Womens "European Balance" Pointe Shoes

Breaks in easily. Heel is high cut which is comfortable but can gape a little. Looks nice otherwise and comfortable!

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0

0

MY DAUGHTER LOVES THESE SHOES FOR BALLET!

Age: 40 to 49     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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0

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I am an ex-professional dancer who now teaches. This shoe is especially good for students with narrow feet. It is good for centering balance and has normal durability.

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0

0

They shipped fast and feel great when I am dancing in them.

Age: 15 to 18     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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0

0

Overall, this is a good pointe shoe. There is sometimes a lack of consistency with the making of the shoe, the last pair I got the bottom of the box was not completely flat which could potentially cause you to overextend your foot.

Age: 15 to 18     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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2

1

I love how quickly they shipped my shoes. And they were packaged so carefully. I will forever buy my shoes from here.

Age: 15 to 18     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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4

0

Good comfortable shoe

Age: 30 to 39     Fit: Runs small     Comfort:     Durability:    

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7

1

These shoes fit my daughter well. Good price and shipping was fast.

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1

0

As a ballet dancer, I would like a good supporting shoe to dance on. When dancing, I am on the top of my toes, so my shoe would need to be hard, and support me. I was 11 when I got the Bloch European Balance Pointe Shoes, I am now 17, so I have tried many different brands of shoes over the years. When I first got the shoe, I had tiny feet, so this was the only brand that would fit me. It fit very well and at first, it supported me. As I started using them, I noticed that they were pulling me off my box. The box of the pointe shoe is the part that holds my toes and is the part that I dance on. This made it extra hard to get up on pointe. After a couple of weeks, dancing only for an hour per week, the shank of my shoe broke in half. The shank is a hard piece of wood that goes along the sole of the shoe, it is meant to support the arch of your foot when dancing. With the shank being completely broken, I could no longer use the shoes, and I was forced to get a new pair. These shoes cost around 100 dollars at the time, which is fairly expensive, and they should've lasted about 8 months to a year for the number of times I was using them. Overall, I think for the price, the shoe should not break that easily, and I do not recommend it.

We are very sorry to hear your experience with a defective pointe. Please notify us immediately with any issues as we have a generous 60 day return policy.

Age: 15 to 18     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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4

10

I was fitted for this shoe and it fits wonderfully. It makes my wide thick foot look nice and elongated. I really like the peach-pink shade Bloch went with in this shoe. It's much more aesthetically pleasing than the pale pink Bloch has traditionally used. The heel fits really well and stays on which has always been a problem for me (I have the dreaded disappearing heel). They are also incredibly comfortable, forming instantly to my arch. There really was no break-in period required for this shoe. The one downside, which other reviewers have mentioned, is that I have worn this pair for two half hour classes and one short rehearsal ( a grand total of two hours, tops) and I'm already scuffing the top of the platform where my feet are rolling way over the box. That said, I do have pretty bendy feet. Other young women in my class have these shoes and seem to be able to make them last. I may need to go with the hard shank model for class and rehearsals and save the regular shank model for performances. For now, I may have to darn around the platform and invest in some Jet Glue.

Age: 30 to 39     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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3

2

These pointe shoes have been my number 1 since the beginning! They are comfortable and pretty easy to break in! But they last a long time!

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1

0

I'd say these pointe shoes are fairly average. I've had to do a lot of experimenting with how to break them in to make them really work for my feet, but you'll run into that with any shoe. There in a LOT of material on the side, which looks baggy both flexed and pointed. It is really hard to get the shank to conform to your foot if you have flexible feet. You can somewhat remedy this with cutting the shank to 3/4, but the box dies super fast when you do that, and I only put them on an average of three times a week. They last twice as long with the full shank, but it likes to come off of my arch en pointe, which is probably due to the fact that it has an incredible excess of material on the side and my foot is a low to medium profile and hence barely fills this. The platform is quite wide despite the shoe being fairly tapered, which is nice. It is rounded at a bit too much for my taste at the top of the platform beneath the vamp, which is annoying as I tend to push a bit too far over my shoes and once I hit that curve, I'm done for. It's really hard to push against your ribbons and gain a strong foot balance without going too far over, at least for me! I usually bang the platform quite a bit/do toe hops as a part of the breaking in process to try and make it a little more stable, especially toward the front. It also has a little gel cushion in the bottom, which I like a lot. However, I was have a bit of a problem with it pushing my ouch pouch underneath my big toe nail, which hurt A LOT and made me bleed. It was remedied with those little bunion tuby thingies ( I really don't remember what they are called!) As it gave a layer of protection over my toenails. All in all it's a fairly average shoe that has it's perks and it's tortures. Make sure you get properly fitted, as always! I'm not terribly happy with how it works on my feet, but it may be brilliant for someone else!

Age: 15 to 18     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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0

1

After trying countless pointe shoes, these finally fit my daughter's feet AND look good on. She needs a very wide square box. She wears a 5xxx. To further complicate things, her toes are shaped differently on each of her feet. In addition to a wide forefoot, she also has one narrow heel, and one VERY narrow heel. Somehow these shoes with a wide square box still fit her heel without being too baggy. There is a little extra material when she goes on pointe, but not so much to make it unsightly. A couple well placed stitches take care of the excess and make it look a little neater. However, it seems they are going to go dead a little faster than expected, but she does seem to wear out her shoes more quickly than her classmates.

Age: 40 to 49     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

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I started off with these pointe shoes my first pair lasted me from October - March. My second pair lasted me mid April, May, half of June, and half of August. As time goes on and my feet get stronger these shoes get worn out so quickly. I recommend these for people starting off pointe, the moment your feet start getting stronger you should try a new shoe.

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2

1

I have been on Pointe almost 4 years. I have tried many pointe shoe brands including several from the Bloch collection, nothing works for me like the European Balance Pointe Shoe. I’m able to get on my box quickly, my ankles are stronger, improving my overall performance and no more bleeding toes. I absolutely love this brand and my instructor loves this brand for me and they look good on my feet. I’m very pleased and it’s not a budget buster.

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3

1

They are the best. One of my first pairs I ordered outside of my company and it was definitely worth it. Lasts long and they are very comfortable

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5

1

Took off a star for comfort because they're pointe shoes! We buy several pairs a year and are happy with these.

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1

1

Very comfortable pointe shoes. Very fast delivery!!!

Age: 40 to 49     Comfort:    

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1

0

The shoes were perfect, the only issue with this item is that they ONLY came with the shoe. Ordered them assuming this would include the elastics and ribbon, but they did not. Make sure to order those separately!

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5

12

I've been using this exact brand and style of shoe since day one. They generally last long, and they fit well. They are also on the cheaper side. Would recommend!

