Mastering Pointe Shoe Fitting with Josephine Lee (The Pointe Shop)

ByCaroline Simpkins, Ph.D. November 3, 2025August 22, 2026

BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 23

Master pointe shoe fitter Josephine Lee (The Pointe Shop) joins Dr. Caroline Simpkins to demystify pointe shoe fitting… from shoe anatomy (box, shank, vamp, wings, platform) to how fit impacts technique, foot health, and injury risk.

We cover common fitting mistakes, why pain is a red flag (not a rite of passage), spotting dead shoes, drying/rotating pairs, when jet glue helps, and why a professional fitting (in person or virtual) matters. Plus: trends in materials and emerging tech.

Connect with The Pointe Shop:

Website: https://thepointeshop.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thepointeshop
Facebook: https://facebook.com/thepointeshop
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@UCx476uTUgWw7HbMNB0KSoEQ

Anatomy | Biomechanics | Injury Prevention

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ByCaroline Simpkins, Ph.D. December 14, 2025August 21, 2026
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 29 Your spine isn’t meant to be stiff, straight, or locked in place. It’s designed to move, absorb load, and adapt, and understanding its natural curves can instantly change your ballet technique. In this episode, former professional ballerina and biomechanics Ph.D. Caroline Simpkins breaks down the bones of the spine and…
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Career & Beyond | Injury Prevention | Strength Training

Strength Training For Dancers With Kendall Baab
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BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 26 In this episode, host Caroline Simpkins is joined by Kendall Baab, a Los Angeles–based strength and conditioning coach, dance science educator, and founder of Body Kinect. We dive into how strength training can transform ballet technique, reduce injury risk, and build confidence for dancers, from young studio students to pre-professional…
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Injury Prevention

Hypermobility in Ballet | Gift or Dangerous Injury Risk?
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BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 55 Can hypermobility help ballet dancers… or increase injury risk? In this episode, we explore the science of hypermobility and its role in ballet training. Learn the difference between flexibility and hypermobility, why hypermobile dancers are often drawn to ballet, how conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) fit into the conversation,…
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Dance Research | Injury Prevention

Bone Health & Remodeling in Ballet Dancers: Evidence-Based Insights
ByCaroline Simpkins, Ph.D. October 28, 2025August 14, 2026
Do ballet dancers have weak bones? Ballet dancers train for hours every day… so shouldn’t their bones be incredibly strong? Surprisingly, research shows that some elite ballet dancers may experience more bone breakdown than bone formation… increasing their risk for stress fractures and injury. In this video, I break down the “ballet bone paradox” and…
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Career & Beyond | Mental Health

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ByCaroline Simpkins, Ph.D. July 14, 2026August 20, 2026
BALLET SCIENCE PODCAST: EPISODE 59 Professional ballet careers are incredibly rewarding… but they are also short. What happens when the curtain finally closes? In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, I sit down with Aurora Dickie, soloist with Staatsballett Berlin and graduate student in dance science, to discuss one of the most important (and…
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Career & Beyond

Gillian Murphy’s Swan Lake Retirement at American Ballet Theatre
ByCaroline Simpkins, Ph.D. October 26, 2025August 14, 2026
In this episode of the Ballet Science Podcast, we reflect on a historic moment in the dance world: Gillian Murphy’s retirement from American Ballet Theatre after nearly 30 years of unforgettable performances. Her final bow in Swan Lake was more than a farewell… it was a masterclass in artistry, strength, and emotional storytelling. We delve…
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Mastering Pointe Shoe Fitting with Josephine Lee (The Pointe Shop)

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