfect
pointe shoe for your foot, experience level and workload?
Recently, on the search for the
perfect pointe shoe, I ventured to Bloch's Skygarden Store,
Sydney, and was blown away by Bloch's deep understanding of
dancer's feet, bodies and individual needs.
Speaking with Store Manager Karen
Matthews, who has been fitting professionals for 12 years,
I heard how Bloch has developed over 15 styles of pointe shoe,
with input from experienced and professional dancers, including
Australian Ballet Principal Artists.
75 years ago Jacob Bloch handcrafted
his first pointe shoe in Paddington, Sydney, designed specifically
for a young dancer struggling to stay en pointe. When looking
at their huge range of foot wear it is evident today that
Bloch's philosophy of listening to and catering specifically
for the dancer has certainly increased and developed since
1932.
'Every shoe is hand made' states
Karen Matthews, and 'for safety and health its really important
that dancers have the correct shoe.' Bloch has designed an
extensive range to ensure that every dancer can find
their perfect shoe.
When purchasing pointe shoes you
need to assess your workload, experience level, type of foot
and look for a sleek aesthetic line. However, there is no
hard and fast rule for finding the most suitable shoe for
you and Karen suggests that you make a fitting appointment
so that trained, professional Bloch staff can assist you to
find the right pointe shoe and the correct fit. 'We try to
educate dancers when they come to a fitting', says Karen,
as Bloch staff will not only find you the best shoe, but give
advice and tips for pointe shoe care and strengthening of
your feet.
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I was impressed by the large
Bloch range and in depth fitting service. I left the
store with a beautiful and comfortable shoe that supports
my foot, moulds to it as I dance, is aesthetically pleasing
and has the strength and shoe life suitable for my requirements.
I have discovered that whether
you have flat feet or a high instep, you are new to
pointe, or an advanced/professional dancer, Bloch will
have the shoe and the right advice for you.
Handcrafting pointe shoes
for The Australian Ballet, Bloch has widths available
from A to E, with standard to strong makes. Bloch's
range includes, among many, the popular Sylphide,
perfect for the new pointe dancer, as it helps the foot
roll up onto pointe, and the Concerta with an
arched/curved last that emphasizes the arch of the foot
en pointe, complete with a rubber toe cushion for comfort.
The new Axis, a tapered,
light pointe shoe, featuring Thermo Morph Technology
is a must try for the more experienced to advanced dancer.
Thermo Morph Technology is a new and exciting advanced
formula heat activated paste developed by Bloch. With
simple heating and cooling it gives the 'broken in'
feel, and moulds the pointe shoe to the unique contours
of the feet, without the wear and tear of traditional
breaking in. This increases the life of the shoe and
eliminates much of the tedious breaking in process.
Visit www.bloch-tmt.com
to see a live demonstration!
The Balance is designed
with a larger platform to allow more stability en pointe
and the Alpha has a 3.4 outsole offering maximum
balance and stability. The Serenade has a specially
designed inner shank to support the foot and prevent
feet with high insteps from overarching.
The Aspiration is
also very popular, and is great for dancers with a very
high instep as it has a deep platform. 'For a high instep
you need to look at the shape of the platform, you have
to try and give them support', informed Karen.
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'At the end of the day pointe work
is about confidence too, if you're not confident how are you
going to get up there? Half of the battle is with the mind',
says Karen. Bloch is here to give you the right shoe to enable
you to have the confidence you need to succeed.
A
new style, The Heritage, with a beautiful and traditional
look, was recently launched, modelled on the original pointe
shoe designed by Jacob Bloch back in 1932. With a V shaped
vamp the Heritage gives a longer and very pleasing
line to the foot, features under toe padding for noise reduction
and a very flat outsole for greater stability. The Heritage
is proving to be a very versatile and immensely popular shoe,
and is worth checking out.
So when purchasing your next pair,
or even first pair of pointe shoes, do visit Bloch, and start
off on the right foot!
Contact Bloch at the following
Pointe Shoe Centres of Excellence:
BLOCH SYDNEY
Shop 208, Level 2, Skygarden,
Pitt Street Mall
Sydney, NSW 2000
Tel: 02 9231 4084
BLOCH SOUTHBANK
Shop M16-M18, Southgate Art & Leisure Precinct Mall
Melbourne, VIC 3000
Tel: 03 9645 7999
BLOCH BRISBANE
Shop 23, Emporium,
1000 Ann Street
Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006
Tel: 07 3852 1855
For Sydney readers, contact Karen
at the Skygarden store to make an appointment on 02 9231 4084
Sponsored by Bloch.
Handcrafting Australian Pointe Shoes for 75 years. www.bloch.com.au
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| Karen
Matthews, Manager, Bloch Skygarden Store, Sydney. |
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| I
returned to Bloch, after trying a another brand of shoe for
the last few years, disappointed with the look, fit and the
inability of the shoe to mould to the shape of my foot as I
danced.
And why did I swap to a different
brand in the first place? I was under the incorrect assumption
that the longer a pointe shoe lasts, the better it is - a
pointe shoe should not break down. 'Dancers are under the
impression that they need a shoe that never breaks down,'
says Karen, 'people have to understand that a pointe shoe
has to break down. Professionals go through 2 to 6 pairs a
week! You need to be able to go through your foot. If a shoe
isn't breaking down and moulding to the foot then dancers
tend to go straight from flat to en pointe without going through
the metatarsals. Over time, this can weaken the foot, as its
not being utilized.You need the foot to do the work, not the
shoe to do the work for you', says Karen.
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