Age: 15 to 18     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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0

0

The hard shank is worth the extra cost for a dancer who breaks down shanks. Dancers who had trouble arching over or getting over on pointe have found this shoe helpful. It is also good for dancers who do not have a tapered toe.. in other words dancers who have three toes about the same length. It has helped my dancers who tended to sickle to the little toe.

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0

0

I needed these in a quick turnaround and they were delivered on time

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4

0

I've been wearing these pointe shoes for about 10 years. I love how the show really hugs your arch, giving your foot a nice look!

Age: 30 to 39     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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8

0

I buy them online now because i found them to be better quality than ones i buy at local shops, i love these shoes for me, but always have to add jet glue in the tops so they dont die too quickly, besides that they usually die for me withing 4-6 months depending on what im doing. I have 2 weekly classes including school as well so im only using my pointe shoes like 4-6 hours a week so they dont die as quick for me.

Age: 15 to 18     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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4

0

I absolutely love these! They were my first pair of pointe shoes when I was 11 yrs old. I wore them for approximately 2 years, then began trying some other styles. I'm now 19, and have switched back to them because there isn't anything that fits or looks better! Highly recommended.

Age: 19 to 21     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

0

I tried a few different types of pointe shoes before I tried this shoe, and so far this has been the best!I was able to start doing pirouettes on pointe no problem but as my feet became stronger, the shoe is not working as well for me. This is definitely a great shoe if you are newer to pointe work. They are extremely comfortable and will hopefully work great for you.

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3

0

I've worn these shoes for a little over a year now, and originally they worked great. However, since I've started wearing these shoes my feet have become stronger, and they don't last nearly as long as they used to. My feet pronate a lot and the corner of the platform, where the box and platform meet on the inside of my feet, dies in about two weeks of dancing for 4-5 hours of dancing each week. I also can't wear stretch ribbons because the box completely dies after a month. The shoes also don't come in a wide enough size for my feet. I currently wear a 6.5 4x, and I can't get a larger size because the shoes are to long. As I said, they used to work great but they no longer do. I would totally recommend these shoes for someone just starting pointe, if they don't have super strong feet or great arches, or if they don't have really wide feet.

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11

0

This shoe is the almost perfect for my young ballerina. It has a nice flat balancing platform, and the box shape is almost perfect for her. The only shoe that is better for her feet are the Mirella Whisper. The reason she prefers the Mirella Whisper is because it has a lower profile which she needs, it is quieter, lighter, the new glue somehow allows for less shank thickness but still stronger, and the way the shank tapers thin and flexible right before heel,allowing for a 3 quarter shank feel without a cut end. The block also has an issue with heel digging in painfully. No matter what size combo she tries, they still dig in painfully. She does like the shape of the box being wide enough at the metatarsal area and then slightly tapered in to hold her slight taper toes. Her feet are Greek but with three big toes being almost same length once she adds proper spacers and toe caps. She had a wider metatarsal, a very low profile foot, and her heel tapers in. She has a moderate arch and lower instep she has flexible enough feet but her ankles are tighter. This shoes does allow her to get over box and support her, though not as well as Mirella Whisper. The Bloch European Balance has a tendency to allow more bending at the metatarsal, probably because the profile height or crown is just a bit too high. With this shoe she ask has to three quarter the shank to prevent it from breaking in too low for her arch. For these reasons, we have found the Whisper to fit better. It has the low profile which fits her foot like a glove, and the shank requires no crazy breaking in or changes, which means the shank bends to her foot perfectly and holds longer. The Whisper glue also allows a less clunky shoe and is quieter and more flexible overall while still supportive. The only reason she also wears this shoe instead of the Whisper is because the whisper is not carried here and we have to order, so if she needs a show faster we have to get this shoe as it is carried in stock in our area.

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5

3

These were my first pair of pointe shoes when I was 12. They lasted almost an entire season. But as I got more advanced en pointe I found that these shoes just don't have the correct fit. I am now wearing Grisko Fouette and they seem much better.

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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4

1

I have had these pointe shoes for about 3 years now. I have had them because of my wide foot. They have always worn out on me after about a month and I have not even been using them that hard. This was until I recived a pair and I cut out the shank of my shoe for better pointe. After about 3 classes on pointe, the bootom of the shank on the outside started to unthread. I hope to have better in the future because this is the only brand of pointe shoes i can wear. :(

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2

2

I used Balance European for a long time and they were great until I started to get heavier and stronger feet. The pointe shoes started to break in a lot more faster like in one class. They wore out very fast. To say the least this type of pointe shoe is good from not strong feet and beginner pointe people.

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7

1

When I started pointe this year, I was told to dedicate a WHOLE DAY to pointe shoe fitting. I was in and out of the store in less than 30 minutes. These shoes fit my feet AMAZINGLY!!! They have a lot of support and made me feel confident in my ability to go en pointe. My class has roughly 20 girls and about 9 of us use this shoe. There are only two slightly negative things that should be noted. The first is the pre-arch. This is both good and bad. It takes a while for it to become comfortable when walking around the studio or when dancing in demi-pointe. It's a very strange feeling when transitioning from a soft shoe to pointe shoes. The second thing is that they die fairly quickly. I am by no means a pre-professional dancer. I dance in these shoes no more than two hours per week. After 8 classes, they are taking their last breath. Otherwise, I love these shoes and I would definitely recommend them.

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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4

1

These shoes are great,but they are extremely soft and die very easily. On the other hand, I highly recommend these shoes for people who need some help getting over their arches, as they kind of force you to get over on your toes. I also think think these shoes would be great for performance!

Age: 19-21     Comfort:     Durability:    

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0

1

I have tried 3 different pointe shoe brands, and this is my favorite. I always use them now. My friends at my studio also agree that this brand is great. I highly recommend them, and they are definitely a good choice whether you are an experienced pointe dancer or not. This shoe lasted for about 15 days. So if you have pointe every week, it will last for 15 weeks. If you go on pointe every week day, it lasts for 3 weeks. But, it depends on how long you use them for. Also, shipping was very fast; it came in about 3 days!!

