BBM Danza Pointe Shoes From Italy-Bellissime Scarpe Da Punta

Do you know what I really love? Finding a brand so lovely that it makes me happy I created this blog.  I absolutely love learning about new brands and this one is no exception. Another  gorgeous Italian pointe shoe brand can now be added to the sidebar. Italy is so full of beautiful brands that you can probably smell the bolts of satin as you arrive from overseas.

The BBM Danza Company Offers A   Few Mysteries To Solve

According to their official website, the company address appears to be located in an industrial park in Naples, Italy. After a long diligent search, I located a  storefront/ warehouse image at this address on Google Maps:

27 Viale Balzano Francesco, Torre Del Greco, NA 80059, Italy

 Now for the most mysterious parts:  Who is Bianca Buonandi? It makes sense that these pretty pointe shoes have BB in the title, but what does the M stand for in BBM? Was she a former dancer?

After a long and diligent search, I finally found the name BIANCA BUONANDI MORVILLO listed on a Dance Shoe Directory in Naples.  On an interesting note, Triunfo is included in the description as well. Below is the Google translate version of the directory description:

Teatro San Carlo, Naples, Italy, Viva-Verdi / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

NAPLES DANCE SHOE –B.B.M. di Bianca Buonandia: professional line of shoes, tights BBM, B.B.M., DANCE, DANCE, BALLET, TORRE DEL GRECO, NAPLES, BIANCA, BUONANDI, MORVILLO, PRODUCTION factory, triunfo dance shoes factory, dance shoes, dance shoe.

Hopefully we are correct to assume that B.B.M. stands for Bianca Buonandi Morvillo.  However, the only reference to a  Bianca Morvillo based in Italy is a Triathlete. Is it her? I don’t know. I have decided to let it be for awhile.

The Lovely BBM Danza Models

Are you ready for this list? I hope you have a comfortable chair because it is quite lengthy. Along with my own observations, any detailed descriptions were acquired using Google Translate. All of the models are constructed with non-toxic glue.

Pre Pointe- Pre-pointes are always interesting because they are controversial. Some ballet teachers put their students in Pre-pointes, some do not. Even so, many brands offer a Pre-pointe model; including BBM Danza. They are described as a soft-sole training shoe for developing the instep during barre exercises.

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Studio Basic-This one is a beauty, don’t you think? I love the colors of the Italian flag on the heel seam.  The Studio Basic comes with a wide range of options that lets you chose the width of the shoe as well as the reinforcement level of the sole.  This one would be a treasure to add to my collection.

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Aurora 08-The Aurora 08 appears to be created for dancers that need a wider metatarsal area in their shoes. From the photo, you can see that this model appears to have a higher profile, slightly smaller platform, and a more tapered box. Like the Studio Basic, the heel liner area has the colors of the Bandiera d’Italia .

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Contempora A- What do you think? Have you ever danced or trained in 3/4 pointe shoes before? Typically, 3/4 soles or shanks are for dancers that have strong feet. These are beautifully shaped.

What I find interesting about these types of pointe shoes is that they didn’t exist in my area of the East coast U.S.A. back in the olden days.

 

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Contempora B- Here is the lovely split-sole model for maximum arch enhancement. Unlike the A version, this model gives you a bit of traction in the heel area. That patch of leather can help keep that part of the shoe from wearing out too fast.

Like the other Contempora model, it offers less bulk in the arch area so your feet can pointe beautifully. Pointe shoes that are designed this way are chosen for both their aesthetics as well as their function.

 

 

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FF Arcuate- The FF Arcuate is their pretty pre-arched model. Not only are they beautiful, they are a pointe shoe collector’s dream.

Nowhere in the realm of pointe shoe land will you find another model with the name FF Arcuate. I love it !

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Kitri- The Kitri is one of those ready-for-dance pointe shoes. Not only do the suede-covered toe boxes provide a bit of extra traction, they prevent  that “shredded toe box” look.

The best part about these shoes is the insole. Described as a Flexy insole with maximum bend capacity, the chances of hearing that dreaded snap sound are greatly reduced.

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Symphony 1- Can you hear the ballet music? You might if you are wearing beautiful pointe shoes with the inspiring name of Symphony 1.

Looking at the photo, the shoes appear to be low-profile tapered models. What do you think?

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BBM Men’s Pointe

Men doing pointe work is a controversial topic, but whether we agree or disagree, many dancewear companies offer a male version in their collection.

The BBM men’s model is described as being made just for the masculine foot. It is a wider, reinforced shoe with leather soles and made of  black satin.

