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

Debunking that myth… Hear from your favorite brands at our second annual TPS Pointe Intensive! February 14th-16th, 2025 San Francisco Ballet * Learn fitting techniques from Master Fitters of the biggest vendors in the industry * Be the first to hear about the newest pointe shoe models * Tour the San Francisco Ballet shoe room * Watch live pointe shoe fitting demonstrations * Learn training practices from dance medicine professionals to help dancers prevent injuries, improve strength, endurance a