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       In the fall of 2015, Mariska Baranczyk, a long-time customer of Grand Jeté, called asking about the possibility of getting pointe shoes for a family friend of hers, Hannah Kritzeck.  Hannah is a young, twenty-year old woman who dances in the Twin Cities.  Normally this would not at all be an unusual request, as Grand Jeté has specialized in fitting pointe shoes for area dancers for over thirty years.  However, this situation was unique in that Hannah is a primordial dwarf.  She is one of only 100 primordial dwarves in the world and the only one in Minnesota.

4th Street Dance Recital

Introducing Hannah

Primordial dwarfism is defined primarily by extreme short stature at birth and is furthermore unique in that the bones and organs of the body are all proportionally smaller than the average person.  With such a small overall structure, primordial dwarves have a shortened life expectancy and face the risk of brain aneurysms among other complications.  For instance, Hannah had two titanium rods put in her back to correct scoliosis at a young age.  She measures a mere 39 inches tall and wears a 4 T in kids clothing.  However, none of these facts prevent Hannah from pursuing her passion for dancing – and thriving at it!

Hannah dances at 4^th Street Dance Center, taking ballet and hip hop.  She pours her heart into dancing, inspiring both her teacher and classmates.  When asked about her dancing, Hannah replied, “I’ve been dancing since I was two years old…I love dancing because it makes me feel good – hip hop makes me feel strong and ballet calms me down.”  Just like many a young girl in ballet class, Hannah has long dreamed of dancing on pointe.  For years, Hannah had been searching for a way to get pointe shoes; however, there simply was nothing small enough to fit her feet.  It was at this point that Mariska reached out to Grand Jeté, knowing their expertise in fitting pointe shoes and their direct access to pointe shoe suppliers.

 

 

Grand Jeté’s Involvement

The staff at Grand Jeté is committed to providing each customer with personalized service. On a daily basis, Grand Jeté helps dancers find the right fit for their pointe shoes, sizing these unique shoes according to the size and strength of their feet.  Our staff often helps dancers create special orders to meet their particular needs and specifications.  However, pointe shoes have never been made in toddler sizes.  While Hannah’s feet are extremely small, they are fully developed.  Therefore, Hannah would need specially-created pointe shoes to fit the size, structure and strength of her feet.

Ruthena Fink, the owner of Grand Jeté, worked with Mariska to bring Hannah into the store for a fitting.  Ruthena fit Hannah in ballet slippers to get a sense for the pointe shoe size that would need to be created.  Hannah’s feet fit in a size six toddler, the smallest Capezio ballet slipper available, measuring five inches long.  Additionally, Ruthena traced Hannah’s feet to provide a visual representation of her foot size and shape.

 

With the information she gathered from the fitting, Ruthena began communicating with Paul Plesh at Capezio.  Mr. Plesh has a vast amount of experience in the ballet world, having both worked and danced with professional ballet companies for a number of years.  He is currently Capezio’s Senior Product Line Manager, and after multiple conversations and exchanging photos, Mr. Plesh set out to see if Capezio could make a pointe shoe for Hannah.  At Grand Jeté, we were thrilled to learn that Paul actually had a trip planned to Thailand, where Capezio’s factory is located.  He brought all of the information with him and returned a few weeks later with Hannah’s pointe shoes in hand!  Her pointe shoes were personally mailed to Grand Jeté, where they awaited Hannah’s first pointe shoe fitting.

When the shoes arrived at Grand Jeté, it was a beautiful sight – they looked just like regular pointe shoes, yet fit in the palm of Ruthena’s hand!  The pointe shoes were created with pink satin and a hard toe box, with the one main difference being that the shank (the stiff sole of a pointe shoe created to support a dancer on her toes) was actually only the strength of a demi pointe shoe.  Due to Hannah’s small size and light weight, a regular shank would be too stiff and difficult for her foot to work through properly.  Thus, the demi sole was the appropriate strength to train her to dance on pointe.

 

A Dream Come True

Mariska arranged for Hannah to come to Grand Jeté again for her pointe shoe fitting, this time accompanied by her mother, Jackie.  Nothing could match the excitement and happiness reflected on the faces of Hannah and her mother when the shoes were brought out and fitted on Hannah’s feet.  The thrill was shared by Ruthena and her staff as they watched one more dancer realize her dreams of dancing in pointe shoes.
Furthermore, because she is finally able to begin training on pointe, Hannah is considering pursing dance in college or at pre-professional/professional ballet training programs.  With Hannah’s talent and determination, it will be exciting to see where she goes with her dancing.  What an example of how the inspiration of a pair of pointe shoes can be so far-reaching!  Grand Jeté’s customer service and expertise in fitting dance shoes will continue to make dance dreams such as Hannah’s come true.

