My mother bronzed my first pair of pointe shoes rather than my baby shoes because I was born during WWll and anything metal was restricted. I'm 75 now and still have them and the memories they hold.
The man speaking about making the shoes sounds so passionate its quite inspiring. The hard work of all the shoemakers is so facinating and it is beautiful to see how their hard work pays off when the ballerinas wear and perform in those shoes.
+lisete lazo It's wonderful when someone really loves and is proud of their 'work': then it's living to work rather than working to live. Everyone should be so lucky!
Damn, even the making of the shoes for this art is brutal. Everything about ballet is just hard. Mad respect to those who do anything related to it professionally or even as a pastime.
I just love how ballerinas are fucking metal I mean they stand on their fucking toes and SPIN on their TOES and WALK and JUMP and they still manage to look gracious and beautiful and soft
I know pat the guy in the video he no longer works at that company and he is looking for another company or an investor to help him keep the old ways and skills alive I have known him for a good 5 years and he is still as passionate about it now as he ever has been COME ON PEOPLE GET HIM BACK TO THE TOP he is one of the last people on the planet that has the skills and the passion to create something truly special. If you know or can create a scenario where he gets to work his magic again please leave a comment below and a way of contacting you.don't let his skills end with him he is one of the last great master's of his class give him the opportunity to teach others
I was browsing the shoe makers on Freed of London website, remembering this documentary featuring the KEY maker, and I was just wondering why I didn't see the "key". May I ask why he no longer works for Freed? I hope he can soon reunite with his passion again!
I did the exact same thing - went to the Freed of London website to look for him, but he wasn't there. Did you see Pat's post above? He mentioned that there was a change in management where they wanted quantity over quality, and he left. They lost a true artist! What a shame.
we don’t because when we see the little icon, we don’t know the name of the person, where they are, or anything about them. but that would be a very nice gesture if we did know!
Patrick Keymaker, you are truly talented. I've never heard someone so passionate about their work.. A rare quality in many workers today. Bloch is luck to have you. Keep up the good work.
Anna MacDonald he left Freeds in 2013 due to being mistreated by them, he went to Bloch but right now he isn’t currently in the trade.. which is a terrible shame. This is the truth because he is my uncle.
@@paigehaynes8470well tell him from me he was bloody amazing and it sounds like he was definitely in So Many Ways not valued Enough by Freed... He was a true Artist....
🌈🦋In the 60s I wanted to be a cobbler and everyone laughed at me because nobody wanted to do that. I ended up being a cobbler for sculpture and dolls shoes which are handmade with leather and to make them look like the real thing even though they were an inch and a half long-so I got to do it but I didn’t get to do it the way I thought I would. Isn’t that the way with life you imagine something one way and if you want it bad enough you try to get a piece of it at least so it feels like you’re doing what you imagined for so long. You’re very talented in your mind and in your product and my heart goes out to you because I know what it is to love something like that and still work very hard for it. You are a true artist. Bless you and those you love.(From one Miniature cobbler to another True Cobbler )👩🏻💻🕯🌹
I felt so touched when seeing them pay their full effort making every single ballet shoe although they have to repeat the same working thousands times, it seems so tough for me! Their hand are precious especially the boy in the vid! = )
At the beginning I saw all those nails being put into the shoes and I thought omg how can you wear them but then I saw how they take the nails out toward the end and smiled. What a craft.
A lot of pointe shoes have small tack nails in the shank, even after the shoemaker is done. A brand I used to use had this and my instructor would yank it out the tack so the shank would be more flexible.
is there a film that is about a- like a love story about a man who makes ballet shoes and and a ballerina that falls in love with him?? that would be interesting...
I don't know that story, but in Australia, there's a couple who met through music - he is a violin maker and she's a violinist, they met and fell in love and married. This is a different story from that one, but there's a French movie called 'Un Coeur en hiver' with a violinist and violin makers and their relationships with one another.
What a fascinating video and Pat is indeed a master of his craft. I wanted to learn ballet as a child but my mother wouldn't let me. Instead, I went to piano lessons. In my 20s I took up ballet for a while but personal circumstances forced me to give up. Went back again in my 40s but discovered that learning pointe work was a no-no for older (would be) dancers. Serious illness to two members of my family, my husband with heart problems (now gone from this earth) and my son who was born with a genetic kidney disease (he's been transplanted and is doing well and now in his early 30s) meant yet again I had to give up something I loved. I'm 62 now, far too old to learn ballet with a view to going en pointe but I did buy a pair of Bloch pointe shoes. I have tried them several times in my kitchen when no-one's been around and wish I could turn the clock back. I concentrate now on my piano and will be sitting my Diplomas in the not too distant future. To all out there who wish to learn ballet but perhaps don't get any encouragement, please. Never give up.
@@guodaripinskaite6314 Thank you. Unfortunately, we don't always get everything we want in life. I'm retired now, still play the piano (and still take lessons and exams) and I'm learning to play the harp so keeping busy. My very best wishes to you and Merry Christmas.
Wow... I am 20 now, and I always wanted to learn ballet, but I never thought I would "fit in". I'd love to give it a try though, and your story was very motivating
@@katej392 Don't talk about it - just do it. You only live once so do the things you really want to do. I wish you luck in your ballet venture and Happy New Year to you. My brother once said to me "The only one who can stop you is you". True words.
Never too late to start ballet, however, you bones might be a bit more fragile, you could slowly learn ballet, I have a teacher that was dancing in the 50’s and still can teach us so it is never too late as long as you do it carefully, maybe avoid jumps till you are strong enough to hold proper alignment and be careful with you knees, other than that they have free ballet classes on UA-cam.
