Suffolk’s Russian Collection- The Reign, Regent And Royale

I am not sure when it happened, but new pointe shoe models have been added to the Suffolk collection whose names do not begin with the letter S. How could this be? We were sailing along on the S fleet with Sonnets, Silhouettes, Sovereigns, Statuses, Stellars, Solos, Sterlings and Spotlights when a Reign and Regent were spotted off shore with the Royale not far behind.

 The Reign And Regent Have Been Permitted To Board The Suffolk Ship

The S Festival is now over. As our eyes get used to the shape of these new letters we learn that the Reign and Regent have been created for the Suffolk Prestige Collection. These beauties are made in Russia.  чудесный ! ( Wonderful !)

Reign

The Reign is described as a low-profile model with slightly tapered boxes and a wide platform. They are pre-arched and pleat free. They have thick leather soles.

Regent

The Regent has the same pre-arched, pleat free design features as the Reign, but with a medium profile and medium platform. Another model appears to be on the horizon for this collection; the Royale.

Of course, the mention of a factory in Russia creates immediate cravings for a street address and pictures of the actual cobblers hammering and shaping these beauties. Here in the world of pointe shoe mysteries, we can always dream, even if we don’t drink Vodka as we search for фабрики по производству пуантов ( pointe shoe factories ) online.

What do you think about this Russian collection by Suffolk? Your opinions are always interesting, so feel free to comment. * No Political Rants, Please.

You can learn more by visiting Suffolk Dance Prestige.

The Pleat-Free Sansha Pointissima & Mysterious Cendrillon

Pointissima

To pleat or not to pleat?  That seems to be the newest decision for pointe shoe designers these days. It is also a decision that dancers make when choosing the right shoe for their needs. For some, pleats are no bother. For others, they feel bulky and get in the way of feeling the floor.

Thinking about these pleat-free designs takes me way back to the days when all pointe shoes had pleats. After all, Ballerinas have been wearing pleated slippers for centuries. Back then, what you didn’t have you didn’t miss. In all fairness, some brands create models based on customer feedback. One of those brands is Sansha. Yes, keeping up with Sansha is still a full-time job.

Sansha Is Now Offering A Pleat-Free Model

Now that dancers can enjoy multitudes of design varieties, manufacturers have to race to keep up and compete. They might have young and savvy designers that are closely aware of what today’s pointe students are looking for. Shoes that are smooth and flat at the sole have gained interest and popularity.

I searched high and low for more in-depth reviews on the Pointissima but could only find website specs that leave us with a small list of details.

Sansha Pointissima Specifications

• 5 shank choices.
• Available in American sizes 2.5 to 7.5
• Made in 5 widths
• Featured as only available in the Pink shade shown here.

The Cendrillon Is A Fascinating Mystery

Because the specifications of the Cendrillon model appear to be a Sansha secret, all I can go by is this image.

It has traditional pleating at the toes. That’s all folks. In French,the name Cendrillon translates to Cinderella. Here, it looks like Cinderella is a bit shy to tell us about herself.

When I stumble upon models that only offer a photo to go by, I have to decide how long I am going to hunt for more information. For now this will have to do.

See the Cendrillon on World.sansha.com.

DeVallet Pointe Shoes – A New Brand From Spain

In a post written many moons ago, I spoke about the fascinating, yet nontraditional fact that some pointe shoes are made using ultra-modern technology and concepts like 3-D printing. Now, one of those brands happens to belong to a new start up company based in Spain named DeVallet.

Unlike the far-out P-rouette pointe shoe idea,  DeVallet appears to use this method just for shaping and symmetry from shoe to shoe.

This brand is an interesting find for several reasons:

• Unless A dancer sends an inquiry about alternative addresses, they are only available to be shipped to Mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands. *
• After ordering, you receive three pairs to try on at home.
• * They might work with you if you email them and are close to their location. Few companies would risk sending extra pairs outside their comfort zone.

Specifications Available From Their Website

At the time of this post, dancers can order this model by email with their choice of color and size. Because you are sent three pairs, it is my guess that each has differences in width. Customers keep the pair that fits the best and send back the other two.

This system requires that a dancer already knows her feet, has pointe experience, and is knowledgeable about what works for her.

About The Founders Of DeVallet

DeVallet of Spain

Whenever a new pointe shoe brand company appears, learning about the people who created it is so much more rewarding than picturing a factory in Narnia with nameless faces sweating over a quota.

DeVallet is a beautiful collaboration of two talented people; Silvia Garcia, a former Ballet dancer and Miguel Moratilla, an Aeronautical Engineer. If this doesn’t sound like a combination of brains, talent, and innovative thinking, I don’t know what does.  See the founders of DeVallet here.