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2

1

amazing shoes have huge bunions on my feet and the shoes work perfectly for me

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1

2

These pointe shoes had a long and easy journey with me. I got them in September of 2014 and have had them now up to July of 2015. They are a great 1st pointe shoe because they give a lot of support and are not that difficult to break in. They are more slightly tapered than tapered (for people who don't know what that is it is how "pointy" the shoe is at the bottom and if its more in a cone shape than in a square.) They currently are kind of dead but I am using them one more week for my ballet/pointe intensive. At first I LOVED them, but as the months went on, I realized that even though they made my pointe look good, they could make them look better because I have rather high arches. If you have low arches and rather smaller or stubbier toes, these will make your feet look BEAUTIFUL! They are too small now because i've had them for a while. Overall great starting shoe and would buy again. Oh and for me the shank was very supporting and I ended up not needing a hard one :)

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1

1

I have been wearing nothing but Bloch for about three years now. The literally are "The" shoe, at least for me. I have a wider, smaller foot and so the shape of the shoes fits very well for me. Bloch is pretty flexible, in the sense of arches and foot strength. My right foot is very, very strong, though my left not as much. Either way, Bloch fits both my feet really well. I wear a 4.5 (xx or xxx). One of my favorite aspects about the balance Bloch, is that they break in quickly and take a while to truly "die." I can usually dance perfectly fine on a brand new pair of Bloch. Also, they tend to have stronger arches and don't die as quickly as most other shoes I've worn. Even when they wear out, I can still dance on dead Bloch if I have to. I actually performed on a dead pair once and, though it was harder, it wasn't that bad. If I had to say a con about Bloch, I would say this: Blochs can tend to be a little "blocky." I know that sounds funny. Let me put it this way, I have a 3x at the moment and it sometimes looks rather square. If i ever changed shoes it would be because i want a pair that makes my feet look more slender. However, I think I will be sticking with Bloch for a while yet :) They are very, VERY comfortable shoes, and they fit my feet really well.

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2

1

These pointe shoes are very pretty, but unfortunately don't last a long time for my feet. I have a very high arch which causes me to go through these shoes very quickly and I often times find myself needing to get a new pair every month. They do fit well to my feet though because I have a squared, wide foot and they're pretty much the perfect shoe! I'm sure I'll be wearing Bloch pointe shoes for many years to come!

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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0

1

These were my first pointe shoes and a very popular choice for pointe beginners at my studio. I wear a size 8 in street shoes, and fluctuated between a 5.5 and 6 in these depending on my padding. I would describe these shoes as ideal for a dancer with square and more even toes, who is not in need of a lot of support, and who is still developing their arch. They are pretty comfortable because of a tiny cushion in the toe and never caused me too many blisters when worn with proper padding. I eventually moved on from this shoe because of their lack of support for a more experienced dancer.

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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2

1

I have used Grishko Mayas for about a year and half and they used to be great but they just don't work for me anymore (don't get me wrong still a great shoe just not for me). I was told to try this shoe because of the less tapered box. I was a little reluctant at first but I should not have been wary one bit! They were amazing on the first day. I have always done consistent triples pirouettes but now these shoes and the less tapered box allow me to have consistent quadruples! However I have higher arches and the harder shank didn't fit my arch as the medium.

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

1

I've been dancing en pointe for 4 years, and have had many problems finding a good pointe shoe as I have problem feet. My feet are very wide at the metatarsal area, but with a kind of small heel and a low arch. European Balances were my first pointe shoe, and I recently went back to them after many years of different pointe shoes. They work wonderfully for my weird feet. They fit perfectly, and allow me to really focus on my pointe work without worrying about my shoe. The only problem? They don't last well at all. Two weeks at my summer intensive, and the shanks could easily be bent in half, and the box had gotten squishy in some parts. And during the rest of the year, they don't last that much longer, either. I would recommend them for people with wide feet, and for people who don't mind going through pointe shoes quickly. They are also good for beginners, they lasted me a whole year as my first pair. But unfortunately, I may have to seek out a different kind of pointe shoe, as I can't afford to be buying a new pair every couple of weeks.

Age: 19-21     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

1

I have fairly wide feet, and I couldn't find any pointe shoes that fit. These were my first pair, but they got too small. So I got refitted into a different pair, and those were too narrow , and I finally switched back to these in a 71/2 and I love them! I wore them to my Nutcracker audition and they worked so well!

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

1

Bloch has been my first and second pair of shoes. They are very beautiful and fit my feet, but they are not durable. I have very high arches, and need strong shoes before they just go dead. They are great shoes if you don't have a high arch, because they are pretty strong shoes otherwise. I will probably continue to get Bloch pointe shoes, since they fit my feet.

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1

1

I've been wearing these shoes since I started pointe. I've tried other brands and models, but I always come back to these. They're great for wider toes and narrow heels. My only qualm is that my feet break the shanks very quickly; so I usually get the hard shank version- but these are still great, too. I wear a 6 wide in street shoes and a 4 1/2 XX in these.

Age: 19-21     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

0

these were my first pair. they are great for getting started because they mould easily to your feet. i have really high arches so they don't give enough support for me but for someone with average or less arches TRY THEM! I've always gone back to them (despite the arch goes quickly for me) and recommended them to many friends. if you are lost in what shoes to wear, try these. everyone i've known to have them have loved them!

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

1

Out of all the pointe shoes I have ever owned, these are my favorite by far! My second toe is much longer than my big toe which often causes discomfort on pointe, but the extra small gel pad in the toe of these shoes help so much. I have never been more comfortable on pointe. I wear a size 6 street shoes and 4.5 in these. I use lambs wool toe pads.

Age: 19-21     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

1

I only have a ballet class once a week for 45 minutes, and only sometimes did we do pointe, and they died in one year while my friends had some other brand and is still using them after 3 years!

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

9

Make sure before purchasing that you understand that this does NOT come with ribbons or elastic. You will have to select and purchase those separately, increasing the price you have to spend (and if you didn't realize that until after you receive the shoes, then you will have to pay extra shipping and wait longer to be able to use the shoes), and making it less of a discount than if purchased at a store where ribbons and elastic are usually included in the price.

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0

3

I was fit for these locally when nothing else seemed to work. I have very wide and strong feet and kind of a mixed foot shape. The knuckle bone on my pinkie toe tends to break the wings of shoes in a really unflattering way. So far, so good with these. I wear a 9.5-10 and I'm in a 7.5XXX with a hard shank. The pre-arch is very supportive, but I still feel like I can roll through nicely. The platform is nice and large, so I feel very secure when turning. My only complaint is that they seem kind of loud and they feel a bit clunky, but it's a small price to pay for a good fit. I put the Prima Soft elastic ribbons and Bloch mesh elastic on them and my tendons can't be happier.

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2

1

These were the first pointe shoes I got (and I have since switched to Grishko). They have a wide platform which makes it easy for beginners to balence and are very good for people with lower arches. They do seem to wear out very quickly. The thing that I disliked most about these shoes, however, is that they became very squeaky as I wore them because the glue that holds the shank to the shoe wore out. I think that these are a good shoe to start with but eventually a different shoe may be a better choice.