Impressive level of detail! I had no idea that making pointe shoes was such an involved process or that the toes had so many layers - thought it was a more solid block in there. The maker interviewed says he'd love to have the dancers who wear his shoes come to the shop to tell him more precisely what they want and need - has anyone taken him up on that?
Well I don't actually know that much about ballet but that was quite simply a FASCINATING documentary - what a joy to watch artists and craftsmen at the top of their game coming together to produce such magic. Brilliant stuff - thanks for posting.
This video is great! The contrast between the graceful moves and the gentle sounds of the performance vs the loud hammering, gruff hands tearing into leather, machinery noise coupled with pink silk? What a contrast and they all work together to make something wonderful happen💕
P Heart According to a video I watched, a prima ballerina goes through about 3-4 shoes per week.... I don't know if that's true or not... But it seems kind strange...
I came across this video by accident and when they showed the shop front I could not believe it! I live round the corner from this factory and never knew they were the world renowned makers of ballet shoes for top companies the world over (from their signage you wouldn't necessarily think so). Very interesting film - and amazing to think so many young dancer's dreams are tied up with that place!
I must confess, I simply had no idea the amount of work put into a ballet pointe shoe. Being in my sixties, I remember being on pointe and still miss the feel of those pointe shoes. Bravo, to your skills and hard work. I still have my pointe shoes, and will cherish the work of Freed, with fond memories!
Dancers need a shoe that does NOT disfigure their feet! Just like the shoe makers need a shoe that does not disfigure their hands! Plus finishing details (sewing ribbons, scoring soles) should be included in making the shoes. What a wonderful video. So informative and detailed. Thank you Patrick Keymaker! Where are you now?
I wonder why the dancer and the maker don't bring their thoughts together, especially for the principal dancers so that they may get pointe shoes that are all ready scoured and made as if the ballerina had done them.
I think I understand what you mean Frances. You mean for the maker to make the pointe shoes all broken in already so the ballet dancer doesnt have to do all those crazy, extravagant things with the pointe shoes so that the dancer can use them! I have thought the same thing myself!
the ballerina said in the video that shoe prep sometimes depends on what role they are dancing so even one particular ballerina won't prep her shoes the same way everytime.
To add to some of the comments, the extra cost would also cause the price per shoe skyrocket. Thus the expense per year just for shoes probably be so over budget the girls would have to go back to peeping their own shoes again.
That was an absolutely beautiful insight into the making of the pointe. I never realised so much talent went into such special shoes. Such true passion and craftsmanship is out of this world. I'm in awe. Thanks for sharing. :-)
This was amazing to watch, and your craftmanship is an art to treasure. Thank you, Sir, for all your years of amazing quality🌻 Peace, Blessings, Light & Love🌻🌻🌻
This is wonderful! The maker is the hardest worker I’ve ever seen in a workshop that could be seen in the 19th century for shear careful labor at high speed! I was vaguely aware that the shoes weren’t soft, but I had no idea of the pieces that went into making them!
What a brilliant film! I always wanted to see how these were made and I am absolutely facinated. Thank you for sharing this. Brilliant to see we still have skilled people actually making beautiful shoes by hand.
Fascinating video. I love seeing how things are made. Watching a craftsman do what they do well, is always enjoyable to me. Now I have a new respect for the ballet slipper.
It's amazing! I have been dancing for years but I never even thought about how much work goes into making them. Thankyouthankyouthankyou to the hardworking people who made the shoes I dance on!
I loved my Freeds when I was dancing! I had no idea what went into crafting them. It's amazing how ballet hasn't changed much, from the training, to the shoes, to the construction and design of the costumes and sets.
Wow... I had absolutely NO idea that so much work goes into making pointe shoes! I feel bad about how I used to grumble about having to sew the ribbons and elastics onto my daughters' pointe shoes before they learned how to do it themselves, lol...
Absolutely fascinating! I had NO IDEA these shoes were all made by hand, one-at-a-time & so time consuming. No wonder why they cost so much. Such high quality materials & extremely talented craft's men & women. Just fascinating!
Very, very enlightening video. I had no idea so much work goes into things that look so light and almost flimsy when seen on ballet dancers. But seeing now that these shoes could make or break a person's career, it then only makes sense that this much work goes into properly preparing them. Thank you so much for the upload.
This reminds me of how oboe players have to have the perfect reeds for their performance... and needs to "work them in" too xD much like how a ballet dancer needs the perfect shoes! Except the um oboists most often make their own reeds... this was very interesting and insightful
I'm an oboe player and a dancer and wow I've never heard someone make that connection that's brought in a new light although i have to say one thing it isn't a most thing i think it's probably 50/50 of who actually makes their own reeds typically pros will buy them then adjust them
About that, pros tend to not want to buy all the machinery involved in it. It's alot so sometimes if they do they'll buy the cane ready to use otherwise there's no point in wasting all that time
Beautiful film! Love it! And sending love to all the incredible craftsmen and women who are keeping the arts alive by creating the shoes, the instruments and other arcane tools the artists need to perform and create. Your work is a gift to all the world.
Excellent documentary! Thanks for posting it. Wonderful to see behind the scenes, especially the pride the workers have in their work and their quality product. Much more than just a 'job'. I wonder if they ever go to watch live ballet performances if they know 'their' ballerinas have leading roles? I hope so.
