足尖鞋的一大特点就是:硬!区别于普通的软底舞蹈鞋,它有着非常硬的鞋头(Box)和鞋底(Sole & Shank)。在日常生活中,不少人都有过这样的体验:当穿着鞋底非常硬的鞋的时候(例如松糕鞋),我们的脚也可以轻松借着鞋底的支撑立起来,像这样:
Michael Jackson的立脚尖动作
其实足尖鞋使人能够立起来的原理与硬鞋底是一样的,都是借助硬鞋底的支撑,增大脚的受力面积,从而通过分散脚部受到的压力、减小压强来减轻立脚尖的疼痛。如下图所示,足尖鞋的鞋底(sole & shank)和鞋头(box)相当于几面可以靠住的“墙”,身体的重量被分散至脚的各个部位,力便不会100%集中在脚趾头上:
It's not uncommon for a fitting session to take over an hour - the place I go for pointe shoes, they stock five different brands and at least 25 styles of each brand, plus there are variations in the size for each style. I normally wear Blochs because the relatively high backs work for me, but as my feet have changed, I've been in Bloch Heritage, Bloch TMT and Bloch European.