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

1

This shoe is a great quick-break in for a show, but not so great for everyday use. I have worn these shoes for about 6 months and am getting ready to stop ordering them. They die extremely fast...I go through one pair about every 2.5 weeks. (However, I dance every day for 3 hours, and every other day for 6.) Although, if you have wide feet and short toes, they look fabulous. Also, they only take a day-2 days to break in. If you are a beginner or just looking for a performance shoe, try them.

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

1

Like most people should be doing instead of just ordering, I got them fitted at a place a few hours from where I live. They work great if they are the right thing for your foot. I personally like them as my first pointe shoe but by no means should anybody buy based completely on reviews or what they think may work.

Age: 15-18     Comfort:    

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2

1

My feet are significantly wider and larger than most, so finding a good fit is quite tricky. However, this pair of shoes not only fit but look good and not awkward on my feet. It was fairly easy to start off with, but it wore out after about 15 lessons.

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

1

This shoes feel amazing, but broke in very quickly. I have wider feet with short toes and the square box felt great. I did not like how quickly they died, and also they are very boxy looking. They do not give you a very good tapered line to your leg.

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1

1

I got these shoes in hopes it would make my arches look nice, which it certainly did. I had already broken the shoes in when I tried them on, and they are so soft to the point that it looks like they are dead even though I've only worn them a few times. Would not recommend for long-term, maybe for a single, short performance and that is it.

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

1

This pointe shoes are great for beginners because they have a great supporting arch and they hold the dancer up easily. These Euros are great for starting pointe because they have very nice support! As an advanced dancer i still wear them when i am preforming to help with turns! I would not recommend these to any one but beginners because if you have strong feet they will die very quickly! Overall these are amazing shoes for beginners and i love them!

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1

1

These were my first pair. I loved them to death. My best friend has the same brand. Except she's on demi pointe. Because she won't straighten her knees. I'm on full pointe it's fun. At first it wasn't that painful. But after about 5 months I needed new ones. I don't know what brand it is. I'll find out once I get them. They also have cousones in the box so it takes of some of the pain.

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1

1

I just started pointe, so had never bought pointe shoes before. I love these shoes! They conform to the foot very well. Also, they are great for girls with a 'triangle' shaped foot (narrower heel but wide at the toes). I have pretty strong feet so breaking them in was not a problem, but I would recommend breaking them in while wearing them instead of slamming them in doors, overly bending them, etc.

Age: 22-29     Comfort:    

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1

1

These would be the ideal pointe shoe except for one problem...the vamp is way too long. I have wide, square feet with pretty even-length toes, and I found the vamp to be just too high. If it wasn't for that they would be pretty close to perfect.

Age: 30-39     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

2

I've just only begun pointe this year, and so far all 3 of my pairs have been Balance Europeans. They fit great and are very snug. They last me a total of about 8 or 9 hours en pointe (which is pretty good I hear), but past that they deteriorate very quickly, especially the glue (nothing a little shoe glue can't fix though.) They break in beautifully and stay broken in for quite a while before dying. The shanks are the perfect balance between strong and flexible to handle my extended point. I love these shoes!

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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1

1

I got these as my first pointe shoes, and they are amazing. I wear a 7.5 street size and the 5.5 are perfect for me. I would definitely recommend these shoes.

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These were the first pointe shoes I purchased. Based on reviews from dancers/ teachers, I am glad they were. I continually keep coming back to them. I have tried Freeds, Suffolk's, Gaynor's, Russian pointe's and Grishko's, while all of these shoes have their good qualities Bloch fits and feels the best to me. I have an Egyptian foot-so I am surprised they fit so well. I wear a size 8 street shoe and a 6 X or XX in these depending on the season . They are just wide enough to fit over my bunions but still just tapered enough so I do not sink into the box and the platform is wide enough for great balancing and turns. Only problem - they do not last long. I am lucky if I get a month out of them even with using jet glue and alternating shoes. They make a great performance shoe for me so I will continue to purchase them.

Age: 30-39     Comfort:     Durability:    

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These are great shoes if they fit you right. I have a very wide foot (my foot is too wide for grishco elite in 5x) and the width was great. They were very comfortable but the box is too long for my foot. I have a couple friends who use them and love them because they fit them so well. They also tend to have a harder shank than grishcos which is nice if you dance a lot.

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About two years ago, at the advanced age of... well, I would rather not say, I returned to dancing en pointe and bought a pair of European Balance at a local dance shop. I have a "Giselle" foot -- very short, even-length toes, a narrow heel, and a high instep and arch. I wear a 7.5 regular width street shoe and a 5xxx Bloch (though my soft shoes, also Bloch, I take in a 4.5). No blisters, no joint pain, no trouble rolling up through the shoe.Now that I've danced in European Balances for two years and gone through a number of pairs I can honestly say that it wasn't just a fluke. While of course I wish they lasted longer -- I'd say I get about 16 hours out of a pair, total, I love that they hold my feet and yet also let me do the work. Some pairs have been stiffer than others. The pair I have now is perfect but about to croak. So, as I'm ordering my new shoes I thought I'd put in some props for them. They're classics!

Age: 4    

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I love these shoes as my first pair! The foam padding at the bottom makes them way more comfortable for me, I thought it would make it hard to feel the floor but it doesn't! These are very durable and great for wide feet!

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These are my second pair of pointe shoes and I love them. They completely engage and stimulate your feet into doing great things. The shoes are well built and just enhance your relevés and echappés. When they die, I will be getting them again becuase they are perfect for my relatively wide feet.

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They literally KILL my feet. Like when I wear these I got blisters in the back near my heel, my toes overlap, and my feet are crunched. Its really overall just a bad experience. These were my first pair, I was in the store for over an hour and I was debating between these and a super well feeling pair of Capezios. I was with my teacher, and we decided on these as they looked very nice on my feet. Then having to use them I was not happy AT ALL! But luckily I go through shoes rather quickly so I want have these for too long. They seem to be nice shoes, just not for me!

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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I love these pointe shoes!!! I dance an average of 4.5 hours a day and I have had these for 2 weeks!!!! THEY ARENT DEAD YET!!!! And they are SO COMFY!!! The only reason why I didnt put 5 stars is because this is my 1st shoe. They could have better ones out there!!! Overall I love this shoe and recomend them. :)

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I just got these on Tuesday for my first pair of pointe shoes amid they very nice. I have wide feet and wear a 4XXXX. These feel so good and I love Bloch products. I hope they last a long time.

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I have had these pointe shoes for more than two years, and they are still going strong! These were my first pair and currently my only pair, and I wouldn't have to think about buying them again. they are good for someone just starting out, they are flexible enough for someone with very flat or very high arched feet, and they break in relatively quickly. I use them for rehearsals and performances because they are so durable! Being a rather heavy dancer (5'5'' and 138 pounds), support is a huge concern for me, and they provide great support! I would DEFINITELY recommend them.