Thank you for such an interesting, educational and entertaining video! Loved the interview with both the maker and the dancer, and ultimately, the beauty of the dance! Couldn't ask for more.
it broke my heart to see the work that goes into each shoe and then the dancer just cuts and scrapes into the shoe. But I UNDERSTAND why they do. it was just seeing it together was surprising.
Leigh-anne B I was an Irish Step dancer and we would take our brand new hard shoes (as opposed to our version of a soft ballet slipper), and wear them in the shower until they were soaked through, then bend them over so the heel was touching the toe, tie them that way and let them dry. And we’d still need hours and hours to break them in. Our soft shoes aren’t built up in the toe, only in the sole, so I can only imagine what the breaking in of a pointe shoe is like!
Breaking in a pointe shoe is different for everyone, I know girls who just bend the shank (the ‘backbone’ of the shoe) and kinda just squish the box and are happy. At the same time, one of my classmates (at my ballet studio) slams a door closed on the box. A recommendation from our teacher is that we take a damp paper towel and rub it on the box, softening it just enough. I’m always nervous when I have to break in a pair, because I’m worried I’ll bend the shank too far or in the wrong place, or squeeze the box too tight and bend it. No matter what I do, I still have to dance in them because they are pretty expensive. But the whole shaving down the sides is also a comfort thing, when I had my first pair, whenever I was just standing I felt (well, feel I guess) that the outside of my foot drops farther faster to the floor, a little like I’m standing on a medium-ish rock that 1/4 of my foot doesn’t fit on. Sometimes I’ll stand on the outside of my foot with my ankle rolled, for like two seconds, just to give my foot a break. Also, during class when our shoes feel tight, I’ll either stand on one foot and shift my weight back and fourth, or if you squeeze the box just right with your other foot, you get a quick moment of breathe space. Lol I didn’t think I could go on this long haha.
Tremendous amount of hard work to make these shoes. Loved this video! The Gent in the video is a true craftsman, and it was fascinating to watch you work. They sure don't make craftsmen like you anymore...
Ballerinas, the shoe-making process, and the breaking-in process fascinate me so much and have for years. It's ASMR for me to watch the breaking-in process. Every few years, I like to watch the daily lives of ballerinas. I find the strenuous routines soooo interesting and motivating for ANY endeavor. Well, here I am....38 years old and my youngest daughter (4yo) had her first ballet class today. It's weird. As soon as she started walking...she started walking on her tiptoes.
It's both beautiful, fascinating and impressive to see this documentary! 😍 There is something mesmerizing and magical! I'm totally in admiration of the talent of this man, of his Art, what mastery! Wow! I'm speechless! 😍🙏👏👏👏
Mr. Murray, Why is Pat not with Freed any more? Are pointe shoe factories making pointe shoes differently now? Why is Pat's mastery in danger of not being used or in danger of being extinct? What is Pat's full name? If Pat left Freed's, wouldnt individual dancers still want to keep him as their maker and so keep asking for him, etc.? Even if Pat weren't at Freed's, wouldnt another pointe shoe factory scoop him up? I guess a maker needs a full factory. He can't do it all by himself?
+Brenda Anne Du Faur He is now working for Bloch, apparently Freed's didn't treat him well at all in his 19 years there, he much prefers working with Bloch.
PROFIT OVER QUALITY UK. ESPECIALY WE HAVE LOST... (CAR MAKING- (AEROPLANE MAKING- (PORCELAIN MAKING- (YAUGHT MAKING- (SHIP MAKING- WE HAVE BANKS---- FTSE. BILLIONAIRES BY THE THOUSANDS. FROM OVER THE WORLD . THE MOST EXPENSIVE GEORGIAN HOMES ON THE PLANET. MOSTLY LIVED IN BY SPORTSMEN. POP SINGERS. EMIRS . CHINESE. RUSSIAN. INDIAN. MOGULS.--- WE STILL HAVE SUPERB TAXIS---- DOUBLE-DECKER RED BUS. Beautiful parks and Gardens. Red pillar boxes. Red phone Booths. Queen Elizabeth . William -Kate. Duke Duchess of Cambridge . OXFORD & CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITIES.We are still an Island. and out of EU nearly!
@@lowesonia8551 oh for god's sake, give it a rest. Brexit has caused so much devision. This is about ballet pointe shoes and individual companies and you are harping on about Brexit. Get over it - you won!
ineverknewanyonelooksatmycomments Hi there, so would I but I'm 80yrs old in October. I was picked out of my class at my dancing school to a year up to do the dance of the signets in Swan lake. Never having been on points before. I loved it. I can't walk very well these days, but I sill have the perfect turned out well pointed foot!
My dad was a shoerepairman and had a couple of shoeshops. As a kid, he took me regularly to the shoefabriks in the Netherlands. Back than, many shoes were made by hand. I've always found it fascinating, I can look at it four hours on end. That's where I fell in love with shoes. I've worked in quite a bit shoeshops, in the Netherlands and in Germany. I own a loooooot of shoes. I even have shoes I can't walk in. I bought them Just for the beauty. It's my guilty pleasure, what can I say 😊
This is FANTASTIC WORK!!!.. Is Really HARD and Beautiful at the same time !! .. And Those Poor Workers They DO Sacrifice Everything to create such Beautiful “Slippers “ of a Regal Princess and Prince !!.. Those Wonderful working Hands that suffer also !!.. I take my Hat 🎩 OFF for Them !! BRAVO 👏!!!.. They Deserved So Much CREDIT !!.. So Thankful for Their Work !! Too !!.. and at the End ...! Those Dancing Shoes are so Gorgeous!!.. So Graceful and Delicates !!.. Just waiting to go in someone’s aching Toes !.. Ballerinas DO Suffered a lot !.. And Not every One Knows about it !!.. Ballerinas DI have Pride !.. and they hide their Pains !! They SUFFERED in SILENCE!!.. They Sacrificed so Much for Their ART !!.. Although they Smile...! Inside Them are Crying ! Like those Beautiful little Morning Doves 🕊...so Graceful and Quite !.. I believed the name is the Morning Glory .. Doves 🕊🕊🕊🕊 !.. 💕💕💕
I love listening to classical music... But every single time music started playing in the background, it took over and I couldn't hear what the person that's talking is saying...
