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The Making of a Pointe Shoe | English National Ballet

English National Ballet

60,768 views

How are pointe shoes made? Join Lead Principal Sangeun Lee and Sophie Simpson MBE, Senior Sales Manager at Freed, on a visit to the Freed of London factory to find out!

From shaping the box to stitching the ribbons, discover the craftsmanship that supports our dancers on stage and the tradition that keeps ballet alive.

This video was brought to you as part of ENB@75 Digital Celebration in 2025, a free online event celebrating our 75th Season.

00:00 - 00:46: Introduction
00:47 - 02:26: The components of Freed shoes
02:27 - 03:41: The history and evolution of Freed pointe shoes
03:42 - 10:40: How Freed shoes are made
10:41 - 12:11: Attention to detail and craftsmanship
12:12 - 14:00: Arranging orders and the production process
14:01 - 17:44: A dancers individual relationship to their pointe shoes
17:45 - 19:47: How to become a pointe shoe maker

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20 Comments

@Purita-bk3ll 5 months ago

Aged 11, I was sent by my ballet teacher with a letter, to Freed's to be fitted with my first point shoes. I was lucky enough to have Mr Freed to serve me. He was so kind and showed me shoes awaiting Margot Fonteyn - something special....

@roza9813 11 months ago

Omg they showed crown maker! I used to wear those

@annieboerner8435 11 months ago

This was fascinating! I danced in the 80’s and 90’s and “my maker” was “C”. When I finally made it to London in 2011 I missed meeting my maker by just a year - he had retired. I wish I could have met and thanked him, but it was magical to just be in the official Freed of London store in London!

@BarbaraT. 11 months ago

I used to pass by the factory every day by bus. And, as an ex professional ballet student, my heart would flutter. I'd love a tour inside in person ❤❤❤

@Familylawgroup 9 months ago

I am surprised that freed doesn’t feature the various makers online. I am not a dancer but even I know dancers have specific makers they love. The makers could be mini celebrities for Freed. I have heard some makers have never seen a ballet. That seems so sad. Freed should send every maker to at least one ballet with a dancer who wears their shoes. What a way to increase their pride in their work…to see for themselves why things are important, in reality.

@mermaidopulence8539 11 months ago

Absolutely love FREEDS, I used to wear butterfly maker but now I wear heart maker.

@pq8tgk79 11 months ago

When I was reading the name of the boxes they’re sending the shoes to, I read “Ballet de Santiago” main company from my country! 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱

@Sezza2026 11 months ago

This the most interesting video I’ve seen on YT in a long time!

@mamascrazyhouse5765 11 months ago

My first ballet pointe shoes were Gamba white leather ; gifted to me by my ballet teacher many years ago

@loribrown5235 10 months ago (edited)

I have so much respect for the shoe makers!!! And everyone involved in ballet!!! I'm not even a dancer. But I've learned so much.

@bettycurry6752 11 months ago

Enjoyed this informative presentation very much…..pointe shoes are beautiful and long live the ballet…..👍💝🌹

@シュリリンン 10 months ago

Josephine needs to react to this

@jendesimone9053 11 months ago

I’ve heard Josephine Lee from The Pointe Shop talk about J maker …

@Iceechibi 11 months ago

How this doesnt have more views

@angelabaker1992 10 months ago

I used to dance in Gamba pointe shoes. I liked them because I had long toes. I then went to Freed when I could not get them anymore.

@nikiryan8648 10 months ago

the lady giving the tour is amazing! as a non-dancer, I learned so much. Very clear and informative.

@judieloveday1643 10 months ago

Love learning about pointe shoe making. Never realised it was quite so labour intensive. (If anyone knows what brand Sangeun's jacket is, can they please let me know? It's gorgeous.)