I don't dance even, and I watch these videos.

I'd love to see a video on what old/worn pointe shoes can tell you about the way you dance and your technique

Could you please do a review on the So Danca Elektra? I'm super curious about the new pointe technology like the interchangeable shanks

Used to wear Rubin for about 5 yrs. Switched to the Radiance and I'm really liking them! They fixed all the issues I had with Rubin, the only thing I would point out that I don't like about the Radiance is the vamp is a bit longer. I would love for you review the Capezio Phoenix! Love your videos, Josephine! I want to be a fitter after I'm done dancing professionally.

My granddaughter wears the Rubin Radiance! She loves the 3/4 shank, the suede toe and the wrinkle free satin. The shoe looks absolutely gorgeous on the foot. She has no problem rolling through.

This video seriously made me smile. You are a ray of light 💕

Sassy Josephine drinking tea and telling people they win life is the best! I don't think I'll ever look at a low profile shoe now that I know better though.

I have rubins and I LOVE them!! I’m only in my second ever pointe pair, but that was my fitter’s first choice for me. It was a good choice! 😄

I am so happy to see you were able to reopen. I am glad to see pointe shoes are always being updated. I wish these updates exist when I was in pointe shoes years ago.

Always make time for you! Have learned so much. I may have told you i no longer dance at this age but my old pointes lay around the house, so do the tutus. Watching you brings back awesome memories. Thanx! Love you dear! ❤

Thanks for the Video Josephine! I adore RP. Yes it was a brick at first but once it gets soft it stays the same for infinity. As a person who uses really soft shoes my problem always is that the satin spreads out too much when the shank is still workable for me. But RP's thick satin completely saves the day. Once when the shank is pretty much dead it's just PERFECT for me. 😘 👌 But also curious about other tips to keep soft shoes last long if you are thinking about going some tips/hacks video in the future ❤️😁

My eldest (RAD Adv 1) moved 6m ago from the Rubin (and also Gaynor green bag, in rotation) to the Radiance. The Radiance is (finally!) *her* shoe! She has tried literally every shoe sold in Canada (not even joking, some she wore for only one class ). She is getting fewer blisters in the Radiance and likes it for performances (sadly, none of those going on). I've got two girls en pointe and I am so happy they both seem to have found their shoes (youngest is in Gaynor pink, possibly moving to yellow soon). I will say that one of the girls in my youngest's class (RAD Intermediate, second year up) was fitted in the Radiance and the teacher had a coronary because that girl has hyper-flexible feet (overuse of foot stretcher for the win). That girl only lasted a week or so in the Radiance. Get a proper fitting, know your feet and TELL THE FITTER what your needs are -- the last two are hard for girls who are young and don't have as much time en pointe.

Love this! I was en pointe for 6 years. It wasn’t until my last year or so that I was put into Rubins by a fitter and I fell in LOVE. Prior to the Rubins (in an FS shank), I had always struggled to get all the way over my box. I almost cried when I put them on and could actually roll up fairly easily for the first time. If I were ever to try it again, I’d definitely look into the Radiance model!

I'm amazed. I was excited to hear you taking about Russians (my favourite brand), but I never imagined that you'd talk about my two pairs and exactly what I use them for. A little while after Christmas, I got my first Rubins. They are still perfectly broken in, though quarantine definitely had a hand in them lasting over half a year. In early spring, I had a performance coming up, so I got Radiances. I find that the Rubin works best as a workhorse shoe as I have really worn the box down but it is still usable even now. Radiances are great for performances and auditions, and I enjoy both. Thanks so much for the video, I can't believe we'd have the same talking points on these shoes!

Superinteresting video Josephine, I will definitely try the Radiance model soon. I value your work a lot, I live in Italy and fitters are just a dream for now... I will keep trying on my own for now!💖💕

I am going to get my pointe shoes in January and you help me so much with understanding all this fun stuff I wanted to thank you sm!!!