Amazing. Patrick I salute you for the hard work you and the others do. Your comment about interacting with the dancer is a valid point. This was indeed an eye opener.
Shouldn't the makers be at least given chairs to sit on through the long hours and hard labour? And thank you for this video, we always see how dancers prepare their pointe shoes and not much the production details and opinions of makers themselves. It is only right we hear all sides of the story. Sometimes I feel abit bad that each shoe is so painstakingly made and dancers do things like cut off the fabric, snip off the shank, bend it in door creases and stuff. Understood dancers need to make their shoes their own for safety but it's as if it's destroying what the makers tried so hard to achieve. Just an opinion. Thanks for sharing!
My mother bronzed my first pair of pointe shoes rather than my baby shoes because I was born during WWll and anything metal was restricted. I'm 75 now and still have them and the memories they hold.
That's so cool
wow. amazing.
Interesting piece of story💜
That is so cool thank you for sharing
Please share your memories with us ❤❤❤
The man speaking about making the shoes sounds so passionate its quite inspiring. The hard work of all the shoemakers is so facinating and it is beautiful to see how their hard work pays off when the ballerinas wear and perform in those shoes.
+lisete lazo It's wonderful when someone really loves and is proud of their 'work': then it's living to work rather than working to live. Everyone should be so lucky!
lisete lazo it’s more than ballerinas it’s dancers in training like me that aren’t professional or advanced like the professional ballerinas 😥😥
@@taylorshani1119 oooh 😍 I just started dancing, I can't even imagine the progress you made and should be proud of 🥰
I wonder how the shoemakers feel when they see ballerinas absolutely tear up their shoes before using them.
Amazing..
It amazes me how they keep the satin so clean while handling all that goo and other tools!
I was thinking the same.
The satin is inside the shoe. They work on the outside until they reverse the slipper.
Or when the dancers beat their shoes on the walls and floors
Damn, even the making of the shoes for this art is brutal. Everything about ballet is just hard. Mad respect to those who do anything related to it professionally or even as a pastime.
🥰
That’s so sweet! 💖💖
Yes, just amazing
“hands are disfigured probably like a ballerina’s feet.”
I just love how ballerinas are fucking metal I mean they stand on their fucking toes and SPIN on their TOES and WALK and JUMP and they still manage to look gracious and beautiful and soft
Turn* not spin
+MiaMaya sorry my first language isn't english
bruh it's metal as fuck
Ha thank you
Thank you very much 😂 my fave part is probably doing like fouettés it’s so fun but tiring
I know pat the guy in the video he no longer works at that company and he is looking for another company or an investor to help him keep the old ways and skills alive I have known him for a good 5 years and he is still as passionate about it now as he ever has been COME ON PEOPLE GET HIM BACK TO THE TOP he is one of the last people on the planet that has the skills and the passion to create something truly special. If you know or can create a scenario where he gets to work his magic again please leave a comment below and a way of contacting you.don't let his skills end with him he is one of the last great master's of his class give him the opportunity to teach others
I was browsing the shoe makers on Freed of London website, remembering this documentary featuring the KEY maker, and I was just wondering why I didn't see the "key". May I ask why he no longer works for Freed? I hope he can soon reunite with his passion again!
I did the exact same thing - went to the Freed of London website to look for him, but he wasn't there. Did you see Pat's post above? He mentioned that there was a change in management where they wanted quantity over quality, and he left. They lost a true artist! What a shame.
It’s a shame the clients that buy his shoes would pitch in to help him start is own shop. This is where a go fund me page might come in handy !!
has he found a place yet? Would you kindly update us with his info? Thanks
@@sarahporter9979 Business bullshit triumphs yet again :-(
Whats the pointe in disliking this video
I see what u did there
yassss
Omg lol dancer joke
Eyyyyyyy😎👍🏼
Lol
I have a thought. Do dancers ever give performance tickets to their shoemaker as a thank you for all their contributions to the Dancer’s work?
Wonderful, lovely idea ! These men deserve respect and gratefulness. Maybe something like an annual international congress…
we don’t because when we see the little icon, we don’t know the name of the person, where they are, or anything about them. but that would be a very nice gesture if we did know!
What a great idea! I hope they do! You are a thoughtful person!
@@parker2936 Though one could send tickets to the Freed manufacturers under their maker mark, no?
i mean they get paid to make shoes
Great film! :)
But sometimes the music and background noises got so loud you could barely understand what the people were saying...
As ballet is an art, making the shoe is an art as well! : )
It's such a bummer that so much work goes into the shoe, and they last maybe one show.
Damn
My thoughts exactly!!!
Yes I found this surprisingly very interesting,I never knew any of this I wonder how much they cost 😳
@@barbarapope349 like $70 a pair
WOW! 😳
Patrick Keymaker, you are truly talented. I've never heard someone so passionate about their work.. A rare quality in many workers today. Bloch is luck to have you. Keep up the good work.
