R.I.P First Pointe Shoes

blood. sweat. tears. these shoes have endured all of them. Almost. Maybe not blood and tears, but sweat, DEFINITELY.

I got these shoes when I was 13 years old. One exciting morning after my Co-op’s talent show, my mom and I went to my friend’s house. We got in their car, and off we went on the quest to find the perfect pair of pointe shoes.

When we arrived in Jacksonville, we stopped at a Southern Grounds coffee shop. We had brunch (I think, I can’t recall that well). Then, after filling our stomachs and satisfying our coffee cravings, we ventured across the big bridge to our destination, Danzar. (Also, huge shoutout to Danzar, the amazing dance shop where I got fitted; they were AMAZING!!!) There we were met by my amazing dance teacher, Miss Sarah Schaper, and we went in.

First we were given tights, then we were given a quick run-through of what the pointe shoe components were, what it was made of, etc. Then we were fitted up with toe pads (hallelujah!) and spacers. After that, the amazing lady who was doing our fitting looked at our feet. In almost no time, she said that my toes were longer than my friend’s. (Weird, right, what things matter when getting pointe shoes?)

Then, finally, the POINTE SHOES were brought out. The moment we had been waiting for forever had finally come. I stepped up en pointe. It was sensational! But also very nerve-racking, because I had no idea what pointe shoes were supposed to feel like, so how in the world was I supposed to know which ones were right?

In the end though, Berea and I found the perfect pair. For getting our first pair of pointe shoes, the lady who fitted us gave us both flowers, congratulating us on our first pair. Also, as a special memory, my dance teacher bought us each a mini pointe shoe keychain. Then we got Panera Bread.

This day marks one of the most important in my life. I have since done many private lessons and classes en pointe, and I am auditioning en pointe this year for the ballet Narnia, the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by In His Image Dance Studio.

And now the sad part. Though these pointe shoes were amazing and lasted me for over a year amazingly, I knew the end had to come sometime. I never got one blister from this trusty pair. But alas! Alas! The end had come. Last night, after my dance class, when I asked, I got the yes from my teacher that they were……dead.

R.I.P. first pointe shoes.