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Now that we have come to the end of the collection, we can celebrate adding another beautiful Italian brand to the sidebar. Hopefully with time and luck we can learn more about Bianca Buonandi and what inspired the creation of this brand.

For more, visit the BBM Danza pointe shoe page. You can also find BBM Danza on Facebook.

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B.B.M. di Bianca Buonandi

Viale F. Balzano, 27 – 80059 Torre del Greco, Naples,  Italy

Allegro Pointe Shoes From The Netherlands

What happens when a few dancers from the Netherlands get together to create their own pointe shoe brand? A fascinating, yet very mysterious product for ballet aficionados in other parts of the world. Namely, my neck of the woods in The United States.

These pretty shoes have taken me on a very, very long research journey. Because  they are distributed as wholesale items, I can only guess about their original source.

With little luck trying to find any information about the innovative dancers who created them, I decided to share what I do know.

How They Are Sold And Distributed

What is most intriguing about these lovely shoes is that they  are part of the international wholesale market for dance supplies.

From whatever factory they come from , they end up at the DJazz Trading Company in Holland for distribution.

It was quite underwhelming to only find a warehouse door to see, but such is the life of those who try to solve international pointe shoe puzzles. Sometimes you strike it rich, sometimes you end up with a photo of a door.

Pointe Shoe Specifications

According to the description on Ballet Wholesale, these shoes come with the following details:

• Described as a ready-to-dance shoe for beginners through advanced dancers.
• Created with supportive pre-arched shanks.
• Pre-attached ribbons and fishnet elastics.
• Leather sole and platform cover.
• Poron® 4000 cushioning for shock absorption.
• EU Sizes 34 – 42, Width C: normal to mid-wide feet.

What Makes This Brand A Mystery ?

Have you formed your list of questions yet?  I certainly have. There are a few reasons why this brand has hit the mystery list. I want to know:

1. Who are the dancers that got together to create this brand?
2. Are these shoes made in The Netherlands, or elsewhere?
3. Why are they only sold as bulk wholesale items and where do they end up? Schools? Theaters? Overseas?

One thing is certain, trying to cover such a wide topic as pointe shoe brands from  around the world will never get dull or boring. If anything, I am even more inspired to put on my hunting slippers and keep searching for more.

“ Searching is half the fun: life is much more manageable when thought of as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a surprise party.”

–  Jimmy Buffett

 

 

* DANCER DANCEWEAR is a brand of DJAZZ TRADING C.V.
Bart van Slobbestraat 25A
6471WV Eygelshoven, Holland
VAT: NL850681601B01
Chamber of Commerce: 52953378

 

New Pointe Shoe Brands & Models-Coming Soon Or Already Here

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by today’s product choice overload? Although I can only speak for myself, sometimes it feels like I need to stay hovered over the sidebar links or a new pointe model will appear overnight on one of these sites like a stealthy magician.

Bloch- No Sooner Did Grace Arrive, Than Here Comes Balance Lisse

Balance Lisse

Bloch of Australia, you are one busy bee of a company.

Just when we were recuperating from the shank jargon of the Grace model, you introduce the Balance Lisse.

This sturdy looking shoe was added to Bloch’s Balance Collection.  It is described as a full-sole model made with   reinforced satin to stay new looking longer. According to Bloch, the Balance Lisse also features:

• Wide platforms on the outside, but tapered toe boxes on the inside.
• Heels that are low cut with less padding to hug the contours and create less wrinkling.
• Low profile boxes, u-shaped vamp, and medium strength shanks.

At the time of this post, the Balance Lisse is a Coming Soon model. You can read more about it on this Blochworld Blog announcement.

 The Alpha And Omega  By Wear Moi

The last time I mentioned something about Wear Moi pointe shoes, was way back in 2012.  I was intrigued about their La Pointe model and the expansion of their range beyond leotards and accessories.

With all humility, I confess that I am over 2 years late to post about these new models. They were new back in 2018. It’s true everyone….I can barely keep up with the speed at which pointe brands and models are ever changing.

 

Wear Moi Alpha

Wear Moi Omega

According to Wear Moi, both the Alpha and Omega have the following specifications:

• Pre-arched with higher wings for support.
• Inner gel pad made of coated silicone to cushion toes.
• Absorbent microfiber liner for moisture control.

They are both the same shoe, but the Omega has elastic instead of drawstrings.

