Expanded and updated throughout, this guide provides a thorough examination of pointe shoes and pointe technique. Dancers quickly benefit from the most current research that offers the most recent information on hundreds of contemporary designs, materials, products, and suppliers. It illuminates the shoemaking process and gives advice about how to best fit, care for and custom-order shoes. The basics of point readiness, pointe technique, different pointe methods and the history of pointe are discussed. Includes a handy reference on pointe-related injuries and their remedies. The authors also provide an authoritative pointe class syllabus for teachers and students. In the last chapter four prominent ballerinas talk about their shoes, how they found the perfect fit and the joy of dancing on pointe.