I wear Russian Pointe Rubin and I love them 😍 it was pretty hard to break them in it took about 2 weeks but they are my first pair so that also might be why it took so long but I do love them so comfortable I barely feel any pain and I just feel like I am floating in them

Thank you so much for this vid. My studio is doing a production of swan lake and I was recently cast as one of the cygnets and one of the four big swans. Both dances have a lot of jumping, and my normal rubins are super hard and it takes a long time to make them soft enough to be quieter when I jump. I might need to try these out for the performances 😎😎😎

I just got a pair of Radiance and the first thing I noticed was how incredibly quiet it was

Can you do a updated review on European balance Bloch pointe shoes? I really would love to see that! Also can you do a part 2 of pointe accessories because I need something to help my big toe pain? Thank you!

love the tea cup!

Could you do a review on the new Capezio Phoenix? I’ve been wondering about those since they came out recently and no one has done a review.

When I use to do ballet, I had the Bloch brand! It fitted better with my feet lol! I was about 12 when I started pointe, but quit when I was 14. I’m 24 now.

I would like to see a review on Capezio Phoenix, Russian Pointe Lumina, and Suffolk Stellar and Spotlight.

Could you talk about Suffolk or other popular pointe shoes for wide feet! The struggle is real for dancers with wide feet or metatarsal.

Great video (as always), Josephine. I was curious about your thoughts of the So Dança Elektra pointe shoes. On paper they sound wonderful. Many hi-tech innovations with the switchable shanks, no seams, etc. Beautiful to look at, but how are they to dance in?

this was really helpful, thanks! I like the Rubin but my main complaint has always been how hard its as since I have very low arches and I'm not very advanced in pointe work yet so I think radiance would actually be great for me.

You were mentioning certain people make softer shoes last longer but the reasoning got cut out. I would love to know why that is, thanks for the video. I have always struggled to get fully over my block for about 8 years en pointe, I have very narrow feet and very high arches and I finally got put into rp radiance and am over the block and they feel great!

I just switched to radiance from rubins and they make my feet look amazing!!

Yes please. Certification as fitter.

Great content...thanks! Could you do a video on split sole pointe shoes, like the stretch satin ones from Bloch?

I used Blochs for years until I was nineteen when I switched to Russian Pointe and the difference was like night and day. I had a high instep before but I wasn't building much strength and my lines just didn't look good, Russian Pointe changed all of that. I wish I could afford them nowdays.

Just returned a pair of Rubin Radiance 3/4 shank. Ordered my size, 44, w1, 2 (I'm really a v1 but that's all they had) Firm (only came in F) but the were smaller, seemed like a much shorter last. It was about 1/2 inch smaller. I've always wore a size 44 so I was very disappointed that my toes were pressing while not in 2nd position plie. $95 shoe. So I'm waiting for RP to send me my backorder Rubin. Hope to get it by June or early July hopefully.😊

“You win everything, you win life” -Josephine Lee 2020

i use the rubin radiance, and the suade tip a lot

I wear the Rubins -- I wonder if I should give the Radiance a shot! I wear the Flexible Soft so I wonder how that compares in terms of softness? Some of the studios I dance in have very slippery floors so just the suede tips alone are tempting! I've tried darning some of my pairs and I don't really feel like it made that much of a difference. I will say though I've not found the Rubin's excessively loud -- I land jumps quieter than some of my classmates in "quiet" shoes so it can't really all be blamed on the shoes tbh. Maybe my shoes are a little louder in bourrees? I haven't found it particularly noticeable.

Very sassy today!!! Anything 'special' in that cute tea cup?!? 🤩🤩🤩

Can you do a review of the Capezio Phoenix?

I just got fitted for my first pair of point shoes, and my fitter was only really fitting my box so she didn’t take into account that was my first pair and that I needed a softer shoe to grow

Can you please do a review on Capezio Phoenix?