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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Nearly everyone at my studio has tried Bloch Europeans and most have not liked them. The most common issue, and one that I myself experienced, was severe bruising of the big toe due to sinking in the shoe. The box is very square, too much so for my tapered, egyptian feet. If you have Giselle or peasant feet (more square), then i imagine these would work better for you. I personally don't like the look of them either, almost club like since they are so wide. However, if you are a beginner the wide box makes balancing easy and the soft shank can be quickly broken in by bending.

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I love these shoes. I had Capezios for my first shoe, bloch sig. rehearsals for a few pairs, and then Gaynor Mindens (hard, extra flex, and supple shank) for a year or so. The Gaynors just weren't looking right on my feet anymore, so my instructor fit me professionally. I got European Balances and was right on top of my box. They look great on my feet, and I'm very pleased with them. The one complaint I have is that I got my first pair of EB's 3 1/2 ish weeks ago. I'm used to Gaynor's which lasted me 3-6 months. I love them, and I'm sure I'll get used to the shorter life span, but that was one thing I was sort of surprised about. I would totally recommend these shoes to people :)

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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These were my second pair of shoes and I loved them! I had started out with the Capezio Arias which i hated, they didn't do well for me at all so I decided tried these. They fit very well to my feet and were comfortable enough for me to be able to switch between gel pads and ouch pouches. The platform is wide enough to get a good balance out of them. I got them in May and they lasted me all through summer including a 3 weeks summer intensive with Pointe everyday, up until now In November which i'd say is very good wear time. They overall very good shoes and I plan to get them again before trying out a new pair!

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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I really though that these were good pointe shoes. The balance pad inserted in the box offered maximum balance. However, the shank broke more quickly than I had anticipated. They were my first pointe shoes, and after that I was fitted to Bloch Amelie. They were nice, but the drawstring broke quickly the shank is not as supportive. They also are harder to balance on. I am definitely going back to a supportive shoe, like Balance Euro.

Age: 15-18     Comfort:     Durability:    

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I've been wearing European Balance Bloch's for about a year now, and I have to say, they're the best shoes I have ever had. I've always been told I have a good arch and strong ankles and flexible ankles, and these shoes definitely make the feet look nice. My first shoes were Suffolk Spotlight Brand and they were good for beginner shoes, but I love these shoes. I go through a pair about every two months. Other people at my studio have bought these shoes after seeing me wear them, but they don't work as well on someone who doesn't have a flexible foot. The balance is amazing because of a large box, and there is little to no pain and I've only had about eight blisters with them before. The attached picture is me in the shoes.

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I bought these as my first pair of pointe shoes a while back. The shoes were very easy to break in and because of the large box, were very easy to balance on. They rarely rubbed blisters and caused me little pain. BUT...I have a strong arch and these shoes went dead in three weeks. These shoes provide a great starting place for new pointe students but they won't last long. Other than the durablity, these shoes were WONDERFUL!!! The color was nice and the shoe was very complimenting of my arch. The classic Grishko ribbons match the shoe perfectly and I would definately recommend them! :)

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1st off, people are complaining about the shoe dying after 2 MONTHS. That's a VERY long time. My pointe shoes last for 2 weeks!!! My feet are very narrow, tapered toes, flat, weak arches -These broke in the wrong spot, they made my toes crunch and did not look very nice -My narrow foot slid down into the box and I got a nasty toenail bruise, even having the smallest width. -The square box doesn't look very pretty and disrupts the line.

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I've been on pointe for about 2 1/2 years now and like most people it's been a challenge finding the right shoe that not only fits my foot, but is "comfortable", durable and makes my feet look good. I started out with Suffulk "Solo" which suited me as a beginning dancer, but as usual we always try to find a better shoe, so that's what I did. That was quite a journey. I then tried Bloch "Heritage" which I liked much more than the "Solos", plus they fit much better. I was recommended by my instructor to try Russian Pointe but, as I began to practice with them my feet would hurt and I couldn't keep my shoes on for very long. Soon after I went back to the store where I purchased my shoes and I asked to be fitted to another pair. I found out that because I have wide feet, the Russians weren't the best shoes for me. So I went on to Grishko "Triumphs"... They made my feet look great, but soon after my feet would hurt again during practice. Back to the store I went. I realized that the only shoe I was ever "comfortable" with were my Blochs. So I suggested to the fitters that I should try a pair of Blochs and they led me to the Bloch "European Balance". It was a miracle. THEY FIT! I went back to class and was able to keep my shoes on straight through the class and perform well. So YES I would recommend the Bloch "European Balance". Keep in mind that every dancer's foot is different, but if you have wide feet and you want support, these are the shoes for you.

Age: 19-21     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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I've been using this model for over 6 years, it's one of the easiest shoes to dance with. It fits/works best with squared off toes (square feet) and ideal for balancing. As an advanced dancer, I find it very easy for me to pull of doubles and triples, or just to balance for long periods at a time. Break in time is average, the shank seems to break in faster but I have had varying results over the dozens of pairs I have went through. If you have tapered toes this is not the shoe for you. There is also a model called "Balance", which is NOT the same as "Balance European", that model is even more square. I have tried both the regular and strong shanks, there is little difference other than the strong shank seems to last a bit longer. The greatest disadvantage is that the arch does not hug your feet, even after being broken in with extreme force it still has much to be desired.

Age: 19-21     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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I'm a beginner-intermediate dancer with pretty inflexible ankles (sadly), and I found the pre-arch on this shoe to be SO helpful in getting and staying over my box. The wide platform might not be as aesthetically attractive as a slim, tapered box, but it's perfect for my wider feet, and very comfortable to dance in. Thank you Bloch and DD!

Age: 15-18     Fit: True to size     Comfort:     Durability:    

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When I put these pointe shoes on for the first time, I felt in love with them! They are comfy and hug your foot in just the right way. They have a pretty line and don't get soft too quickly.

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These pointe shoes are perfect! I have high arches and long toes, but, surprisingly, these shoes work very well for me! I am a beginner, and would recommend these to beginning-intermediate level dancers. They have a nice gel cushion on the inside (a huge plus!) and the box is nice and wide, great for turns etc. Overall. these shoes are just plain awesome! I have bought them at a dance store, but I will be purchasing them from DD because of the great price!

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I have been on pointe for two years now and these are the perfect shoes for me. At our studio we get them from a fitter and he pops the nail in the back for me, making them hug my arch. They have a wonderful balance box and are so comfortable. I love the little pad built in to the shoe, but it does does not reach the corner perfectly. I wear ouch pouches as padding with a little loose lambs wool. I LOVE THEM!!!!!! I also get tights and ballet flats from BLOCH, best brand ever!