Cecilia Kerche Tries Again With Her New Pas Classique Performance Model

Pas Classique Performance

I really, really admire Cecilia Kerche. Although devastated to see that her last website of gorgeous shoes didn’t stay up too long, I am happy to learn that she hasn’t given up on her shoe designing dreams.

Thanks to a reader comment, I was alerted to her new brand of dance products, Pas Classique.

The pointe model is named Performance. This  shoe is made in collaboration with her husband, a pointe shoe maker with years of experience.  That sounds like a fascinating partnership, doesn’t it? This is only a guess, but after so many years of being connected to So Danca, having a brand just between spouses must feel like absolute freedom.

The Pas Classique Performance Is A Multi-Option Model That Comes With Your Choice Of :

• 2 Box Widths– B, for narrower toes, and C, for normal to wide toes.
• 6 Shank Strengths-Pre-tip, Intermediate, Soft, Normal, Reinforced, Super Reinforced.
• 2 Shades– Rose or Salmon

Pas Classique on Facebook

 Nikolay Announces Their Upcoming Model;  Kátya

The Nikolay brand is simply Grishko, but separated for the U.S. market. It was quite a stir when the 3007 model was introduced.

At the end of February, Nikolay announced an upcoming model : The Kátya. How gorgeously Russian this name is. Luckily, some of the specifications were posted on Facebook.

The Kátya Has A Beautiful Name With Functional Characteristics :

• It is strictly a canvas pointe shoe with a matte finish ( I don’t know what shades will be available)
• Has a leather platform to absorb sound.
• Created for easy roll through, aesthetics, and flexibility through the use of elastic paste.
• Perfect as a rehearsal and practice shoe for serious training.

⠀⠀The Nikolay World Website can only be browsed by registering log-in credentials, but it appears well worth the extra step. You can also learn more by visiting Nikolay on Facebook.

 

The Bloch Grace Model- Scientific Shanky Panky

As a person who embraces tradition and old-school ways, nothing baffles my mind more than the idea of my ballet shoes being smarter than I am . During the course of making my link-checking rounds through the brands list, I found that Bloch of Australia has gone beyond Stretch Pointes to Smart Pointes.  Enter the model Grace.

 Grace Acknowledges The  Athleticism Of Pointe Work

Somewhere along the ballet line, we stopped simply breaking in our pointe shoes, sewing on the ribbons, and allowing the molding-to-the-foot process to unfold with our own sweat and body heat. Now, pointe shoes have to do something. They are not allowed to just sit there and look pretty.

 Grace Is Really A Sneaker With Brains Cleverly Disguised As A Pointe Shoe

Inside the Grace model toe boxes are sneaker-like cushion linings. The heels and liners are padded for comfort as well.

Where do the brains come in? Apparently, the central nervous system and command center is located in the shank.

This isn’t any shank, mind you,  but something called a Relevease shank that collects data from the spine.

A Review Video Of The Grace Model

Pointe Shoe Marketing Is Approaching The Outer Galaxies

In all seriousness, these types of claims need to be examined further.  Below is a word-for-word description of the shank.

“ The shoe’s Relevease shank uses biomimicry to echo the function of the human spine and allow an easy roll through demi to en pointe.”

– BLOCH

What does biomimicry mean? According to the Oxford Dictionary it means The design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes.

The shank echos the function of the human spine. What does the human spine do? It supports, twists, and bends. In other words, the Grace model has a flexible shank. Oh my ….

 

 

 

 

Gökçe Aykut Pointe Shoes- The Turkish Gaynor Mindens?

Gökçe Aykut Pointe Shoes, Izmir

Gökçe Aykut  (pronounced Goke-chay Ay-cut ) pointe shoes are an interesting brand that I stumbled upon one day while browsing through Facebook.

The first thing that caught my eye was the sleek, smooth aesthetics reminiscent of the Gaynor Minden brand. The second thing that I found captivating was the unique spin on promotion and photography this company uses. Visit the gallery page on the company website to see their contemporary  photo montage. * Other parts of the website are very glitchy*

 Gökçe Aykut Is The Woman Behind The Brand

From the very best I can decipher using Google translate, the founder is described as a 1999 graduate of a prominent University in Turkey, who then went on to create her own line of pointe shoes.

I wish I had more to share with you, but unfortunately, there is little information about her that I could find online.

Pointe Shoe Specifications

This brand is made in Izmir, Turkey making them a genuine Turkish pointe shoe brand.  Because the official website is very image based, the specifications were better listed in detail on a retailer site. Gökçe Aykut has two models that are simply called :

• Pointe Shoe No. 1 – Medium vamp, high heel, 3 shank strengths of Hard, Medium, or Flexible.
• Pointe Shoe No. 2 – Deep vamp, high heel, 3 shank strengths of Hard, Medium, or Flexible.

