Pointe Shoe Fittings
PLEASE NOTE: All pointe shoe fittings require an appointment as of July 2020. This ensures that there is a fitter available in the store. Your time does not guarantee that you will be able to enter the store at that specific time. It means that if the store is full, you will be next in line.
Here at Dance Essentials, we have several associates who can fit pointe shoes. While we do accept walk-in fittings, making an appointment will ensure that we have a fitter in the store to assist you. We can only comfortablely fit one dancer at a time so depending on how many shoe fittings are occurring when you arrive at our store, there might be a wait time before one of our pointe shoe fitters becomes available.
First Fitting
First-time pointe shoe fittings often take the longest, so we ask that you arrive at least 45 minutes before we close. You can expect the fitting to take between 20-60 minutes. It is a good idea to make an appointment for your first pointe shoe fitting so there is a fitter in store. Please call the store with your name and a time to book a fitting 250-868-1417.
We do accept walk-in fittings, however, please be aware that when it is busy, we must attend other customers at the same time and your fitting may take longer than expected. Pointe shoe fittings require attention and detail, and we do not want to rush this process.
Pointe shoes must fit as precisely as possible on the foot to avoid unnecessary pain and/or injury and cannot be fit with growing room. Often, teachers will accompany their students to their first-time pointe shoe fitting to approve the fit of the shoes.
Before Your Fitting
Before we fit a dancer, we must have approval that the teacher has approved the student for pointe work. For the safety of the dancer, we cannot fit dancers who want to try shoes on for fun.
Please have your toe nails cut short, as long toe nails can cause discomfort in the shoe, and cause for an ill-fitting pointe shoe.
We provide try-on tights and toe pads for the fitting.
After Your Fitting
We highly recommend that you show your instructor your first pair of pointe shoes as they may need to approve the fit before you go “en pointe." Pointe shoes may be exchanged or given an in-store credit within 30 days, in brand new condition with the original receipt. If there is any indication of wear, we will not accept the exchange. Please do not sew your ribbons and elastics before your teacher has approved of the fit of the shoe. If you or your instructor has any concerns about the fit of your first pair of pointe shoes, we encourage you to return to our store for a re-fitting.