Bloch Tensus Demi-Pointe Shoe
Not sure what a demi-pointe shoe is? You're not alone — it's one of the most common questions we get in the store.
A demi-pointe (or pre-pointe) shoe looks like a pointe shoe but works very differently. It has a structured box and a firm sole like a pointe shoe, but no reinforced shank — the stiff spine that allows a true pointe shoe to support a dancer's full weight en pointe. That's intentional. The demi-pointe's job is to build strength, not to get you up on your toes.
Bloch first developed the demi-pointe in the 1960s as a transitional training shoe. Because the sole and box are more structured than a soft ballet flat, the shoe provides resistance as you work through the foot — strengthening the exact muscles in the feet and legs that pointe work demands. Many teachers use demi-pointes to help dancers get comfortable with the feel of a boxed shoe before their first pointe fitting.
Important: Demi-pointe shoes are never meant to be worn fully en pointe. Without a supportive shank, the shoe cannot hold your weight the way a true pointe shoe does.
Features
- Made on the same last as the Bloch Aspiration pointe shoe, so the transition to pointe feels familiar. The last shape supports the foot and creates a smooth, stable surface when standing flat, walking, or running.
- Square-shaped box, low-cut sides, and a narrow heel — a combination that accentuates the profile of the foot and suits dancers with narrower heels.
- Leather outsole.
Sizing & Fitting Notes
- Suggested sizing is about two sizes down from street shoe size — but this is only a guideline.
- Demi-pointes should be fitted just like pointe shoes. For a personalized pre-pointe shoe fitting, click here to schedule an appointment.
- Ribbons and elastic sold separately.
Bloch style S0155