To see the full list of specifications for both models, you can visit the sales page on Parazitka.com.

A Side By Side Comparison Of Gökçe Aykut On The Left Vs. Gaynor Minden On The Right – What Do You Think? Close, No?

Gökçe Aykut

Gaynor Minden

Similarities- Constructed of non-traditional materials, seamless appearance, lack of pleating under the toe box, inner hidden drawstring on the side, no-slip platform.

Differences– Gökçe Aykut pointe shoes come with leather board shanks and are handmade. G.M. pointe shoes have polymer shanks. Another huge difference is price. Listed as 60,000 Euros, that makes them approximately 64.00 U.S. dollars. Gaynor Minden’s are usually twice that much.

I would like to say that I am thrilled to be adding a Turkish brand to the sidebar. I wish the Gökçe Aykut  Company good success and happy dancing for its customers.

Gökçe Aykut on Facebook

Dansez-Vous Pointe Shoes From Troyes, France

Margot by Dansez-Vous

It’s wonderful to discover another brand from the beautiful country of France. I have this thing about Europe in general, so you can imagine how happy I was to find a brand named Dansez-Vous. Translated to English, I believe that means Do You Dance?

Dansez-Vous has a collection of soft slippers with names like Vanie, Nevis, Ana, Nina, and Lili.

They also manufacture two pointe  models at the moment; the Margot and the Elene.

Don”t you love it when pointe shoes  have girly names?

The two models are almost identical in specifications, but are made for different levels of pointe work. Both have u-shaped vamps with elastic drawstrings and  2 widths to choose from. The platforms are generous on both models.

MARGOT : Soft flexible sole for beginners

Elene : Soft 3/4 Sole Pre-Pointe

 

 

 

 

 

Dansez-Vous has an interesting way of doing business. Instead of having their own storefront for the public, they have a Plateforme Logistique ,  also known as a Logistics Headquarters in English.

The address of their Logistics Headquarters is 154, Rue de Preize, 10000 Troyes, France. This address comes back to a dance shop named Coppelia. Très intéressant, no?

This Video Gives A Great Idea Of How Large The Platforms Are

According to their website, they manufacture products in *several factories, so I am guessing that inventory is moved from the factory to the Coppelia shop for main distribution to registered retailers.

* When a company mentions several outside factories without providing a factory location, my  Possibly-made- in- China warning bell goes ding, ding, ding!

I placed an email inquiry on the Dansez-Vous Website about where the Margot and Elene are made to be sure they are a genuine French brand. I won’t hold my breath, but I look forward to an answer.

Dansez-Vous on Facebook

 

Update 11/29/2019 – No response from the company. I will take a guess and say that these shoes are not made in France.

The Pauls Pawlowa- Auf Wiedersehen & Goodbye

I started this blog almost ten years ago. One of my first “exciting finds” in pointe shoe world was a brand called Pauls from Germany. The Pauls Pawlowa model had a fascinating story behind it.

Fast forward to this week. I decided to visit Pauls website on the sidebar here. Lo and behold, no Pawlowa. What happened? When you click on the spitzenschuhe category, the only choices are Bloch, Freed, Merlet, Grishko, Sansha, and Gaynor Minden.

IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. Another lovely pointe model trampled into the rosin box and replaced by the popular, mainstream brands. Sadly, the loving work of a cobblers hands perfecting his one precious model cannot compete with  the passage of time if the younger generation in the family doesn’t learn the trade. Even that is no guarantee of success.

The company began in 1919, so it is almost certain that the founder who molded those lovely shoes is no longer with us. Perhaps the family members who took over had no choice.  However, The Pauls Company still lives on today and you can check their Facebook page to see how their range has grown.

They were gracious enough to answer my inquiry about the Pawlowa. It’s true. They don’t make their own pointe brand anymore. It is with heavy heart that I have to remove Pauls from the sidebar. The good news is that they have some leftover stock of the Pawlowa models in their shop. Collectors, how do you say run, don’t walk in German?

Iovine Ignazio Pointe Shoes From Naples-Hand-Crafted Vintage Collectibles

There are so many beautiful brands of pointe shoes that come from Italy!  I cant think of a time when I saw an Italian model that wasn’t lovely in construction and quality.  Finding these Iovine Ignazio lovelies was such a joy. They have entered into the realm of the highly collectible as it appears their manufacturing days are long over.