DeVallet Pointe Shoes Come In A Variety Of Shades-Classic To Theatrical

Racy red. Vivid purple. Bold black. Cream, Caramel, Salmon, and Chocolate. Other than the shade choices mentioned here is the ability to specify a custom shade. What do you think about these colors?  The only shade that was not featured is your traditional Ballerina pink.

Located In A Marina In Valencia, Spain

One of the most fascinating aspects about this brand is the fact that they are located somewhere in the Marina buildings in Valencia. I spent quite a while trying to find a storefront image, but was unsuccessful. There is a good reason why.

According to their LinkedIn profile, the business address is listed as Carrer Ribera Nº1, Piso 1 Valencia 46002 Valencia ES. So, off to Google maps we go. This address corresponds to Demium Startups, a company that helps new businesses get off the ground. DeVallet can be found on Page 2 on the Left if you scroll down a bit. Eureka!

I wish DeVallet molt èxit i prosperitat ( much success and prosperity) with their brand. To learn more about this fascinating start-up, visit their pointe shoe page on their official website or see DeVallet on Facebook.

 

The Low Vamp En L’air Collection By Russian Pointe

Recently, Russian Pointe added a series of three new models to their inventory; the Échappé, Sauté, and Brisé. All three are part of the  En L’air collection.  What a perfectly fitting and clever name for a pointe shoe series. They all come with low vamps, however, each model is designed to address a specific foot shape.

The Brisé was created for narrow, tapered feet. The Sauté has an extra–wide platform and box with a full heel. The Échappé has a slightly tapered box, narrow heel, and wider metatarsal design.  Just the fact that these are low vamp choices will make a lot of dancers very happy.

Just One Mystery-The Plume Shank

Other than the fact that there are new models to admire with this collection, there is also an interesting shank incorporated into these pretty shoes. It is called a plume shank. Plume? Because I have never heard of a plume-shanked pointe shoe, I had several options:

1. Send Russian Pointe an inquiry and wait 500 years for KGB clearance and a response.

   

   Brisé

   

   Sauté

   

   Échappé

   
   

   2. Dig around online dictionaries until I find something that makes sense.

At my age, I opted for number 2. With a bit of sleuthing, I came to my own conclusion about these mysterious plume shanks. What is a plume shaped like? Like a feather. It has a wide end and a very tapered end.

We can only come to the conclusion that the “stem” section of the shank sits beneath the heel.

 

The En L’air Collection can be seen in the Russian Pointe 2021 Catalog pages 20-21. They will be available in Summer 2021.

Image Credits : 1. Chenxin Liu, Don Quixote, Kitri – Prix de Lausanne 2010 by Fanny Schertzerderivative work: Maedin\talk, CC BY-SA 3.0  2. Baby Blue Feather Pixabay Free

Virtisse Pointe Shoes-A New Brand With Exciting Possibilities

Just when I thought the brands list would shrink away to nothing, it’s wonderful to see that manufacturing is still alive and well. The show goes on even though it can be a long wait in between performances.

The Virtisse Company is a female-run organization with innovative new ideas on what dancers are looking for. One of the first things that I noticed about the model descriptions is that some come with built-in toe padding. As a matter of fact, many of the models are created both with a built-in pad and room in the toe box to add your own.

Virtisse Has Seven Different Pointe Models In Their Collection

The Apogee is described as a lightweight, noise absorbing shoe that is good for a medium to high arch. This is a pre-arched model with long wings. What I find interesting about this collection are the model names. I am immediately curious to find out what they mean.

According to Google, Apogee is the highest point in the development of something. What a fitting and fantastic name for a pointe shoe, don’t you agree?

Medora -This model was made for the dancer that has a low to medium arch and has a preference for drawstrings on the side. From the photo, it appears to have a wide platform, but very shallow profile.

This brings back some humorous memories when I tried a few shallow shoes in my collection. I literally could not walk, only waddle like a duck. However, the dancer with shallow feet would swim around in higher profile shoes. Medora means Mother’s Gift and is of Greek Origin. Fascinating!

Enigma- The Enigma is another model suitable for the dancer with a low to medium arch. The shoe  also has long wings for extra support. This is another model created for low to medium arches.

It must have been very interesting to have a company meeting and brainstorm the shoe names. What is an Enigma? The word is used to describe things that are seen as mysterious puzzles.

Perhaps to a non-dancing audience, the way a dancer can balance on the tips of her toes without killing herself is an enigma of epic proportions.

Enigma-FX- This is the ready-to-wear version with a flexible 3/4 shank that allows for easier rise to full pointe. Again, it is described as a shoe for low to medium arches.

