@straightenthoseknees / straightenthoseknees.tumblr.com
After I saw this video of NYCB principal Ana Sophia-Scheller balancing on her Grishkos, I was like hrm, and tried them on again. Now I kind of miss my Triumph's (so squeaky though!). Grishko's have so much SUPPORT, but they don't let you articular your feet as much or roll through as easily. Better for hardy classical roles than jazzy Balanchine ones (not that I am a Balanchine dancer...).
Freeds:
Made in London, one of the most overwhelmingly popular shoe of the field, used practically exclusively at NYCB and a favorite among etoiles of the Paris Opera Ballet.
Pros - really supple shank breaks in easily, molds to your foot and arch very nicely. Really flat bottom and profile of the shoe makes you feel very stable on flat. Wider platform of the box makes balancing easy. Very easy to roll-through pointe.
Cons - I've only tried the Classics, but I feel like these are the flimsiest, most painful shoes. If you have strong feet, you practically need a new shoe every day! They break in fast - a little TOO fast, and I could feel the floor with my big toe very easily. Quality varies a lot by maker, so it's very frustrating to find consistency. The toe box is very boxy, not a look I am fond of. You can use jet-glue and other tricks to make the shoe last longer, and you can request specific makers, but it's just too much work for me. U-shaped vamp.
Gaynor Mindens:
A bit controversial in the ballet world, these new-fangled pointe shoes use a new material to replace the traditional glue-and-paste-and-fabric combo of every other shoe.
Pros - These things last practically forever. No glue that breaks down, no shank to break-in. They are super lightweight and quiet. They are engineered to reduce injury and be kind to your joints. There's built-in padding at the tip of the toe box, so some ballerinas wear it without any additional toe pads. Some ballerinas swear by these shoes and never go back to traditional ones.
Cons - These shoes will never mold to the shape of your foot, so the biggest drawback is that they don't make the prettiest picture. I also found the shape of the shoe to not fit my feet, I kept getting big wrinkles and gaps in the arch because this shoe has a very flat profile.
Grishko:
The preferred company of Russian ballet companies. Made in Russia.
Pros - Well, I wear these shoes, so they are my favorite, and this review will be very biased, haha. I think looks-wise, they are the prettiest shoe. A bit paler peach, a bit more tapered with more of a V-vamp. Dancing-wise, they are the best! They offer the best support and are more durable than Freeds. Dancing in them just feels good. I love the 3/4 shank of the 2007's, and also the Triumphs are amazing because they're basically the Fouette with a 3/4 shank, and the last of the Fouette fits my foot much better than the 2007. I tried many models of Capezio / Bloch and then once I switched to Grishko I never went back. It's just a superior shoe. Also, I just slip on some toe pads and the Grishkos never give me any blisters, whereas something about the shape and make of Freeds, I always get blisters!
Cons - They are a harder shoe, so sometimes they can be a bit noisy. They tried to fix this with their "pro" shanks, but the shoe felt different. In the newer models like the Triumph and the Miracle, I don't think noise is as much of an issue. Not as easy as a Freed to roll through pointe, but I much prefer the stability of these shoes for turns and balances.
Conclusion:
At the end of the day, everyone's feet and bodies are different, so to each his own! Get professionally fitted and find what works for you. And if you've been wearing the same shoe for years, don't be afraid to try a new model every now and then.
