Ballet is an extreme sport. Each day, ballet dancers are required
to excel and “leave it all on the stage”. Each day, pushing their
bodies to their limits, train and perform 12 hours a day, constantly
aiming for the extreme - all while standing effortlessly on the tip of
their toes. Each day, ready for when the curtain goes up. But there
is one big problem: their primary tool, the pointe shoes, are unpredictable
and can break down any minute, leaving the dancer with
no support and no choice but to proceed dancing in dead shoes.
A scenario similar to a skydiver not being able to count on their
parachute after jumping.
This thesis aims to uncover the complex world of ballet and navigate
into the hearth of the traditions to understand the core problem
and provide the users with what they wish for: a long-lasting
performance-ready pointe shoe.