+Bichonmommy R Indeed - well said.
he works at freed not bloch
Anna MacDonald he left Freeds in 2013 due to being mistreated by them, he went to Bloch but right now he isn’t currently in the trade.. which is a terrible shame. This is the truth because he is my uncle.
Bravo sir. Expertise like yours is hard to find these days.
@@paigehaynes8470well tell him from me he was bloody amazing and it sounds like he was definitely in So Many Ways not valued Enough by Freed...
He was a true Artist....
🌈🦋In the 60s I wanted to be a cobbler and everyone laughed at me because nobody wanted to do that. I ended up being a cobbler for sculpture and dolls shoes which are handmade with leather and to make them look like the real thing even though they were an inch and a half long-so I got to do it but I didn’t get to do it the way I thought I would. Isn’t that the way with life you imagine something one way and if you want it bad enough you try to get a piece of it at least so it feels like you’re doing what you imagined for so long. You’re very talented in your mind and in your product and my heart goes out to you because I know what it is to love something like that and still work very hard for it. You are a true artist. Bless you and those you love.(From one Miniature cobbler to another True Cobbler )👩🏻💻🕯🌹
How nice ! Thank you .
I felt so touched when seeing them pay their full effort making every single ballet shoe although they have to repeat the same working thousands times, it seems so tough for me! Their hand are precious especially the boy in the vid! = )
"they have to repeat the same working thousands times" ...
the same goes for a ballerina. Lots of hard work on both sides.
At the beginning I saw all those nails being put into the shoes and I thought omg how can you wear them but then I saw how they take the nails out toward the end and smiled. What a craft.
lol
i have Grishko shoes and they have nails in them😂
Lol chill😂😂😂
A lot of pointe shoes have small tack nails in the shank, even after the shoemaker is done. A brand I used to use had this and my instructor would yank it out the tack so the shank would be more flexible.
I don't know why I used to think the block in pointe shoes was wood 😂xD
an Older Ballerina at my school who is on pointe thought that they were until I told her how they're made...
+Dancinghufflepuff Call me Cas xD Glad I'm not the only one
I thought the same until I was like seven or eight
Same.
What is the point Them made of ( i'm NOT a dancer at all )
And this is why ballet is a sport. Shit looks fucking hard
+yohomiez101 HAHA IT IS XD
Indeed
it is sweetie, believe me 😂 lol
Ballet is more than a sport in my opinion.
Nicole Davalos and beleive me it is bloody hard work
is there a film that is about a- like a love story about a man who makes ballet shoes and and a ballerina that falls in love with him?? that would be interesting...
I don't know that story, but in Australia, there's a couple who met through music - he is a violin maker and she's a violinist, they met and fell in love and married. This is a different story from that one, but there's a French movie called 'Un Coeur en hiver' with a violinist and violin makers and their relationships with one another.
that would be a good story.
Hi I would just like you to know that i'm writing this story
yes there is a cartoon and story
Are you joking???? Have you seen The Red Shoes???!!!!!
I love how the narrator lady said the ballet student will "manually shape" her shoes, what she means is they beat the snot out of them!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
What a fascinating video and Pat is indeed a master of his craft. I wanted to learn ballet as a child but my mother wouldn't let me. Instead, I went to piano lessons. In my 20s I took up ballet for a while but personal circumstances forced me to give up. Went back again in my 40s but discovered that learning pointe work was a no-no for older (would be) dancers. Serious illness to two members of my family, my husband with heart problems (now gone from this earth) and my son who was born with a genetic kidney disease (he's been transplanted and is doing well and now in his early 30s) meant yet again I had to give up something I loved. I'm 62 now, far too old to learn ballet with a view to going en pointe but I did buy a pair of Bloch pointe shoes. I have tried them several times in my kitchen when no-one's been around and wish I could turn the clock back. I concentrate now on my piano and will be sitting my Diplomas in the not too distant future. To all out there who wish to learn ballet but perhaps don't get any encouragement, please. Never give up.
that is a very touching story. i'm sorry you never got to dance ballet, but i'm sure your life was still full. best wishes
@@guodaripinskaite6314 Thank you. Unfortunately, we don't always get everything we want in life. I'm retired now, still play the piano (and still take lessons and exams) and I'm learning to play the harp so keeping busy. My very best wishes to you and Merry Christmas.
Wow... I am 20 now, and I always wanted to learn ballet, but I never thought I would "fit in". I'd love to give it a try though, and your story was very motivating
@@katej392 Don't talk about it - just do it. You only live once so do the things you really want to do. I wish you luck in your ballet venture and Happy New Year to you.
My brother once said to me "The only one who can stop you is you". True words.
Never too late to start ballet, however, you bones might be a bit more fragile, you could slowly learn ballet, I have a teacher that was dancing in the 50’s and still can teach us so it is never too late as long as you do it carefully, maybe avoid jumps till you are strong enough to hold proper alignment and be careful with you knees, other than that they have free ballet classes on UA-cam.
Fascinating. Gives you a sense of what craftsmanship is all about.
Impressive level of detail! I had no idea that making pointe shoes was such an involved process or that the toes had so many layers - thought it was a more solid block in there.
The maker interviewed says he'd love to have the dancers who wear his shoes come to the shop to tell him more precisely what they want and need - has anyone taken him up on that?
Amazing! Had no idea of the making of ballet shoes
Well I don't actually know that much about ballet but that was quite simply a FASCINATING documentary - what a joy to watch artists and craftsmen at the top of their game coming together to produce such magic. Brilliant stuff - thanks for posting.