 

 

 

 

Click on the pictures below to view a larger slideshow of Hannah’s pointe shoe story:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking to fill your dancer’s holiday wish list?  

Want to put something special in his or her stocking?

The 2015 Grand Jete Holiday Wish List is complete!  We’ve compiled brand new fashions, winter knit wear, staples for taking care of your dancer during performance weeks, and some of our GJ favorites picked by our staff.  There’s something for everyone!

 

Happy Holidays!

Looking for relief from tension and tight muscles? Now you can make a simple massage part of your daily routine wherever you are!  

Whether you have a highly active or sedantary lifestyle, muscle tension can be a constant struggle that translates into foot, leg, back, neck pain — you name it.  Our line of Rubz Massage Tools allows you to apply the level of pressure you need to roll out tight and tired muscles — whether during a quick break in the day or simply while relaxing and watching TV!

Foot Massage Ball

Most of our muscle soreness and tension actually originates in our feet.  By rolling out your feet each day, it may relieve tension throughout the legs and even up into the back.  This small, dense massage ball can get into the small pressure points of the foot that we may not even have realized were tight or strained.  The small spikes allow for more articulation than a tennis ball or golf ball.

Whether you are a dancer, a dance teacher, a retail associate, a chef, or one of countless other employees on their feet all day long, you’re bound to feel foot fatigue by the end of the day.  Make it a habit to roll out your feet each day to improve circulation, relieve symptoms of plantar fiscitis, and enable relaxation.

Small enough to take with you!

*Use it at your desk at work.

*Stick it in your dance bag for between rehearsals & classes.

*Use it on your lunch break.

*Carry it in your gym bag for your workout cool-down.

Foot Roller 

For more overall coverage and less-concentrated pressure, try the foot roller.  The roller allows your foot to spread out and receive the massage across the whole foot at once.

A double benefit to the foot roller is that it may also be used to roll out calf muscles, hamstrings, and even tendons surrounding the ankles and knees.  Use your body weight to apply the amount of pressure desired, but be careful to ease into it.  Tighter muscles need a more gradual approach to rolling them out.

Full Body Massage Tool 

 Sitting for long periods of time, whether working on a project or staring at a computer, is bound to result in pain and tension in the neck and upper back.

Working hard on arm positions and proper alignment in dance classes may also cause new muscles to become tired and sore.

Here’s where the full body massage tool comes in!

 The uneven shape of the full body massage tool allows you to select the small end for focused spot treatment or the larger end for broader coverage.  Apply the desired pressure with your hand — you get much more leverage than simply using your fingers!

Use the Full Body Massage Tool on your shoulders and neck — also try it on your hips and specific spots on your legs or IT band.

Contact us for more info!

Grand Jete:

651-227-0331

info@grandjete.com

Grand Jeté is in the news!  Dance Retailer News, a nationwide publication, featured Grand Jeté, interviewing owner Ruthena Fink, in their section entitled “Message Board: Front & Center,” which highlights tips and tricks from a variety of dance retail stores across the United States.  Read it here!

Ever wonder how you can incorporate current fashion trends into your dancewear?  Let’s be honest.  Often a leotard IS what you end up wearing for the majority of the day.  So how can you make it double as your fashion statement?  

 

Check out these styles straight from the runway that are reflected in some of the dancewear lines we carry at Grand Jete!

 

Be Bold.

Color block with bright summer colors like this swimsuit featured in Harper’s Bazaar…

 

…or add a contrasting colored trim to make your leotard pop and create a unique look.

*NEW in at Grand Jete this spring: Mariia by BalTogs.

Create more contrast by choosing leotards with cool cuts.

 

 

*Pick up on the accent colors of your leo with matching nail polish in soft summer hues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep it classy.

 

 

Why should the Little Black Dress be reserved for evening wear?

 

 

 

High neck, open back…

Patterned mesh and flattering designs…

…these Wear Moi classics bring elegance to the everyday.

 

 

 

 

 

Flaunt the Floral.

Add a splash of spring floral — it’s comeback is all over the spring styles this year! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Ainsliewear made it even more eye-catching by pairing a floral print with a cutout back! 

                                                                             Petal pink. 

 

Pretty Pastels

Want your floral print but prefer it a little more subdued?  We’ve chosen a variety of tasteful leotards at Grand Jeté so you can have your cake and eat it too!  

Work a muted floral print mesh into a monochromatic leo – like the Wear Moi Majeste.

 

 

High-neck, oh-so-soft pastels…from streetwear to dancewear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close-knit.

 

Fashion knit shorts in bright colors?  Now this one we think they stole straight from a dance catalogue…

 (Below: knit shorts & legwarmers by Capezio)

 

Summer Crop.

