“Comfortable” is probably not a common word used to describe dancing on pointe in the best of circumstances. Add a few blisters, and the experience can be downright painful. So, how do you avoid blisters?
There are three main causes for blisters from pointe shoes. The first is friction. If a pointe shoe is too big or too wide, the foot will slide around or “sink” into the shoe when the dancer goes up on pointe. Wherever the shoe rubs, a blister will develop. This is one of the reasons why pointe shoes should not be fitted with any extra room.
The second reason is moisture. During class, a dancer’s feet will release a lot of moisture, which is absorbed into the pointe shoes, and so it is important to dry out pointe shoes between classes. In order for the shoes to dry out properly, all padding should be removed from the shoes. Since moisture breaks down the shoes, allowing the shoes to dry out completely will not only save the dancer’s feet, but it will also extend the life of her shoes.
The third reason for blisters has to do with how the dancer points her toes. Instead of pointing the feet so hard that the toes curl under, the dancer should think about lengthening through her toes. In other words, the dancer should think about keeping her toes long from the base knuckle through the end of her toes. Some dancers have naturally “bendy” toes and may opt to use tape to keep the toes nice and long. Tape also has the benefit of protecting the skin from friction. There are a variety of tapes on the market to help with this issue.
If you have a problem with blisters, see if any of these reasons could be the culprit, and, as always, talk to your instructor.