Shoes
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Footwear consists of garments worn on the feet. It is worn for a
variety of reasons, including protection against the environment,
hygiene and adornment. Usually, socks and other hosiery are worn
under footwear. It is sometimes associated with fetishism,
particularly in some recent fashions in shoes and boots (see shoe
fetishism). Some people are very passionate about fashion footwear.Types of Footwear: Boots, Cowboy boots, Galoshes, Go-go boots, Kinky
boots, Ski boots, Riding boots, Ugg boots, Valenki, Waders,
Wellington boots, Winklepickers
Thigh-length boots: Industrial footwear
Shoes: Athletic shoes (trainers) (sneakers)
Climbing shoes, Clogs, Football boot, High heels, Platform boots,
Platform shoes, Stiletto heels, Kitten heels, Mary Janes, Moccasins,
Mules, Penny loafers, Pointe shoes, Skate shoes, Snowshoes, Tap
shoes, Training shoes, Socks, Sandals, Espadrilles, Flip flops
(thongs), Slide, Slippers, Swim fin (flippers) |
Footwear Components:Adhesives ,Air cushion, buckle, Counter fort, Eyelet, Heel, Hook,
Insole, Laces, Reinforcement tape
Sole, Steel shank, Tack, Toe puff, Tread, Welt, Pointe shoes
(sometimes called toe shoes) are a special type of shoe used by
ballet dancers for paintwork. They allow a dancer to move on the
tips of her toes (en Pointe). Pointe shoes are normally worn only by
female dancers, though male dancers may wear them for certain roles,
such as the ugly stepsisters in Cinderella or Bottom in A Midsummer
Night's Dream.
Originally the Pointe shoe was used to give more grace to the
dancer. The Pointe shoe was made out of cloth and covered the
dancer's feet, with a small amount of padding so that the dancer's
discomfort can be reduced as much as possible without taking away
the flexibility of the foot. Later on, the Pointe shoe was made out
of glue and paper, wrapped in cloth, usually a light pink.
There are many different types of Pointe shoe, and each fits the
dancer in a different way. The Pointe shoe should be tight, with
only a pinch of cloth at the heel when the Pointe shoe is en Pointe.
Two ribbons wrap around the dancer's ankle, along with an elastic
band that also wraps around from the back of the heel, to the front,
and then back to the back the heel. The shank of the shoe comes in
two different sizes, 3/4 and full shank. The full shank is
traditionally for the dancer who has a strong arch, and needs more
support than the 3/4 can offer. The full shank was used in the
original Pointe shoe. The 3/4 is shorter, and helps dancers go up on
Pointe with more facility. There is a wide variety of Pointe shoes
that have different attributes and longevity.
Pointe shoes are usually covered with satin. The shoes have two
important structural features that allow the dancer to dance on the
tips of her toes:
the box is a section of paper (and sometimes burlap), stiffened with
glue, that encases and supports the dancer's toes. The end of the
box is covered with satin and flattened into a platform, upon which
the dancer can balance.
the shank is a strengthened piece of material (usually many layers
of glue-hardened paper, or sometimes plastic) running near to the
length of the dancer's sole. It provides support to the arch of her
foot as she stands en Pointe.
Pointe shoes are usually made in light pink colors varying from
peachy-pink and bright pink to very pale pink. White and black
Pointe shoes are also very common, but Pointe shoes can be specially
ordered in almost any color. At dance supply stores, Pointe shoes
retail for anywhere between $35.00 and $95.00. Non-professional
students usually pay about $60.00 for one pair of shoes, which will
last (with major fluctuations depending on the strength of the
dancer's feet, her weight, the type and strength of the shoes, and
the amount of time spent en Pointe) for about four months. Higher
level dance students, who usually take several Pointe classes a
week, can sometimes go through one or two pairs monthly.
Professional dancers go through Pointe shoes much more quickly and
order shoes in bulk directly from manufacturers - one pair can "die"
after twenty minutes of a performance. Many professional ballet
companies offer shoe allowances to their dancers, allotting a
certain number of shoes to each dancer per season.
Young girls usually start dancing en Pointe between the ages of
eleven and thirteen. Before this, their bones have not stopped
growing; serious foot deformities can result from starting Pointe
too early. Girls must not go up en Pointe until the bones of their
feet are fully developed and the muscles in the arches, legs, pelvic
area and abdominals are strong enough to bear the stress; injuries,
such as breaking the ankle, can occur because of weak, untrained
muscles. They should also have had at least several years of proper
training. All of this requires careful evaluation on the part of the
teacher. Note that we have three requirements here: bones, muscles,
and training.
It is also important that young girls be fitted for Pointe shoes by
a professional. Shoes that are too small or too large can cause
serious problems from technique issues to injuries.
Once a dancer is ready, preparation for Pointe work is a slow and
gradual process. At first, it is just strengthening exercises at the
barre - for example, simply going up on Pointe and coming back down,
and then introducing variations in speed and position -- for perhaps
no more than five or ten minutes. It is often only after six months
to a year of this that one can start dancing on Pointe in the
center. The entire process takes time and close supervision by the
teacher.
Dancing en Pointe can place severe stress on the dancer's feet,
common injuries related to dancing en Pointe are:
blisters - caused by repeated rubbing of skin against the rough
hardened inside of the shoe's box. Blisters can be prevented or
lessened by carefully wrapping the dancer's toes with medical tape,
or using some type of thin padding.
bunions - a bone deformity usually in the dancer's big toe, caused
by cramping of the toes within the shoe's box. Dancers can prevent
bunions by putting a spacer (often gel) between the big toe and the
next toe.
bruised toenails - caused by heavy pressure on the front of the
nail. The toenail may occasionally fall out due to bruising.
Cuts can also occur between toes as a result of the pressure of a
dancer's toenails digging into the toes next to them.
To help minimize pain and injuries from dancing en Pointe, many
dancers use lamb's wool "toe pads" or gel pads like the "Ouch Pouch"
to cover their toes in the box area. Wads of lamb's wool and small
gel pads are also used in certain areas where a dancer feels the
most pain. Many dancers also use sports tape to tape around their
toes in order to further prevent blisters and bruised toenails.
However, professional dancers often use only tape, a small amount of
paper toweling, or nothing at all, because they prefer greater
freedom of movement and sensitivity.
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