One of the most difficult things for the low-arched dancer is fighting with too-stiff pointe shoes that create a battle getting over the box. It completely ruins aesthetics and throws off balance. Having a shoe you don’t have to fight with is going make pointe work a lot less frustrating.

Prodigy-It is a given that someone who is a prodigy is gifted beyond their years. It is a lovely name for a pointe shoe and has a lot of positive connotations. This particular model solves a very frustrating problem for dancers with short toes and low arches.

It was made for the square-shaped foot which is yet another fitting challenge. As you can see by the photo, it appears to have a low profile so those short toes aren’t swimming around in loose boxes. My goodness, there is so much to consider when designing a pointe shoe, isn’t there?

Flora- This is the only V-vamp shoe in the entire collection. It is described as a model suited for strong feet with medium to high arches.  I find it intriguing that the name Flora means all the plant life that exists in a region.

Of course dancers on pointe are not plants, but have similarities in the way they need to be nurtured to grow. Fertile soil and sunshine is to flora what daily barre exercises and floor routines are to a ballet dancer.

Via-I think it is very fitting to name a student shoe Via. The word Via means the way, the path to, or the direction to take. This shankless model has a low U-shaped vamp with wide platforms.

Shankless student shoes are another subject that can get a few tutus in an uproar. I have read many debates about whether a ballet student should go directly from a slipper into a pointe shoe, or transition gently into a shankless pointe to get used to hard toe boxes.

Inspirational Names For Beautiful Pointe Shoes

Don’t you love the names of the shoes in this interesting new collection? Virtisse has elegantly celebrated foot shape diversity with models that solve dance challenges. Another more positive fact is the power of collaboration when like-minded people get together to offer input and experience to benefit others.

On a personal note, I am so, so relieved that the beautiful art of pointe shoe design and construction hasn’t completely died. The ballet world took quite a hit during this pandemic, but it appears there might be a bit of hope as manufacturing dance products resumes.

The Vamps Of The Virtisse Collection :

• Apogee– Medium to high
• Flora– Medium to high
• Medora- Low to medium
• Enigma– Low to medium
• Enigma-FX– Low to medium
• Prodigy– Low to medium

You can visit Virtisse on Facebook , see their latest Tweets on Twitter, or head directly to their official website, Virtisse.com

What’s New In Pointe Shoe World?

It has been awhile since I checked for new models out in pointe shoe world. Once I got going checking out every single manufacturer on the sidebar here, I found many new additions. Having all these brands to check is both a joy and a challenge. Although some of these models may not be new to you, they are listed here as new discoveries for me.

Bloch Concerta And The Long Length Series

Concerta

The Concerta model by Bloch is made for dancers that have a hard time getting over the box because of lower arches. The box platform has been angled to assist getting onto full pointe. The sole is pre-arched into a C-shape for a more flattering fit.

Bloch has also created a Long-Length series based on several of their  existing models. With sizes going up to size 11, I am sure the men-on-pointe crowd will take notice.

Capezio Brazil-New York

New York

The Capezio-Brazil New York is quite a mouthful to say, isn’t it? According to the product description these shoes are constructed with a definite right and left foot. The insole is created from Neoprene materials.

The definite right and left foot is surprising. One of the first things a pointe student learns is to rotate her shoes between sides so they last longer and maintain a straight shape.

Chacott Pique

Pique

Can I just say how much I love the Chacott brand? There is something so well-balanced and eye pleasing about the shape of their models. It is obvious that Chacott takes pride in their aesthetics and construction.

What I found new in their collection is this pretty Pique model. It is described as a v-vamp, low profile shoe with low-cut sides and a 3/4 insole. It is also described as having the hardest box  in the entire Chacott collection.

Colombo Of Italy Offers Something New

Colombo 455

Colombo of Italy has added a new type of shank to the 455 model. If you look on top of the product image on their website, you will read scarpa da punta con lamina in carbonio nella suola.

Leaping sans tutu to the good old trusty Google Translate, I get this as the closet translation: Pointe shoe with carbon foil in the sole. What is carbon foil? Most likely it is the material we know as carbon fiber; a strong, resilient, flexible product used in many athletic shoes.

Gyffs Of Argentina Adds New Models

Many, many moons ago, I posted about my discovery of the Gyffs Giselle pointe shoe from Argentina.  After doing my sidebar link check, I found some new models that made me very, very happy for two reasons. The first is obvious; there are new pointe models to discover and learn about. The second and more important reason is that Gyffs is still in business.

