The Pointe Book: Shoes, Training & Technique [Paperback]

Janice Barringer (Author), Sarah Schlesinger (Author)

Book Description

The Pointe Book is the only book to include an extensive explanation of pointe shoe fitting, preparing, and maintenance. Interviews with dancers Larissa Ponomarenko, Paloma Herrera, and Marisa Soltis reveal different personal and highly evolved methods of breaking in and taking care of pointe shoes. One will find, as well, a complete discussion of the foot's anatomy, of the pointe shoe itself, pointe-related injuries and their remedies, and an historical review of the pointe shoe. The Pointe Book, Revised Edition lays out the basics of teaching pointe, comparing proven teaching methods. All levels of pointe technique classes are sampled from schools around the US to create an authoritative syllabus for teachers and students alike.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Princeton Book Company Publishers; Revised edition (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871272040
• ISBN-13: 978-0871272041
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Dance > Ballet

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

153 of 156 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the most thorough and informative book on pointe!, August 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pointe Book: Shoes, Training & Technique (Paperback)

When I first learned pointe, I studied at two different dance schools. My instructor at each school gave a short lecture on the foot and pointe dancing in general, and the majority of their presentations came from "The Pointe Book". I quickly went out and bought it and now as a teacher myself, I require my students to get and read "The Pointe Book". I have not found any other work to be as thorough and informative -- who knew that so much was involved in a pair of shoes?! If a student only reads part of the book, I would recommend the chapters on proper pointe shoe fitting and pointe-related injuries. The chapter laying out a sample pointe class has come in handy for some of my beginning work with students and also provides them with exercises to do on their own. My favorite chapter, though, would have to be Conversations on Pointe, which has pointe stories from many well-known dancers. It was great knowing that some of my opinions and experiences are also shared by some of the greats! Janice Barringer and Sarah Schlesinger have done all of us dancers a great favor with "The Pointe Book".

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable manual and examination of ballet dancing, November 13, 2004

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pointe Book: Shoes, Training & Technique Second Edition (Paperback)

Now in a new and expanded second edition, The Pointe Book: Shoes, Training, & Technique is a remarkable manual and examination of ballet dancing pointe shoes, and the methodologies used by professionals. Choreographic experts Barringer and Schlesinger apply their years of knowledge and personal experience in the world of fitting and training with pointe shoes to matter-of-factly present how dedicated and athletic individuals achieve remarkable feats of grace and balance. Packed with detail, The Pointe Book is as comprehensive as can be covering everything from different types of shoes to the hazards of learning to walk on one's toes to resources for help with pointe-related injuries and much more. Highly recommended for anyone with a professional or casual interest in the world of ballet.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource For Returning Ballerinas, May 12, 2007

By 

Melissa Townsend "TheShadowsMoon" (Columbus, Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pointe Book: Shoes, Training & Technique Second Edition (Paperback)

The Pointe Book: Shoes, Training & Technique Second Edition

I purchased this book because I am getting back into ballet after several years out due to non-ballet related injuries. I found a lot of useful information, but there were a lot of things that I also wished that the book had included, or had talked more about.

If you have absolutely no experience in ballet, or are not taking any training or don't have an experienced ballerina handy to answer questions, this book is going to be a bit confusing. It is excellent for giving you contact information and company and product reviews for ballet gear providers. However, I did notice that the information contained in the book on some of the companies and their products, particularly regarding pointe shoe sizing, differed markedly from the information provided by the company/manufacturer on their on websites. I would not rely only on the information contained in this book if you are going to purchase pointe shoes using this information. If you are going to order via the internet or mail order, please take the time to either visit a store for a personal fitting, or else contact the manufacturer via telephone, e-mail, or look over their website. Just by chance, I had recently purchased a new pair of pointe shoes by one of the makers listed, and had I used the book's size guide, I would have purchased shoes that were no where near the correct size.

It is an excellent resource for those that are taking class and have instructors to turn to for further explanation, or those that have some degree of en pointe experience. I do wish that the dance sequence sections had been a little more detailed; that section was a big disappointment as I found it was not anywhere near as marvelous as it had been billed.

Overall, there's just no real substitute for an en pointe class with a real, live, knowledgeable instructor in front of you to answer questions. Yet, I wouldn't just write this book off, and I don't think it was a waste to purchase it. It does highlight some good points and information, but it could be a whole lot better--and more complete.