first pointe shoes - SE

[Didiplanthis]

Where is the best place to get DD fitted for her first pointe shoes ? South east area. She has narrow feet with a deep instep... shoes are always tricky to get to fit. Thanks!

There are lots of good places where in the South East are you?

Grishko are good for narrow, high arched feet, try googling their stockists to see if there's one near you.

Are you able to get to Just Ballet in Wisbech?

Near Tunbridge Wells.

I'm happy to go to London if needed.

For London, Dancia in Covent Garden, make sure to book an appointment.

There's a dance school and shop in Radstock, nr Bath.
Might be easier to get to than going to London.
The owner has a great reputation

If you go in to Covent Garden, you can try Freed, Bloch and Dancia, and see what works. Will her teacher want to be there, or has she asked you to take pictures / video? The first pair is tricky, as they don’t know how the shoes should feel.

As you live near Tunbridge Wells, Dancing Boutique there should be perfect. They are very experienced in first pointe shoe fittings and travel to Elmhurst and Tring schools every few weeks to do fittings for their pupils. Good that they don't favour any particular brand of pointe shoes, you can try on multiple brands to find which is the best fit. You need to book appointments online.

Dancing Boutique or if you’re going to London Dancia. Don’t go to any of the brand stores, it’s hard to compare when you walk from one shop to another, you need somewhere which sticks multiple brands.

Another vote for Dancing Boutique. They have an excellent range of styles and have sorted DD out since she started full time training at Elmhurst.

@Comefromaway

Are you able to get to Just Ballet in Wisbech?

Just Ballet have closed the store in Wisbech and are just doing their online shop at the moment. I think they are going to open a shop elsewhere.

@VariationsonaTheme

Dancing Boutique or if you’re going to London Dancia. Don’t go to any of the brand stores, it’s hard to compare when you walk from one shop to another, you need somewhere which sticks multiple brands.

Dancia doesn't hold anywhere near as much stock though as the individual stores such as Bloch.

Freed are a different kettle of fish as well, and they have literally thousands of pairs in their shop. They will also customise anything if it needs altering.

I'm pretty sure she has opened a new studio boutique in her garden.
I second Sue Hill in Radstock but that's quite far. If it isn't her first pair and she knows how pointes feel and what she would like different, I'd head to London and visit Bloch/Freed/Dancia/Capezio.

Thank you. We will try Dancing Boutique as its close !