This video is great! The contrast between the graceful moves and the gentle sounds of the performance vs the loud hammering, gruff hands tearing into leather, machinery noise coupled with pink silk? What a contrast and they all work together to make something wonderful happen💕
What an incredibly hard job the makers have! Respect!
Absolutely brilliant video RB! Thanks so much! From an old ballerina - made me so nostalgic, and proud of our painful lives. Cheers, from Canada
I think this is ASMR for Ballett dancers
Yeh
I love this xD
Ballett.Beautiful yeah.... I have an addiction. watching Pointe shoe making videos
Ballet*
Mhm
*casually rewatches this instead of sleeping*
must be a tough but brief life being a ballet shoe!
This comment tho 😂
P Heart According to a video I watched, a prima ballerina goes through about 3-4 shoes per week....
I don't know if that's true or not... But it seems kind strange...
h06anbjo some ballet dancers go for 10 per week
my name is melissa i used to be a dancer i love ballet its so beautiful i would to be the one making these they are artists
@@h06anbjo 14:05 The ballerina in this video said a pair an act!
I came across this video by accident and when they showed the shop front I could not believe it! I live round the corner from this factory and never knew they were the world renowned makers of ballet shoes for top companies the world over (from their signage you wouldn't necessarily think so). Very interesting film - and amazing to think so many young dancer's dreams are tied up with that place!
I must confess, I simply had no idea the amount of work put into a ballet pointe shoe. Being in my sixties, I remember being on pointe and still miss the feel of those pointe shoes. Bravo, to your skills and hard work. I still have my pointe shoes, and will cherish the work of Freed, with fond memories!
I have a new appreciation for how ballet shoes are made and what goes into making them. Thank you for your expertise to your craft.
Marvellous to know some people still take pride in their work. Good people!!!
Dancers need a shoe that does NOT disfigure their feet! Just like the shoe makers need a shoe that does not disfigure their hands! Plus finishing details (sewing ribbons, scoring soles) should be included in making the shoes. What a wonderful video. So informative and detailed. Thank you Patrick Keymaker! Where are you now?
I swear I always thought there was an actual block inside pointe shoes. (not a dancer :)
Same! I've been on pointe for about 3 years but when I was younger I always thought that.
That's what my mom said to me LOL.
That's so funny! I thought the same thing. I thought there was a block and you would slide your toes in the block that had openings for each toe😂
I'm a ballet dancer :)
I thought the exact same
Patrick Keymaker you are an amazing craftsman, I found this so interesting to watch
I wonder why the dancer and the maker don't bring their thoughts together, especially for the principal dancers so that they may get pointe shoes that are all ready scoured and made as if the ballerina had done them.
The Ballet Companies have a 'Shoe Lady' she does this.
I think I understand what you mean Frances. You mean for the maker to make the pointe shoes all broken in already so the ballet dancer doesnt have to do all those crazy, extravagant things with the pointe shoes so that the dancer can use them! I have thought the same thing myself!
+Brenda Anne Du Faur Thank you that is what I mean.
the ballerina said in the video that shoe prep sometimes depends on what role they are dancing so even one particular ballerina won't prep her shoes the same way everytime.
To add to some of the comments, the extra cost would also cause the price per shoe skyrocket. Thus the expense per year just for shoes probably be so over budget the girls would have to go back to peeping their own shoes again.
That was an absolutely beautiful insight into the making of the pointe. I never realised so much talent went into such special shoes. Such true passion and craftsmanship is out of this world. I'm in awe. Thanks for sharing. :-)
they really should not have background music, it competes with the narrators
Yes, it is such a pain, why do they think we want to listen to music when people are talking.
Incredibly interesting.
StonyRC right! I don’t even know how I got here....buts it’s simply fascinating!
StonyRC S s c. Cc. The will you please get off my tablet
My daughter: "he should be king, because he is so fast"
moellernr1 awwwww
awwwe
This was amazing to watch, and your craftmanship is an art to treasure. Thank you, Sir, for all your years of amazing quality🌻
Peace, Blessings, Light & Love🌻🌻🌻
I can’t believe how fast all these craftsmen and -women work and to what perfection. Such a wonderful documentary. Thanks!!!
This is wonderful! The maker is the hardest worker I’ve ever seen in a workshop that could be seen in the 19th century for shear careful labor at high speed! I was vaguely aware that the shoes weren’t soft, but I had no idea of the pieces that went into making them!
What a brilliant film! I always wanted to see how these were made and I am absolutely facinated. Thank you for sharing this. Brilliant to see we still have skilled people actually making beautiful shoes by hand.
The parallel between the Maker's hands and the Dancer's feet...
Krista Carter it's probably true though😂
Fascinating video. I love seeing how things are made. Watching a craftsman do what they do well, is always enjoyable to me. Now I have a new respect for the ballet slipper.
It's amazing! I have been dancing for years but I never even thought about how much work goes into making them. Thankyouthankyouthankyou to the hardworking people who made the shoes I dance on!
The craftsmanship that goes into this is nothing short of amazing.
I loved my Freeds when I was dancing! I had no idea what went into crafting them. It's amazing how ballet hasn't changed much, from the training, to the shoes, to the construction and design of the costumes and sets.
I miss my Freeds! They're hanging up in a shadow box now
Wow I never thought that ballet point shoes are so hard to make
I love that the maker loves his job so much. It's really awesome. :)
Wow... I had absolutely NO idea that so much work goes into making pointe shoes! I feel bad about how I used to grumble about having to sew the ribbons and elastics onto my daughters' pointe shoes before they learned how to do it themselves, lol...
