advice : fitting : choice : individuality
Testimonials
During the last thirteen years I have enjoyed getting to know many dance schools and colleges, their teachers and students.
I have asked a few of them to tell you more about their experience and share their thoughts about their visits and fittings at The Pointe Shoe Centre. I hope you find the following testimonials inspiring and helpful.
- Paula, Dancers Boutique
"When I became principal of the dancing school I put a lot of time into researching ways of getting my dancers fitted with pointe shoes. My main concerns were that I needed someone extremely knowledgeable on the subject and able to provide a wide selection of styles of shoe as each girl's needs are so varying. These pre-requisites are what initially led me to The Pointe Shoe Centre.
Paula now travels to Hillingdon Theatre Dance Centre in Yiewsley annually to fit our dancers pointe shoes. It is very convenient for our families to have their pointe shoe fittings at the studio as it saves us all travelling. It is also a very exciting day for our dancers (and their parents).
Paula's friendly approach means the girls have a relaxed yet professional fitting and she takes a keen interest in each dancer's needs meaning they are fitted with a pair of pointe shoes that best suits their feet. She ensures they are completely happy and have tried on many pairs to find the perfect match.
The parents of the dancing school are especially happy to be included in their daughter's pointe shoe fittings, especially for the first pair when it is new to many parents. They also appreciate the convenience of getting all of the accessories at the same time as the shoes (ribbons, toe pads, suede patches, pointe shoe bag).
I would highly recommend Paula and the Pointe Shoe Centre to other dance school principals and parents of dancers."
Helen White. LISTD, DipMHTC, LIDTA, LAMDA, CDE, AIFL.
Principal of Hillingdon Theatre Dance Centre - Yiewsley near Uxbridge, Greater London.
Website: www.htdancecentre.co.uk
"Paula has been fitting our dancers with pointe shoes for many years and we feel very lucky to have such a wonderful shop on our doorstop. Dancers Boutique offers a great variety of brands and a large stock available to try on. Paula is an experienced and knowledgeable fitter and makes sure that each dancer knows what to feel and look for throughout the process of going en pointe.
The team are DB are so friendly and allow parents to sit alongside the students and be a part of the special moment of going en pointe. Not only does the shop have a great stock of pointe shoes but a wide variety of accessories from ribbons to toe pads, pointe shoe bags to suede patches which are also available and fitted on site if required.
Paula and her team are always on hand to answer any questions that our dancers or their families might have and they include a booklet - step by step guide of how to sew your ribbons as well, another personal touch that we haven't had anywhere else. When it comes to Pointe shoes and all our uniform requirements Dancers Boutique is always our first choice!"
Jessica Clayton. RAD RTS, DDI, DDE, AAC1, ID Dance
Principal of Castle Street Dance Studios - High Wycombe, Penn & Tylers Green, Widmer End, Buckinghamshire.
Website: www.csds.co.uk
"I always bring my dancers to Dancers Boutique for their first Pointe Shoe fitting, not only because Paula is an excellent fitter but because the DB team always ensure the whole experience is exciting and memorable for the girls.
From the moment we walk in the door the girls are welcomed and made to feel special. Paula is especially good at making the more anxious first time buyer feel comfortable and relaxed and she explains the many types of shoe and takes her time and uses her excellent knowledge to find the perfect pair.
Parents minds' are also always put at rest and as their teacher I am always made to feel included in both the fitting process and the final decision. I continue to send students to Dancers Boutique for their subsequent pointes as I know the fitting will be perfect, but I always look forward to that first trip as a class especially as I get to watch my students fall in love with pointe shoes (at least until their first class!) and to watch Paula work her magic.
It truly is a magical experience and always reminds me of the scene in Harry Potter when he buys his first wand - Paula is our real life Olivander!"
Georgie Ketteman. AIDTA iD-Dance, BA (Hons) AAC1.
Principal of Maggie Monk School of Dancing - Chesham and Hyde Heath, Buckinghamshire.
Website: www.maggiemonkdance.com
"At Ondine Academy we have always recommended and advised our students to go to Paula at Dancers Boutique to be fitted for their pointe shoes, whether it's for their very first pair or to replace their old ones.
We can be totally confident that each dancer will be fitted professionally, and come to class with a pair of shoes that fit them beautifully. The Pointe Shoe Centre at Dancers Boutique stock a range of makes, styles and sizes, that enables every shape and strength of foot to be catered for.
We are so lucky to have this gem of a shop in our local area, that our students and parents love to visit."
Harriet Allum. BA (Hons) Ballet Education, RAD RTS, PBT Certified.
Co-Principal at Ondine Academy of Dance - Chalfont St. Peter, Gerrards Cross, Fulmer and Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire.
Website: www.ondineacademy.co.uk
"We are so lucky to have Paula from the Dancers Boutique in Amersham, so close to our studio in Beaconsfield, to give her expert professional care in fitting our students with pointe shoes, as well as all other dance related things!
