In The Shoes: Grishko

  If your traditional, get Grishkos. They last  f o r e v e r.

  I bought my second pair of pointes by texting That's D Pointe Dance Shop in Manila after my first pair gave up on me in two weeks. My first (and second) pointe recital was danced in these shoes which make them valuable in the market of sentiment...

  I think I chose Grishko among other brands because a) There was no other that had my size or b) I heard that they were Svetlana Zakharova's shoes. I quite forgot :(

© Kina De Mendoza

© Kina De Mendoza

  My Dear Grishkos lasted for more than one year. This is because they "fossilize". Somehow, if you don't use it for a long time, the glue in the shoe hardens, making it good as new! Credit for that info goes to R.A.D. Ballet Buddy Ingrid :) The shape of the shoe was also very foot-flattering, with a slight V in the vamp, and a long tapered look. Very Russian.
  

  Because of the shoe's hardness, I got a lot of blisters, also because I didn't have enough padding, causing hammertoes... This blister is the reason for the dark spot (which is blood) on the left shoe...

  This is also the shoe that me and a friend at LCB had a fight about. After a whole day of not talking to each other, I said sorry and she did too... 

  What I liked most about Grishko was it's box. I'm a fan of hard boxes, they give me some support, but are also rather heavy. The shank was good too, very pliable. This is probably the best shoe I've had so far, but I'm going to keep looking... 

© Jun Tupas

{Visit grishko.com}

Buying New Pointes

Mom figuring out the Gaynor Minden tracing sheets at The POD.
Taken with Instagram.

  After pointe class one Wednesday, Ate Nikki asked me if my shoes were soft and said that I should change them as soon as possible. A few before, Teacher Agnes also told me that my Dear Grishkos are deformed. About time I got a new pair, and guess what I've decided on... Gaynor Mindens!

  I just got the email from the GM fitters about my fitting details earlier last week. I wanted to make sure that I got the right size because when buying Gaynor Mindens, you must get a shoe one size larger than your U.S. street shoe size. I'm an 8.5 and 9.5 sounds like a LARGE pointe shoe so I downloaded the tracing sheets as recommended by my Ballet Buddy Christine. But apparently, 9-9.5's the right size o.O

  I decided on GMs because, of course, of all the good reviews surrounding it. I also have never dance with toe pads and since Gaynors are already so cushioned by themselves, they might give me more comfort and I can forget pain... and ever buying pads if they make me happy. FACT: More people in Locsin's wear Gaynors than any brand of pointes.

  So I guess I'm gong to come up  with another In The Shoes post soon. My Grishkos have been really great, but we'll talk about that next time :D

Dream Shop

  Last night I couldn't sleep. I was fantasizing about my dream shop. One day I'll open a dance shop.  I'll name it from Pointe to Pointe, after this blog :) The first in Davao, unless someone has the same idea as me. In this shop I will sell Yumiko leotards, Bunheads, even books on dance!

  Speaking of which, I started reading The Ballet Companion by Eliza Gaynor-Minden. It's really good, I like it :)  I'm still in the part where she talks about manners and what to expect from class. I even came across a list of things to put in a dance bag!

  Back to my dream shop... I so wish it would be in Plaza del Carmen. That's the place where my mom's Yoga Studio, The POD, is. The main feature of the shop would be a nice dressing room with a short barre and mirror (full-body). It would be a lot like Grishko's NYC store ♥ Only smaller of course :D

  Also, I thought last night, if I'm going to get someone to help me man the store, she has to know a thing or two about dance, ballet especially, and pointe shoes.

  BTW There's this interesting Pointe shoe. Supposedly designed for Nike :P