Absolutely fascinating! I had NO IDEA these shoes were all made by hand, one-at-a-time & so time consuming. No wonder why they cost so much. Such high quality materials & extremely talented craft's men & women. Just fascinating!
Hat off to you Pat - what a craftsman!
It would be nice if the background music was lower in volume
This is still one of my favorite videos. It's so satisfying and really helps me sleep.
Very, very enlightening video. I had no idea so much work goes into things that look so light and almost flimsy when seen on ballet dancers. But seeing now that these shoes could make or break a person's career, it then only makes sense that this much work goes into properly preparing them. Thank you so much for the upload.
Such a great film! But I would appreciate ithe sounds and the Music being put a little lower while People are talking.
Disturbing the way it is now.
AMAZING CRAFT, HIGH RESPECT TO THE MEN WHO MAKE THE BALLET SHOES COME ALIVE, TO THE DREAMS OF THE PURE DANCERS WHO DREAMS THEY ACHIEVE
This reminds me of how oboe players have to have the perfect reeds for their performance... and needs to "work them in" too xD much like how a ballet dancer needs the perfect shoes! Except the um oboists most often make their own reeds... this was very interesting and insightful
I'm an oboe player and a dancer and wow I've never heard someone make that connection that's brought in a new light although i have to say one thing it isn't a most thing i think it's probably 50/50 of who actually makes their own reeds typically pros will buy them then adjust them
Kat Lile I had no idea it was a 50/50 thing :D
About that, pros tend to not want to buy all the machinery involved in it. It's alot so sometimes if they do they'll buy the cane ready to use otherwise there's no point in wasting all that time
Ainchase Ishmael I play the oboe
I’m also a ballet dancer on Demi pointe and a competition dance and I play the clarinet violin oboe and piano
Beautiful film! Love it! And sending love to all the incredible craftsmen and women who are keeping the arts alive by creating the shoes, the instruments and other arcane tools the artists need to perform and create. Your work is a gift to all the world.
This makes me appreciate my pointe shoes even more, despite not even having them fitted. It's so much work...
Excellent documentary! Thanks for posting it. Wonderful to see behind the scenes, especially the pride the workers have in their work and their quality product. Much more than just a 'job'. I wonder if they ever go to watch live ballet performances if they know 'their' ballerinas have leading roles? I hope so.
I was beyond impressed seeing how these shoes are made. What an art for sure. Thank you for this wonderful video.
I love this video. But at some points the music playing in the background is so loud that you cant hear what is being said.
But at some pointes*
@@nillo3174 😁👍
A shoe maker and a ballerina would probably the best romance
Thank you for such an interesting, educational and entertaining video! Loved the interview with both the maker and the dancer, and ultimately, the beauty of the dance! Couldn't ask for more.
I have watched this so many times, over so many years- and it still impresses me every viewing. The craftsmanship is breathtaking.
I don't know why but this was really relaxing to watch..
We should appreciate our shoe makers more thank you!!
it broke my heart to see the work that goes into each shoe and then the dancer just cuts and scrapes into the shoe. But I UNDERSTAND why they do. it was just seeing it together was surprising.
Leigh-anne B I was an Irish Step dancer and we would take our brand new hard shoes (as opposed to our version of a soft ballet slipper), and wear them in the shower until they were soaked through, then bend them over so the heel was touching the toe, tie them that way and let them dry. And we’d still need hours and hours to break them in. Our soft shoes aren’t built up in the toe, only in the sole, so I can only imagine what the breaking in of a pointe shoe is like!
Breaking in a pointe shoe is different for everyone, I know girls who just bend the shank (the ‘backbone’ of the shoe) and kinda just squish the box and are happy. At the same time, one of my classmates (at my ballet studio) slams a door closed on the box. A recommendation from our teacher is that we take a damp paper towel and rub it on the box, softening it just enough. I’m always nervous when I have to break in a pair, because I’m worried I’ll bend the shank too far or in the wrong place, or squeeze the box too tight and bend it. No matter what I do, I still have to dance in them because they are pretty expensive. But the whole shaving down the sides is also a comfort thing, when I had my first pair, whenever I was just standing I felt (well, feel I guess) that the outside of my foot drops farther faster to the floor, a little like I’m standing on a medium-ish rock that 1/4 of my foot doesn’t fit on. Sometimes I’ll stand on the outside of my foot with my ankle rolled, for like two seconds, just to give my foot a break. Also, during class when our shoes feel tight, I’ll either stand on one foot and shift my weight back and fourth, or if you squeeze the box just right with your other foot, you get a quick moment of breathe space. Lol I didn’t think I could go on this long haha.
To be honest... I think it’s really satisfying to watch pointe shoes be made
Tremendous amount of hard work to make these shoes. Loved this video! The Gent in the video is a true craftsman, and it was fascinating to watch you work. They sure don't make craftsmen like you anymore...
Loved that waltz of the flowers it made me miss the nutcracker
This really expresses the importance of good quality shoes for dancers precious feet.
Ballerinas, the shoe-making process, and the breaking-in process fascinate me so much and have for years. It's ASMR for me to watch the breaking-in process. Every few years, I like to watch the daily lives of ballerinas. I find the strenuous routines soooo interesting and motivating for ANY endeavor. Well, here I am....38 years old and my youngest daughter (4yo) had her first ballet class today. It's weird. As soon as she started walking...she started walking on her tiptoes.
I enjoyed this video very much. Thank you for sharing.
This is the highest level of professional career I have ever know. It is an amazing documentaries .thank you .
everything about this video was amazing!!!! much respect!
