Where did pointe shoes come from?🩰 One of ballet’s most intriguing innovations – the pointe shoe – was born from the desire to create an illusion of lightness and ethereal movement. The earliest footwear resembling modern pointe shoes dates back to 1829 and belonged to the Italian ballerina Maria Taglioni. In 1832, Taglioni danced an entire role en pointe in La Sylphide, showing how rising onto the tips of the toes could intensify the airy image of a forest spirit. At that time, dancers still u

Did you know there are professional Pointe Shoe Fitters that help our dancers create their perfect shoe? Precious Adams and Julia Conway describe how vital it is to have custom-fitting pointe shoes. Donate to our Pointe Shoe Appeal now: https://www.ballet.org.uk/support/pointe-shoe-appeal/ #enpointe #ballet | English National Ballet