 

The IOVINE IGNAZIO brand is one of those super-fascinating treasured mysteries that can make a pointe shoe lover spend hours and hours searching for any tidbit of information they can find. However, thanks to a responsive family member, I was able to wrap up my search in good time.

What I Was Able To Discover:

They were hand-crafted in Naples, Italy.  Napoli is what the Italians  call Naples. The old company url,  http://www.iovineignazio.com/index1.htm,  was last crawled by Google in 2007.

On the bottom of the bag you can see di Iovine Espedito. That led me to their current company, GlovesIovine. I am very fortunate that the nephew of Iovine Ignazio, Marco, responded to me on Facebook. Yes, it’s true. His uncle’s factory closed down.

What we have now are vintage, discontinued hand-crafted Italian pointe shoes that are a collectors dream.

Gloves Iovine on Facebook

Akces Pointe Shoes-Handmade In Kraków, Poland

MADE IN POLAND

Can anything be more exciting than finding a unique pointe shoe brand on the other side of the globe? For me, the answer is no.

Not only does a new brand gain a spot on the list here, it provides a real education on design and perspective from country to country.

The shoes are manufactured in Kraków and list the address of their main headquarters as 8a Gościnna street 30-698 Krakow. 

The company makes many different types of shoes, including the Classic Pointe, Model V, and Elastic Vamp.

 

CLASSIC

MODEL V

MODEL V

ELASTIC VAMP

What Makes Akces Pointe Shoes Interesting And Unique

One of the things that caught my eye about this brand is the model with the elastic vamp. Not many ( if any) ready-to-wear pointe shoes come with an elasticated insert in the vamp.

After reading the specifications of each model, it appears that all the shoes have one basic construction form, then are named based on the type of vamp they offer. The Classic has a u-shaped vamp, and the V has the obvious v-shaped vamp.

According to Google-translated specifications on each model, they come in five colors: White, Black, Pink, Nude, and Ecru. Other colors can be custom ordered. Shanks are available in 0-4 levels of hardness, and are constructed in narrow to very wide widths.

Akces Unisex Pointe Shoe

They are one of the rare companies that offer a male version, although it could be the V model, but in Black.

I found this model featured under the unisex category of pointe shoes on Tanecznysklep.pl.

 

Who would like to try and pronounce that website name?

The Company History Reads Like A Saga Of Heroism And Survival

Akces began in 1940 by a 12-year-old boy named Marian Proficz and his brother. From a humble family farmhouse, the company grew and expanded into many different brands that are well-known for their range of dance shoes and accessories. You can read this inspiring story in English on their About Us page.

Akces Has Many Different Websites And Divisions

Akces has multiple websites that are linked together and they also have a Facebook page. I give kudos to them for having an English version! Their main website is Akces.biz. From there, the company lists all their various brand names and corresponding websites.

The beauty of this company is that they still operate on the same property where it all began so many decades ago. It is now in the hands of the founders son.

To go straight to their pointe shoe sales page, visit Akcesdance.pl/pointy.

or visit Akces Dance on Facebook.

 

Pas De Deux Pointe Shoes- A Green Approach To Ballet Waste

Do you hate waste?  Apparently, this very new French brand, Pas De Deux, does  too. Inspired by the mountains of used pointe shoes that are tossed away by The Paris Opera Ballet, they decided to offer an alternative choice for dancers; pointe shoes constructed of organic recycled materials.

I stumbled upon this brand by accident on Facebook and find their Eco-friendly, green approach to pointe shoe making as contemporary and futuristic as using  high-tech materials.  The truth is, all of those tossed out pointe shoes from professional companies have to go somewhere.

This company is so new, they don’t have a website yet.  The company debuted in early April 2019 on Facebook.  At the moment, they are using a Google Form to take orders. Because of this, I will hold off adding them to the sidebar.

Finding Pas De Deux and their concept made me think about something I rarely consider; just how long does it take for a pointe shoe to decompose at the landfill? It makes you think, doesn’t it?

I really look forward to a fully designed website ( if they are planning one) with an About Page and detailed specifications on the shoe models. I want  to learn more about the man in the video, the model names, and the location in Paris where they are made.

How do you feel about the subject of waste when it comes to pointe shoes? Should we even try to make a dent in how the planet is affected by the vast amounts of used shoes dance theaters have to throw away?

Pas de Deux Pointes on Facebook

UPDATE  FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2019 – The video that was posted above went blank, so it was removed. Their Facebook page has also vanished. They may be blocking viewers, restyling their brand, or have already gone out of business.