Free Pointe Shoe Fittings in Clyde North, Melbourne
A pointe shoe fitting at Total Dance costs nothing. Book a time, come in to our Clyde North shop, and Wendy will fit your dancer properly. There is no charge and no obligation to buy on the day.
Book your fitting
Pick a time that suits you. If nothing on the calendar works, call the shop on 1300 32 6666 and we will find a time.
Fittings are by appointment so Wendy can give you her full attention. You are welcome to walk in, but without a booking you may have to wait.
Why we do not charge for it
Because a badly fitted pointe shoe is a problem we would rather prevent than sell into. Pointe shoes hold a young dancer's whole body weight on the tips of her toes. The wrong box shape, the wrong shank strength or half a size out, and you get blisters, bruised nails and a dancer who stops trusting her shoes.
We would rather spend three quarters of an hour getting it right and have your dancer come back to us for the next pair. So there is no fitting fee, and you are under no pressure to buy anything on the day. If she is not ready for pointe yet, we will tell you that too.
Who fits you
Wendy runs our Clyde North shop and does our pointe fittings. She fits dancers from across Melbourne's south east, including Cranbourne, Berwick, Officer, Narre Warren and Pakenham, and she works with the same brands your teacher will know: Bloch, Capezio and Grishko.
She also writes the guides in our Learning Library, so if you want to know what happens before you come in, it is her voice you will be reading.
How long it takes
Allow around 45 minutes for a first fitting. That covers measuring the foot, talking through what your dancer is doing in class, trying several brands and shapes, and checking the shoe on and off pointe. Returning dancers who already know their brand are usually quicker.
For a full walk through of what actually happens in the fitting room, read What to Expect at Your First Pointe Fitting.
What to bring
- Ballet tights or socks. We cannot fit a pointe shoe on a bare foot.
- Something easy to move in. Shorts or leggings, so we can see the line of the leg and foot.
- Your current shoes, if she already has an older pair of pointe shoes.
- Anything your teacher has asked for. Some teachers specify a brand, a shank strength or a particular toe pad.
Before you come in
Two guides worth reading first:
- Is Your Child Ready for Pointe? The readiness checklist teachers actually use, and why age on its own is never the answer.
- What to Expect at Your First Pointe Fitting A step by step of the appointment itself.
Once she has her shoes, How to Sew Ribbons and Elastics and How to Break In Pointe Shoes Safely will get you through the first week. Everything else lives in the Total Dance Learning Library.
Common questions
How much does a pointe shoe fitting cost?
Nothing. Fittings at Total Dance are free, and there is no obligation to buy shoes on the day.
How long does a pointe shoe fitting take?
Allow around 45 minutes for a first fitting. Returning dancers who already know their brand are usually quicker.
Do I need an appointment, or can I just walk in?
You are welcome to walk in, but a booking means Wendy is free when you arrive. Without one you may have to wait or come back another day, especially on a Saturday.
Who does the fitting?
Wendy, our store manager and pointe shoe fitter, does the pointe fittings at our Clyde North shop.
What should my dancer bring to a pointe fitting?
Ballet tights or socks, something easy to move in such as shorts or leggings, her current ballet or pointe shoes if she has them, and any brand or shank requirements her teacher has given you.
Do we have to buy the shoes on the day?
No. There is no charge for the fitting and no pressure to buy. If your dancer is not ready for pointe yet, we will tell you honestly and suggest what to work on first.
A complimentary fitting, around 45 minutes, with Wendy at Clyde North.
Choose a time Call 1300 32 6666