Some dancers believe in banging new pointe shoes against concrete or asphalt pavement to break them in. Dancers bang the tips and bottoms of their shoes repeatedly and roughly against the ground to soften the layers of leather and canvas the pointe portion of the shoes is made from. The result of the banging is to make the shoe tips less slick -- a trait much appreciated during class, rehearsal and performance.
Professional ballet dancers often use a method called door bending to break in a new pair of pointe shoes. Amateurs should be wary of this method as it can easily shorten the life of a new pair of shoes. Dancers bend their shoes around the edge of a door frame, three-quarters of the way down the shank or bottom of the shoe. If done correctly, this quickly reshapes the shank of the shoe into a form that is more comfortable for the dancer. Before attempting this technique, you should know exactly where you must bend your new shoes so you don’t risk ruining them.
The best way to break in a pair of ballet slippers is to wear them constantly so the canvas and leather forms to the dancer's foot. Dancers walk around the house in a pair of ballet slippers, flex their toes and walk on their toes to break them in. Dancers also hold new ballet slippers in their hands and bend them in half, backwards and forwards, to increase the flexibility of the middle of the slippers and help them conform to their feet. Rather than trying to preserve the slippers for an upcoming performance, slippers are usually worn during classes and rehearsals before being used in a performance. The bottoms of new slippers are often deliberately scuffed before the slippers are first worn to minimize slipping.
Some ballet dancers pour a few tablespoons of rubbing alcohol onto the toe box area of their ballet shoes after putting on their new pointe shoes. The alcohol dries quickly while the shoes are worn, preventing damage to the shoes. This technique helps the shoe mold to the dancer’s foot and toes more quickly, making the shoes more comfortable.
Dancers sometimes drop two or three tablespoons of water on the tips of a new pair of pointe shoes to help soften the leather that forms the box at the toe area of the shoes. The dancers then put on the shoes and dance in them. If you choose this option, be careful not to put more than a few tablespoons of water on the toe area, as too much water can cause the toe box area to squeak. You will quickly find this sound annoying and disruptive to your concentration during rehearsal and performance.