I love ur videos

Could you please do a review on the SoDanca Elektra? I am very curious on how the switchable shank works! :)

Can you do a review on Bloch European balances? :)

Back when I wore Rubins the shank was way too hard and they only lasted a month and then that eventually led to me switching pointe shoe fitters and I tried Bloch Axiom Stretch and they are my new favorites! I haven’t been wearing them long enough to figure out how long they last because I started with them right before nutcracker and I was switching between brands at the time too and this time was going to be when I figured that out but that obviously won’t be happening and I’m considering trying nikolay’s since my Bloch shoes shank snapped in my one pair. I would love to try the radiance but my new store doesn’t order Russian pointe shoes sadly but they do have newer shoes compared to the other store like the so danca and whatnot so hopefully after this summer I will be able to try the nikolay’s as long as the restrictions are lifted for fittings

This looks like a great option for a performance shoe for Rubin wearers. I’ve heard some people have been going up a size because the heel cut is slimmer. I like to wear by shoes pretty snug and I have a disappearing heel; should I still size up in the Radiance? Also has anyone seen that the box retains its width more because the suede tip?

hey I have really tapered feet, with a pretty low profile, and I have worn the Rubin before with pretty good success, except for the fact that the box broke way faster than the shank for me, and I’ve found that I need a stronger box and a less strong shank, so would you recommend trying the radiance?

hi! I commented a similar question on your last video, but I thought you would be more likely to answer on this video lol(Just cause its newer.) I recently got RP Rubins and the length and width are both good, and my teacher and I both like them, but I have very shallow feet so even though they have a low crown there's still a gap. Should I get a smaller width and mash the box down a bit? Or get something like the gaynor minden insoles? Thank you!!

Hi Josephine! I have a question for you! When I was still at a studio when I was real little, the older girls who were en pointe would sew cross stitch fabric onto the tip of the box and our teacher said that when she was still in a company, they would all darn the tip of their boxes. Would the purpose of this be similar to the suede you mentioned? Thank you!!

I wear a Rubin and I love everything about them (I have very low profile, short toes) EXCEPT the noise and the fact that the bottom of the shoe is not a flat sole. It's like trying to balance on a rope. Is there anything other than shaving the centers down to help with that?

Hi so I’m planning on getting my first pair of pointe shoes from RP and the only shoes they have (that I can afford) and that come in different colors (which I want because I’m brown skinned), are the Sapfir U-cut and the Rubin U-cut. I’m a total beginner with pointe so do you have any notes or insight on these two in comparison to each other? On the RP site they don’t show or list any difference between the two.

I wear the radiance and they are sold out everywhere! I have had tons of rehearsals for nutcracker, and have worn them for 14 hours just this week, and are almost dead. Should I try the Rubin for rehearsal?

I love their old shoes but like really old before Rubin talking encore even before that back in early 2000s

Could you do a reveiw of the bloch strechpointe line?

❤❤❤

👍

What would you suggest if you have very flexible feet and have no problem rolling through the Rubin and love the feel of a new pair? My daughter is blowing through her shoes every four weeks dancing 3 hrs a week. She starts saying they are too soft after 2-3 weeks. She’s been on point for a year, and now my other daughter just got put on. It’s getting very expensive! 😅

Is "Russian Pointe" the same as "Grishko's" I wore Grishko's fron maybe 12 to 13, then Chacotts became my regular, I also tried Gaynor Minden's which were very new and very hard to find way back when while I was dancing. I remember we drove over 2 1/2 hours to the closest place to carry Gaynor Minden's in '94 to '96. Could someone answer my question about Grishko's please?

I use Hannah blochs and it’s baggy on the sides but I like da shoe

I love Russian Pointes! I have Bravas:)

i’m not sure if you have already but can you do a video on freeds and go more in depth with them?

I had the Russian Alvarez’s ..... I think that’s what it’s called? But anyway they looked pretty on my feet but I couldn’t get over on them unfortunately.They were my very first pair,but now I’m on my second pair.The capezio kylees and I like them a lot and can get over.

I have a very skinny foot with tapered toes and I tend to have issues with my toes moving around too much, do you have any pointe shoe suggestions?