Amazing craftsmanship! Thank you for continuing this art!
It's both beautiful, fascinating and impressive to see this documentary! 😍 There is something mesmerizing and magical! I'm totally in admiration of the talent of this man, of his Art, what mastery! Wow! I'm speechless! 😍🙏👏👏👏
Absolutely fabulous! The workmanship is superb!
Mr. Murray,
Why is Pat not with Freed any more?
Are pointe shoe factories making pointe shoes differently now? Why is Pat's mastery in danger of not being used or in danger of being extinct?
What is Pat's full name?
If Pat left Freed's, wouldnt individual dancers still want to keep him as their maker and so keep asking for him, etc.? Even if Pat weren't at Freed's, wouldnt another pointe shoe factory scoop him up?
I guess a maker needs a full factory. He can't do it all by himself?
+Brenda Anne Du Faur He is now working for Bloch, apparently Freed's didn't treat him well at all in his 19 years there, he much prefers working with Bloch.
PROFIT OVER QUALITY UK. ESPECIALY WE HAVE LOST... (CAR MAKING- (AEROPLANE MAKING- (PORCELAIN MAKING- (YAUGHT MAKING- (SHIP MAKING- WE HAVE BANKS---- FTSE. BILLIONAIRES BY THE THOUSANDS. FROM OVER THE WORLD . THE MOST EXPENSIVE GEORGIAN HOMES ON THE PLANET. MOSTLY LIVED IN BY SPORTSMEN. POP SINGERS. EMIRS . CHINESE. RUSSIAN. INDIAN. MOGULS.--- WE STILL HAVE SUPERB TAXIS---- DOUBLE-DECKER RED BUS. Beautiful parks and Gardens. Red pillar boxes. Red phone Booths. Queen Elizabeth . William -Kate. Duke Duchess of Cambridge . OXFORD & CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITIES.We are still an Island. and out of EU nearly!
@@lowesonia8551 oh for god's sake, give it a rest. Brexit has caused so much devision. This is about ballet pointe shoes and individual companies and you are harping on about Brexit. Get over it - you won!
You don't realize what goes into a pointe shoes. The makers are AMAZING!
this is THE ART OF MAKING BALLET SHOE!! with respect to the dancers needs
I hope they are well- paid! This is a unique skill that I'm sure not everyone can master.
Ahh I just wanna put on my pointe shoes and dance now
but it's 1am
Hey
ineverknewanyonelooksatmycomments yeah they are not really suited to dance on when everyone is sleeping....
ineverknewanyonelooksatmycomments same
ineverknewanyonelooksatmycomments Hi there, so would I but I'm 80yrs old in October. I was picked out of my class at my dancing school to a year up to do the dance of the signets in Swan lake. Never having been on points before. I loved it. I can't walk very well these days, but I sill have the perfect turned out well pointed foot!
What a mood I feel the same
I love how proud the shoemaker is of his work. ❤️
My dad was a shoerepairman and had a couple of shoeshops. As a kid, he took me regularly to the shoefabriks in the Netherlands. Back than, many shoes were made by hand. I've always found it fascinating, I can look at it four hours on end. That's where I fell in love with shoes. I've worked in quite a bit shoeshops, in the Netherlands and in Germany. I own a loooooot of shoes. I even have shoes I can't walk in. I bought them Just for the beauty. It's my guilty pleasure, what can I say 😊
I like that they’re playing Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in the background 🧚♀️
wow. I knew but i didnt know. this is amazing. all shoes should be made with this care.
This is FANTASTIC WORK!!!.. Is Really HARD and Beautiful at the same time !! .. And Those Poor Workers They DO Sacrifice Everything to create such Beautiful “Slippers “ of a Regal Princess and Prince !!.. Those Wonderful working Hands that suffer also !!.. I take my Hat 🎩 OFF for Them !! BRAVO 👏!!!.. They Deserved So Much CREDIT !!.. So Thankful for Their Work !! Too !!.. and at the End ...! Those Dancing Shoes are so Gorgeous!!.. So Graceful and Delicates !!.. Just waiting to go in someone’s aching Toes !.. Ballerinas DO Suffered a lot !.. And Not every One Knows about it !!.. Ballerinas DI have Pride !.. and they hide their Pains !! They SUFFERED in SILENCE!!.. They Sacrificed so Much for Their ART !!.. Although they Smile...! Inside Them are Crying ! Like those Beautiful little Morning Doves 🕊...so Graceful and Quite !.. I believed the name is the Morning Glory .. Doves 🕊🕊🕊🕊 !.. 💕💕💕
I love listening to classical music...
But every single time music started playing in the background, it took over and I couldn't hear what the person that's talking is saying...
Gorgeous! Lovely video of the process & the masterfully skilled people behind the scenes.
It's cool to know where my shoes are coming from :)
Amazing. Patrick I salute you for the hard work you and the others do. Your comment about interacting with the dancer is a valid point. This was indeed an eye opener.
Shouldn't the makers be at least given chairs to sit on through the long hours and hard labour? And thank you for this video, we always see how dancers prepare their pointe shoes and not much the production details and opinions of makers themselves. It is only right we hear all sides of the story. Sometimes I feel abit bad that each shoe is so painstakingly made and dancers do things like cut off the fabric, snip off the shank, bend it in door creases and stuff. Understood dancers need to make their shoes their own for safety but it's as if it's destroying what the makers tried so hard to achieve. Just an opinion. Thanks for sharing!
Never knew such a simple looking show requires so much work, wonderful.