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These pointe shoes are amazing! They are very comfortable( for a pointe shoe), and are very flattering. I was originally looking at the aspirations but these are a better fit since I have high arches. They are very high quality(as are all Bloch products) and will definitely last a while. I highly reccomend these pointe shoes!

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I just got these in the mail today, sewed them, and wore them to class and they are the most comfy pointe shoes I ever tried! I can get over my box really well in these, and they make my arch look amazing ! I didn't have to break them in at all, you can just sew and go ! Usually by the end of barre with my old Capezio Contemporas my feet would be really cramped/sore/tired, but with these I could have danced even longer than my hour-and-a-half class was over ! They are also excellent turning/balancing shoes . I highly recommend the Pillows for Pointes toe pads with these shoes, they are perfect for them. My street shoe is a 9 1/2 and the 7 1/2 XXXX fits perfectly. So definitely try them.

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I thought I'd put in my thoughts on these lovely shoes, which have treated my feet so well. I am a dancer of a certain age, and recently returned to pointe just to see how it would go. I won't say my feet never hurt... they do, but then again, I weigh a bit more than I did back in the day, and I'm no spring chicken (42!). The things I love are that they fit my "peasant" shaped feet (all toes the same length, short vamp, relatively wide at the forefoot and very narrow heel), they have adequate stiffness in the shank for my high arches but aren't horrific to break in, and they look so pretty. Now, if I could just roll back the clock twenty years...

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After about 8 years I think I have finally found the pointe shoe for me. I love the larger box and platform for my wide metatarsals. "Balance European" is definitely an appropriate name for these shoes! ;) The only thing keeping me from giving this shoe 5 stars is the fact that they die very quickly. I usually don't do anything special to break them in other than class because the shanks are already soft. I also rip out the cushioning in the tip to feel the floor better. Excellent shoes all around!

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I am a beginner on pointe and I have wide feet and have struggled with bunion pain. The wide box fit great and REALLY improved my arches! Amazing! The only downfall is when flat footed the shoe is squeaky and the back of the bottom of the shoe digs in to the foot. Otherwise great support. Street shoe 8.5 and I ordered size 6 XXX.

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Way awesome shoe! My favorite pointe shoe of all. A comfy pointe shoe. I have wide feet.

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These shoes are very boxy looking and don't last very long. I've used mine maybe once or twice a week for a couple months and my boxes are super weak. The back of the shank also seemed to dig into my heel when on them with a flat foot. Unless your foot is the shape of a square I don't recommend these shoes.

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I own them they are very durable and are the best on BLOCH makes.

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I have danced on pointe for 3 years now, and I have never worn pointe shoes this good. These are the best pointe shoes ever. I don`t want to take them off they are so comfortable. I have very high arches and they complement them very well. Also, they last very long, so you get your moneys worth. I would highly recommend these shoes.

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I have gone through many different types of shoes and have been wearing Balance Europeans for 4 months now. The balance on these shoes is amazing because of the larger platform. However they hurt my feet more than any other shoe. But everyone else who wear's these say that they are the most comfortable shoes they've ever worn, so I think I am the exception. The arch line of these shoes is a little lower than I would like but the balance they provide cannot be matched.

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I love these pointe shoes! They make me feel like I'm standing on air. I have had my European Balance shoes for about a year and they still haven't died and they make my feet look AMAZING!

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These are my first pointes, and I absolutely love them! I have a wide foot, but narrow heel, long toes, and if you do too then I recommend you try these! They fit wonderfully and make my arch look great! Definitely comfy and didn't take forever to break in :)

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I love these shoes I am an adult dancer with painful bunions, wide feet, average arch, and narrow ankles. My street shoe size is 8.5-9 and the 6.5 xxx are perfect for me. I really struggled to find the right shoes. I tried so many: grishkos, capezio, freed, and several other Blochs. The Bloch Synergy were nice, but I couldn't get over my boxes. I hope they never discontinue these.

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I have been using these for only 3 months, and they are great to help turns. But they make my feet look really boxy, and I don�t like it. However if you want to stay in the Bloch family try the Alphas! I really like them; they look much prettier on narrow-ish feet.

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They were ok. They didn't last too long and didn't fit right and they were very squeaky but they looked great on my feet and the extra padding was great.

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These shoes are great, I've been using the Balance European shoe for 2 years! The extra padding in the box is definitely a plus! The only thing keeping me from giving this shoe 5 stars is that no matter how wide of a shoe I got, it still looked extra wide! Probably just the way the shoe is made.. just annoys me sometimes. Overall, this is a great shoe! Especially for beginners, even if you don't have a good arch, the shoe makes you look like you do!! :o)

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This is the best pointe shoe I have ever had!!! It makes your foot look so good. You should really try it if you have a wide ball of the foot but a narrow heel.

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These shoes are excellent for the pre-professional/professional student. I was able to wear them without breaking them in at all and they mold to a variety of different foot types. They have plenty of flexibility but still provide me with enough support which my hyper-mobile feet need. They have a wide platform which helps in balancing and could make feet look wide, however from my experience the shoe is still flattering and creates an excellent line. Order a half size higher than you would in other Bloch shoes, because they run a little small.

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I love the pointe shoes!!! These were my first pair and I really loved the way they improved my arches! This year I tried a different pair and they are definitely not as good or supportive. I will definitely be getting these again.

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These have been the best shoes for my daughter. We live outside the US, so we always order a bunch. They fit her great and make her feet look so beautiful. All the girls in her class want her shoes!

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These shoes really helped my arches! When I started pointe, my arches were terrible! My teacher recommended these shoes for me and now my arches are gorgeous!

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These are my third pair of pointe shoes having had Bloch aspiration for my first and second pair. I don't dance pointe that much, 3 hours a week so my pointe shoes last about a year, I've been dancing en pointe for 3 years. I love these pointe shoes, they make my arch look amazing, having just come from the aspirations which broke in wayyyy too much and made my arch look very bad. I do have very small feet, 3.5 X ) but these shoes make my feet look long and elegant. A very good buy.

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I have terrible, terrible feet, and these were my first pair of shoes. Now, three pairs later, no brand is better for my weird feet. They make my ankles more flexible and fit both my extremely wide box and my really narrow heel. I really took these for granted, but now I love them.

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I had these shoes for 3 months with pointe 5 days a week and I was happy they lasted this long. When I tried them on in the store, they fit like a glove. But once they broke in, they widened quite a bit and provided no lateral support after that. I sank into the shoe and got really bad bruised toenails and huge blisters because I was trying to dance in pointes too wide for me. My teacher told me to get new pointe shoes, but the store was out of my size in every shoe except the European Balances, so I had to get them again, but in a narrower size. I have a very wide foot with a narrow heel and my street shoe size is a 9, and I wear a 6 XXX in these now. They will get wider once they break in, so order a size narrower than usual.