Josephine❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😄

Hi, I am a heavier dancer but my feet isn’t very flexible. I am currently wearing the European balance blochs, and if I’m wearing the normal shank, I would roll through it and fall within my first time wearing it. I tried the strong shank but I think it’s too hard for my feet as I feel like it sometimes pull me back. Any solutions to this?

russians where my first pointe shoes because i just always had a high arch but i just went to my dance shop and got fitted for Suffolk pointe shoes i forgot which ones they where but i had to get a different brand cause my foot got wider and sadly i just can’t fit into them anymore

Can you do a review of the Russian pointe E Pros??

What is the Russian Pointe Muse or Muse? What is it similar to? Thanks.

I would like to know what are the best shows for flexible feet and week angles

I'd love you to do a video about shoes for wide, square and with a very high instep feet.

Hello dear Josephine, could you do a video about the Siberian Swan 🦢 pointe shoes?

I have a question. Will my feet get stronger and more flexible the longer I dance on pointe? I've been dancing on pointe for about a year and a half, and I don't think my feet have gotten much more flexible😭😭😭 I had a medium shank at first, but really struggled to get over the box, and now I have a soft shank, but when I fully straighten my legs, it's still hard to get over the box. My feet don't look very good in pointe either and it's super frustrating. I really hope it gets better.

Can I take ballet classes once a week for 3 years and then get my first pair of pointe shoes? 🩰

please do different bloch pointe shoe reviews

I want to know about the subset of people who make the radiance last for ever. How?

All the block shoes I have had are soft how can I fix that?

I'd love a review on RP Muse. It's my shoe! The only one that fits me well, eventhough my feet are so wide that I wouldn't mind a width 6! What I dislike about RP is that they are so light-pinkish they almost look white.

my pointe shoes still are very loud and i’ve had them for about 4 months. does anyone know how to break them in really good? (they’re Russian pointe by the way)

I love these locked down videos. But I hope you are not actually locked in your shop.

Hi Josephine! I know I'm leaving comments under every video now but its keeping me busy. I wear a pointe shoe with quite a bit of gel in the tip with Ouch Pouch Jrs. I feel that this is a bit too much padding. I have sweaty feet so the gel pads don't work for me. What do you recommend as less padding? Thanks!

I wear Russian pointe muse and I love them but for me they died really quickly so I used elmers glue in the box and 3/4 the shank

I wear Russian class shoes but like what’s the difference between Russian class pointe shoes and Russian pointe pointe shoes

SoDanca Electra

Hi doGuy still sell point shoes in your store

I love Russian points

I was fitted in Russian pointes as my first pair of pointe shoes and they are definitely not my type.

So. *-sips tea-* if you have any questions...

Another great video! On a similar note: I just got in my Gaynors (after I think 12 weeks) & I got a pair of these new (now) made in Europe....and (in my opinion, though I cannot be alone here...) they’re ALARMINGLY quite different. They look like a version of Merlet brand pointe style especially in the box- it just: it’s not Gaynor AT ALL & if this is the new Gaynor: Gaynors are definitely no longer for me 💔 (unimaginable). Quite literally (seemingly) All of the materials are different and the original US made sleek, minimal fabric on the sides is...no longer? 😰 aka: so much fabric & the vamps are impossibly high. (I wear the sleek model) I’ve contacted everyone but no one has any answers (GM themselves haven’t responded at all.) I feel as though it’s just taking so unprecedentedly long for the European-manufactured version + state of the world to be circulated throughout in large enough numbers in order to establish a voice for GM wearers. If you have any news or answers...good or bad: I just want to know I’m not imagining things/alone in this. Or if this could ever possibly be remedied? Are we justifying the $139 price with the stock suede tips? To me: this is not worth sacrificing quality and brand dignity. Thanks so much: we love you Josephine! ☮️❤️🩰

My flat shoes looks to big for me when I stand on toe becuse I am very flexible

literally like all of my friends are in russian rubins

I just switched to Russian pointe and killed them in about 7 weeks and I'm only 13

My Russian entradas died in like 5 minutes 😭