Types of Pointe Shoes
There are six varieties of Freed Pointe shoes. For these six standard Freed shoes, there are five possible width fittings, twenty sizes, and about thirty makers. Some makers and sizes are less generic and therefore harder to come by. Freed “Classics”, are the first and foremost type of Freed pointe shoes. They are also the most popular and easily recognizable as being “Freeds”. They allow for different maker specifications. Freed “Classic Wing Blocks” are very similar to Freed “Classics,” but have extended reinforcements along the wings or sides of the shoe. Basically, the box extends further along the sides. Freed “Studios I”, feature a tapered box with a long vamp, and very stiff wings. These shoes do not have specific makers that can be requested. Similar to the “Studios I” are the “Studios II.” This shoe features a less tapered box, but has the same long vamp and stiff sides like the “Studios I”. The “Studios II” are usually worn by people with wider feet, and just like its predecessor, do not have specific requestable makers. Next is the relatively new Freed “Studios Professional”. This shoe has a somewhat tapered box, and is available with either a v-shaped or u-shaped vamp with an elastic drawstring. The most obscure shoe is the Freed “Gent”. This shoe features a square box with a long vamp. The “Gent” is only available by special order and is not commonly stocked. There is also a shoe designed by Freed in collaboration with the staff at Canada's National Ballet School. It is aptly named the Maple Leaf. The shape of the shoe is much squarer in the block and has a lot less taper than other styles. This shoe is quite hard in the wing blocks and is made to last. The platform is very smooth and straight with very little deviation from one pair to the next. The only known retailer of this shoe, however, is the Shoe Room at Canada's National Ballet School.
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