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I started pointe when I was nine and these were my first shoes and they were really easy for me to balance and break in. I still use the balance european right now and I'm 13. The only thing was I would break them in within 2 days and I'd need new ones every 75 days which was pretty expensive.

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I just bought a pair of these shoes and I love them! They are comfortable, easy to break in, yet sturdy and supportive all at the same time. They don't gap or twist on my feet like most shoes do and they last a long time. I will definitely buy them again!

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These were my first pair of pointe shoes, and that was about 3 years ago. I have had them ever since and they are great. They have a really easy arch and are great for balancing. The only thing is is that if you are an advanced student like me and you aren't used to dancing on broken shoes, think twice about these because they break in pretty quickly.

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The Balance Europeans were my second pair of pointe shoes and I loved them! They are super comfortable, and make my feet look amazing. I have extremely flexible ankles and so I wear out shoes really fast. I have had these for almost a year and I'm just getting new ones. I recommend these for anyone!

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This is a great shoe for beginners in pointe. I got these pointe shoes about 2 months into starting pointe and I wish I had them as my first pair. They are very comfortable and if you have wide feet the box is perfect. The only problem I had was the heel sagging.

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This is my first pair of pointe shoes, but I'm happy with them so far. I got fit at a local dancewear store, and these were by far the most comfortable shoes on flat foot and on pointe compared to others I tried. They are also super pretty, and come in a variety of widths. I have wide feet and wear a 8.5 or 9 street shoe, and the 6.5 XXXX is perfect, even though there's a little room in back.

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I noticed that many people whom don't like these shoes are those who have just begun pointe work, so if you've just started I guess these shoes aren't for you. But I loved them I went to a conservatory over the summer for a month where we danced about 4 and a half hours straight a day on pointe and I absolutely loved them! Although they only lasted about four days due to the heavy work load they gave me a better balance and made my tiny feet(street shoe size 4) look almost normal sized.

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These shoes are working great for me!!! They have also improved my arch. They are great shoes but that doesn�t mean you don�t go through all the pain any normal shoe does but they will get comfy. Love them!!!

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When I first went on pointe I hated it! My teacher had to beg me to go up. I then got these shoes (my 2nd pair) and loved them! I now love pointe and am great at it! They don't hurt at all! I have a small wide foot, with a high arch (street shoe size 6 1/2). I wear the size 5 4x. The wide box is great for a wide foot, and the arch makes my foot look amazing! My sister has wide feet, sized 8 street, and very little arch, but these shoes make her feet look great too! I strongly recommend these!

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I absolutely love these pointe shoes. I am a 6 1/2 double X and they fit my feet like a glove. I love the way that they are a 3/4 shank; they make your arch look amazing while strengthening at the same time. I strongly recommend these pointe shoes. I had a pair of 2007 Grishkos and they are a lot narrower of a box and harder to balance on. There is no comparison!

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I have been on pointe for 3 years. The first time I tried on any pair of shoes, it was always hard to get over my toes. Then a couple weeks ago, the lady at the dance store recommended these shoes, and I LOVE THEM. The minute I tried them on and went on pointe, I was able to get up all the way over my toes. I don't have the greatest arch, but these shoes gave off the illusion that I did. I have a wide foot but a narrow heel, and this fit me perfectly. There is padding inside the box of the shoe and it makes it so if you wanted to, you could dance on pointe without wearing toe pads or anything. A little bit of lamb's wool will do the trick if you really need it. I recommend this shoe to anyone with a wider foot and not a fantastic arch.

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I've been using these shoes for the past 2 years and I highly recommend them to people with not the greatest arch or pretty much anyone I suppose. I love how there is a seam cushion in the back of the shoe so there are no indents in the heel. Also these shoes are sooo easy to break in! All I have to do is wear them in class and voila! These shoes are great and last a long time and I highly recommend them.

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The shoe works great! Flat feet and for people who have wide feet, great shoe : )

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To all the people complaining about this shoe hurting their toes... you should probably get used to it. Pointe is going to hurt, especially with new shoes. I loved the Balances though, because it really enhanced my arch and helped me feel more stable on my legs during classes and performances.

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They are so comfortable and really easy to balance in. They also make my legs and arch look great! My only complaint is that they don't have a stronger shank. By the first class, mine were already perfectly broken in.

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These shoes are so nice, they compliment my feet and bring great balance. I can get on and off pointe with ease! This shoe is wonderful. I get this shoe every time.

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I used to hate Blochs, so I switched to Suffolks, but my teacher didn't like those, so I'm back in Blochs and I love these!!! They're great fo balancing, make my horrible arch look amazing. They're super supportive, with a medium length vamp which makes rolling thru your shoe, even when they're brand new, so much easier. Tip, get them fit, don't just guess your size, the heel makes it hard to estimate. Another thing, rip out the foam pieces on the inside, they get really annoying after a while, and if you have good tie pads, you shouldn't need them. These are totally worth it!!!

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I love these I'm on my second pair of them. They last a long time!

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I like these pointe shoes. I just got them last week so I haven't danced in them much but so far I love them. Some mind the padding in the toe. I don't mind it.

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These are very comfortable and the balancing is marvelous in these shoes. I also like that the vamp is low enough to bend where my foot naturally bends at demi-pointe. The problem I'm having is that the heels slip off constantly. I'm not sure if I bought them too big, and yes, sewing an extra elastic band on might help - but with most shoes that is not necessary, so that is my personal point of comparison. They made the heel seam more robust so that it would retain the line, but between that and the elastic drawstring, the heels totally have a mind of their own and they refuse to cooperate. It's so compromising that despite the other great aspects, I will have to rule this shoe out as "the one". You just can't be pulling your shoes back on a billion times per class!

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These pointe shoes are the best! I love them and wouldn't think of replacing them. (Look good if you have a middle arch.)

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I love this shoe! I just started pointe about 2 months ago and I haven't had any problems with this shoe. It's very comfortable. The foam in the box can be easily removed if you wish. I personally like to keep it there for extra comfort. This makes my foot look beautiful and my arches look good. I am very happy with this shoe!

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I must say, these shoes have made me quite happy! The box and shank gave me just the right amount of support, and were very easy to roll up onto. I also loved the padding at the back of the heel; it made my leg line look much better without all the bunching. The pre-arched shank was also very flattering on my low arches. I loved the shape of the box and platform, as well. I only had a bit of trouble with the padding inside the box, but it was easily removed (:

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These are some of the prettiest pointe shoes...if only the shank were harder! It is great for now, but I am worried how long they will last during my summer intensives. Still, they balance wonderfully and the pre-arched shank is so nifty!