Paula's advice is invaluable and I am very thankful to her, as some of my students continue into full time dance schools and dance professionally. However every growing dancer needs a good fit! Thank you Paula."
Annik Coatalen. Dip RBS TTC, ARAD, former professional classical dancer.
Principal of Baylins Ballet Barn - Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.
Website: www.baylinsballetbarn.com
"I have always sent my students to Dancer's Boutique for their Pointe Shoe fittings safe in the knowledge they will receive an excellent service. They stock a wide selection of different makes and styles of shoe to suit every dancer and Paula always spends her time to ensure that my students have the shoes best suited to them.
Our parents always comment on what a lovely experience it is when they go in to have their daughter's first pointe shoes fitted; receiving lots of friendly help and advice as well as instructions on how to sew the ribbons correctly. I feel very lucky to have such a great service so local to us!"
Emma Culmer. Cert - Ballet Education, RAD RTS, PBT Certified.
Principal of Amersham Dance Studio - Amersham, Buckinghamshire.
Website: www.amershamdancestudio.co.uk
"I have taken a few groups of pupils to Dancers Boutique to be fitted with their first pair of pointes by Paula. I have been very happy with her knowledge and skill fitting the shoes and the attention and good service she has given the girls. It is really good to be welcomed there with my pupils for their first pair and give my opinion on the shoes I think best suit the particular dancer.
I always recommend my girls to go to Dancers Boutique for their next pairs of shoes and trust that Paula will fit them properly."
Yvonne Plester. FISTD CDE
Principal of The Sargent and Plester School of Dancing - Chesham, Buckinghamshire.
Website: www.sargentandplester.co.uk
"Paula makes regular visits to Lets Dance to fit my new intakes of girls for pointe work. She makes the whole experience fun and exciting for them, just the way it should be for their first pair! She gives clear and precise instructions regarding the preparation and care for their shoes and ensures that each student receives her undivided attention.
Paula offers such a range of styles and makes that each student can be sure that they have the right shoe for them right from the start. All in all a very professional, efficient and excellent service which I would highly recommend to any teacher or dancer."
Siobhan Chown. ISTD.
Principal of Lets Dance - St. Albans, Hertfordshire and Regional Representative for the ISTD.
Website: www.letsdanceacademy.co.uk
"Paula has been to our school in Pinner twice now and each time spent many hours with us fitting between 10 and 12 girls. Each time it has been very enjoyable with a lovely buzz of excitement. Paula is very knowledgable and thorough in her approach to fitting the shoes. She perseveres until she gets the best fit possible. Dancers Boutique stock many different makes and styles within the makes which is why we have chosen to ask them to fit our girls. Many parents have commented how professional the service has been. I thoroughly recommend their pointe shoe fitting service and look forward to next visit."
Alison Francis. RAD.
Principal of the Reddiford School Dance Studio - Pinner, Middlesex.
"Paula has been to my ballet school twice this year for pointe shoe fittings, bringing with her different makes and widths, Paula tried lots of different shoes on each girl making sure they have the best fit. The best thing for me is when they begin using their pointe shoes they are so well fitted we have no problems, we all enjoy the work, all of my girls have been delighted taking photos of each other. Many thanks to Paula."
Pat Clapton.
Principal of the Windrush School of Ballet - Witney, Oxfordshire.
Website: www.windrushballet.com
"Until Paula at Dancers Boutique opened The Pointe Shoe Centre we travelled into London to get our students fitted with their pointe shoes. The service provided by Paula and her staff is excellent and equal to any we have encountered in London. They are knowledgeable, very experienced and every customer is given individual attention and guidance as to how their shoes should fit and feel. I am confident when my students go to DB they will return to class with correctly fitted pointe shoes!"
Jane Anderson LISTD, CDE, AIDTA.
Principal of The Chiltern Academy - Prestwood, Buckinghamshire.
Website: www.chilternacademy.net
"A few of my friends at college had been to Dancers Boutique to get their pointe shoes and I really liked the shoes they were wearing so I travelled from Bedford to Amersham for my fitting too. I was so pleased I did, the fitting was brilliant, there was a such a choice of shoes and we spent a long time going through them and picking the best pair for me. My new pointe shoes are so comfortable, I was able to wear them in easily and with the padding I was advised to get with them, actually now enjoy our pointe lessons a bit more! "
Becky Spooner.
Full-time dance student at The Stella Mann College in Bedford
"I always enjoy going to Dancers Boutique to get my pointe shoes. Paula and her team are so professional and always on hand with great advice. I will definitely recommend Dancers Boutiques Pointe Shoe Centre to my students."
Katie Cobie.
Kobika Dance - High Wycombe and Marlow areas, Buckinghamshire.
Website: www.kobikadance.co.uk