I cannot stress enough how sad and disheartening it is to watch the discontinued shoe list get longer and longer. Today I can celebrate with some virtual Argentinian party food. Now when you visit Gyffs, you will find not only Giselle, but ten more models:

1. Giselle Pro-3/4 Shank 
2.  Progress– 1/2 Shank
3. Rose-No Shank
4. Firebird– Reinforced Shank
5. Firebird Pro-Super Reinforced Shank

Wide Width Series

1. Primavera-Reinforced
2. Primavera Pro-Full Shank
3. Cinderella-3/4 Shank
4. Cinderella Pro– 1/2 Shank

Students Or Beginners

1.   Vicuna Leather Pointe Shoe. For any dancers out there that are vegan, this is a very sensitive  topic to address.

Image Credits- Vicuna by Papermaker, CC BY-SA 4.0

K.H. Martin Evita

Evita

Just like the Eva model, the stamp on the Evita sole offers a wealth of information for both fitters and dancers.  The Evita is a low-profile model with a slightly tapered box. It is described as a practice shoe with full shanks that come in three strengths.

One of the most admirable things about K. H. Martin as a brand is that they don’t spit out a new model every five minutes. There is a thoughtfulness and seriousness of purpose that they take pride in. I wish the Evita model the best of luck.

MJ Pointe Shoes By Miguel Jorda

I wish I knew more about the newest pointe shoe models that are now featured on the MJ website.One appears to be an artists rendition, and I cannot find any exact specifications. The models are numbered for now.

MJ 1202

MJ 1204

I remain hopeful that I can learn more about these new additions. Recently, I was privileged to receive a positive answer to my Facebook friendship request to Mr. Jorda. Although there might be a language difference, I can certainly try and Google translate an inquiry about these models.

Nikolay StreamPointe And Victory

StreamPointe

Victory

Such a clever name for a pointe shoe; Victory.  These fascinating shoes are technically the Elite on the inside, but with a more elegant tapered appearance on the outside. What a beautiful upgrade.

The StreamPointe offers arch hugging aesthetics with no unsightly gaps. As you can see in the photo, it not only hugs the arch, but creates a beautiful non-sag line along the heel. It also comes in a wide range of sizes. I would love to have the tiny size 1 as a decoration.

Porcelli Gold And Silver

Porcelli Gold

Porcelli Silver

The Gold model comes with a heel-hugging panel of elastic that prevents that dreaded aesthetic killer, the saggy baggy heel. According to the product page, the Silver model was created to assist with balance and stability on pointe. View The Porcelli Pointe Shoe Collection

F.R. Duval Series

 F.R. Duval pointe shoes are now taking over the world with their globe trotting series. These models are classified by global regions.  Under each region are a multitude of choices to customize the shoe. Technically, the American, European, and Parisian-type pointe shoes are each part of a larger group. One thing I can say about these shoes is that they are absolutely gorgeous.

The American Collection

American

I love that F.R. Duval offers this pretty shoe with a choice of sole materials; leather, or vegan-friendly microfiber. This one was designed as a pre-arched 3/4 shank pointe shoe model with broad toes. The sides are smooth and sleek due to the elastic drawstring.

Created based on foot types, the American range is for dancers with Roman, Germanic, or Celtic feet. This is outstanding, don’t you think?

 

The European Collection

European

This is a lovely pre-arched 3/4 shoe with an elastic drawstring as well. It was made to fit and flatter the dancer with different foot shapes than those in the American collection. I really love the wide range of choices.

This picture really shows off the lovely arch of the shoe. It has that clean and sleek shape that will enhance aesthetics on pointe.

 

The Parisian Collection

Parisian

Paris anyone? This interesting collection includes a balanced toe box for stability and materials that help the shoe maintain its strength. The most interesting component  about the pretty Parisian is the high-tech shank inside.

It comes with a durable Hytrel® shank which makes it strong and flexible like a dancer themselves. Très Bien .

 

SoDanca Joy II And Alegria

Joy II

 

Alegria

In Spanish, the word alegria means happiness or joy.

It is the same feeling you get when you discover new pointe models to write about as a blogger. Much the way joy and happiness are intertwined, so the SoDanca Alegria and Joy II are like peas in a pod.

Both shoes offer similar profiles, but the Alegria comes with a lower-cut vamp.The Joy II has a wider metatarsal with a bit more taper and higher cut vamp.

 

 

Time, And Pink Satin, Marches On

I feel like I have been around the world. At the same time brands are disappearing, existing lines are expanding. Like a puffy caterpillar pulsing up and down in locomotion, the pointe shoe market certainly has its ebbs and flows. What do you think about any of these new brands or models? Let me know what you think!