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These shoes were pretty good at first, but after a few weeks the inner sole of the shoe came undone. I'm guessing the glue wasn't sticking anymore, and it would press into the sole of my foot on pointe, causing my foot to sickle and overarch. This happened with the next 3 pairs I got. It's a good shoe, but they breakdown too fast.

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The best pointe shoe I have ever had. Gives the foot plenty of support and is great for people like me who have very wide feet.

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I'm currently ordering my 3rd pair of these babies, I love them! I have very wide, decently strong feet, and I have worn Capezio Glisse, but they broke down poorly for me, and looked kind of ugly on my feet. These shoes are similar to the Glisse in build but they are stronger and just overall so much better for wider but stronger feet. Oh, and I wear around an 8 street and order an 5XXX. Good luck!

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The first thing I noticed when I switched to these shoes were how easy it was to balance in them. Even when I feel like I would fall out of a pirouette in other pointes, this one kept up through the whole turn. The platform is very broad and square, but it only works out if you have very square feet/toes, otherwise your toes might sink in (and hurt). I had to get one width smaller than I normally get to avoid that. The other feature that I really liked was the elastic heel (just like the Glisse), which molds and holds on to your heel better than non-elastic ones. One thing that I noticed was that because the platform holds me up so much, it becomes difficult to smoothly roll up (and down) to/from full pointe, just before you reach full point, there's a "click" or "gap" where it feels like a loss of control before you get "locked up" into pointe. Once I break-in my shoes more, that goes away a bit. But then the problem becomes that the lifespan between "broken in" and "dying" is very short (2 to 4 hours for me), and I can only get totally up on to the box during this period (though I also cannot point my feet very far).

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I have been through just about every brand of pointe shoe(including other Bloch styles) and when I finally tried these, they were amazing. I get over on them perfectly and the wide box allows great balance and support. I can't believe I ever wore anything else!

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I hated these shoes, they hurt me and my toes so much I had to buy a new pair. I would not recommend them to people with long toes, narrow feet and high arches.

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It's really easy to get completely up on your box in these shoes. The box is about twice as wide as it is long--great for wide feet and short toes (like me!). I ended up gouging out the small foam pad in the toe and using Toesavers gel pads. Know that you can rip out that pad--it may make a huge difference in how they fit!

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I have short toes, high arch, low instep, and weak ankles and these worked pretty well. Before I've had Sansha, Prima Soft, Freed, and Grishko, and these worked the best so far. They were incredibly easy to balance in and I wasn't always falling off pointe with them. They hurt extremely bad though. I think I'm going to try Grishko Fouette and Capezio Concerto. If neither of them work I'll stick with these. Oh yeah, there is lots of excess fabric above the vamp and it looks really bad, almost crinkled, on flat.

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These are the best Bloch pointes yet!!! They run very wide, since I'm usually a C or D and I wear X for these... I ripped out the foam padding cause' it hurts my toes. Great elastic drawstring, which otherwise needs a special order on other models. Nice high heel too, and pretty color, a little unlike the usual Blochs. Matches Freed ribbons almost perfectly, though ribbons should match tights.

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These shoes are the BEST! I have had just about every brand of pointe shoes and these are the BEST! I had the Bloch Sonatas before and compared to these, the Sonatas are terrible! And they look so good even when they're brand new!

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This is the first shoe that has fit me well after a whole year of trial and error. VERY painful when new, but much better after breaking in. I do have a highly arched foot, and they break very quickly for me; my Grishkos lasted about five months, these only 5-6 weeks. I wish they came in hard shank, but otherwise are very flattering and supportive. Overall great!

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I have been on pointe for 4 years and these are the first shoes that I have ever worn that give me a nice arch! They are great for wide feet and narrow heels.

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I love these shoes! I have wide feet and these fit really well and give me a nice arch! Perfect for wide feet and narrow heels!

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This has been the greatest shoe I've tried. I have long toes and the box was just right. I recommend having someone fit you for this type of shoe because the sizing is confusing. There's a squishy pad on the bottom. Personally, I took it out because it felt annoying. But I love this shoe; it's the best EVER!

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The 1X is the narrowest and then each additional X adds width to the box area of the shoe. If this is the first time wearing this brand or style of pointe shoe we strongly recommended being fitted professionally for best fit.
- DDS Customer Service (11/08/2024)

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I need help picking out the right size for this shoe. My foot is 24.4 cm long. I wear size 7.5 in street shoe. What size do you recommend?do you have other colors also? Thanks

We have a Suggested Fitting of: Women order 2-3 sizes smaller than street size. This information is shown as a guide only and not a guarantee. Actual fitting may vary. This item only comes in the color shown.
- DDS Customer Service (07/06/2018)

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I was wondering what you meant when you wrote low profile for the Bloch balance European pointe shoes? Does that refer to the wings? Thanks!

The shoe profile is based on the height of your foot when viewed from the side.
- DDS Customer Service (01/31/2018)

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I wear a size 8 in normal street shoes. I have used the dramatica II in size 7 X1. What size should I get in these points shoes. I was thinking since it's the same brand it would be the same size.

We always recommend that dancers follow the sizing guide provided on the product page online. Refer to the tab titled Sizing, and it will provide you with what you need to accurately fit your new dancewear.
- DDS Customer Service (03/11/2016)

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Ribbon and elastic are not included.
- DDS Customer Service (03/18/2015)

Hi Julia! When I bought my pointe shoes at a local dance store, they gave me ribbons and I had to buy elastics. When you buy them online, they usually never come with either because you sew them on according to what feels ight to your feet and where you want them placed. If you buy or bought them, you will see that you will just have the pointe shoe itself and it is your job to buy and apply elastics and ribbons. I really hope I helped<3 - Leilak123 (07/09/2015)

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I've only ever had these shoes and I was wondering what other shoes might be recommended. I've tried being fitted for other shoes but my local dance store only has Bloch, Capezio (which I hate), Freed, and I think Suffolk.

I would recommend trying the ELITE pointe shoe by Grishko. They have very similar characteristics to the Balance European. The shank may be a bit stronger, but it should fit very similarly.
- DDS Customer Service (08/06/2014)

I would recommend Balance European if you have bunions or wide feet - Genevievel (07/13/2015)

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The support and how easy it is to get on pointe really depends on how strong your feet are and what shank you order because different shanks ( medium shank, hard shank, hard flexible ) give different results. You really need to try both to figure out what works best for you and your feet since everyones are different. - Dancingfever (01/04/2016)

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Yes, the strong shank is considered a hard shank.
- DDS Customer Service (11/08/2013)

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