Another dance style that made its way directly into the fashion scene — now you can go from dance class to summer stylin’ without even changing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harper’s Bazaar’s fashion take on the crop top and Capezio’s dancewear catalogue…

Same look. Same great style.
Take your Grand Jeté from studio to street!  

 

So chic. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some things are just timeless …like lace and midnight blue…  

 

Body Wrappers creates an exquisite tank leotard with lace trimming both the bodice and a keyhole back, modeled by Tiler Peck of New York City Ballet. *Also available in black.  

 

 

Pristine.

 

Summer is the season for white.  

Brighten your summer dancewear with a full white leotard, similar to this swimsuit featured in Harper’s Bazaar.  In place of rouching, Wear Moi created softented texture with a delicate lace bodice.

 

 

Be Artistic.

 

 

Make your leo the new canvas for the paintings of Degas.

*NEW at Grand Jete: Cahoots leotards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Express yourself through dance.

           Explore your style.

                                Expect great things.

 

Find your style at Grand Jeté – where you’ll receive personal service from staff members who dance, know dancewear, and care about you.

 

 

 

If you have experience with pointe shoes, then it’s probably safe to say you have heard about Freed of London pointe shoes.

 

Since 1929, Freed has been creating pointe shoes for dancers all over the world.  Dancers in major companies wear them, and many aspiring students love them as well. What makes them so special? What’s the hype? Why would a dancer pick a Freed over another brand?

 

First, you need to know the difference between Freed “Classics” and Freed “Studios.”

 

A few things that make Freed Classic pointe shoes different:

1. Makers: This is probably the biggest draw to wearing Freed Classics. Each pair of Classics is hand-made by a cobbler who stamps the shoes he makes with his own unique “maker symbol.” This lets dancers know which particular cobber made that shoe. Each maker makes the shoe a little differently: some make them wider, stronger, narrower, softer, etc. This means that even though you may order two pairs of pointe shoes in the exact same size, if each pair is a different maker, they may feel like very different shoes. This gives a dancer many options to help her find the maker(s) that work well for her feet. Grand Jeté is able to do a maker search to try and order pointe shoes made by your preferred maker.
2. Quiet: Freed Classics are notoriously light. Because they are so light, they make very little noise. You can bourrée across the stage like a whisper.
3. They mold to your feet: Because Classics are so light, they can break in quickly. However, this also means they aren’t made to last. Some professionals go through a shoe per day, but often students can make them last a few weeks or even longer. The quick break-in process allowing them to mold to your feet makes them ideal for a performance shoe.
4. They can be custom-made: Don’t like how high the sides come up? They can fix that. Want an elastic drawstring? They can fix that. Almost anything you want done to your shoe, they can do. Just expect to pay a little extra and wait several months for the shoes to come in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So now let’s switch from the Classic line to the Studio line.

 

Freed makes a line of “Studio” pointe shoes. Within that line is the Studio, Studio II, Studio Pro, and Studio Opera. Each of these styles has unique qualities, but they are very different from the Classic line.

1. Durability: Studios are machine-made, which makes them last longer than Classics.
2. No Makers: Studios are all standard shoes, so each style is manufactured consistently. You can order the same style and size, and you don’t have to worry about getting a different maker.
3. Stock Availability: Because Studios aren’t custom-made, they are part of Freed’s regularly stocked shoes, and the turnaround time when ordering is faster.

 

Whenever I fit my students for pointe shoes, I always try Freeds on them. Between Classics and Studios, there are many options for dancers. I really like Freeds for my students because they are light and can be easier to roll through, so my dancers can really work on articulating their feet.  However, while I always try Freeds on, I don’t require my students to wear them. If Freeds don’t work, that’s okay. At the end of the day I just want the best fit for any dancer.

One of the biggest problems I find with students who wear Classics is that they assume that only one maker will work for them. I fit a lot of students who say “I’ve only ever had maker ‘Y’, so that’s the only maker I can have”. I always encourage dancers to try as many makers as possible. Just because one maker works, doesn’t mean others won’t. If you only have one maker, you are in a tricky position when you are unable to get that maker. You should consider having a few makers you can wear in case your favorite is on backorder.

If you are a student wearing Freed Classics, know that they will not last as long as other brands. I’ve seen some dancers make them last a month, and I’ve had some dancers kill them in one day. There are various reasons as to why they don’t last, but it is primarily because they are handmade and the cobblers use a particular Freed glue or paste. Freed pointe shoes are an investment, but if the shoe really works for you it might be a worthwhile investment.

*This article reflects my opinion as a professional dancer and teacher, and not that of Freed of London or Grand Jeté.

*All photos courtesy of Freed of London