<-  A balllerina stands on pointe. This requires several years of training to develop sufficient foot, and ankle strength and balance.  These shoes were designed a century ago.  They are constructed of leather, burlap, and satin, using glue and stiching.  The dancer supports all her weight on the TIPS OF THE TOES.  This often exceeds the weight of the dancer (100-125#) on one foot.  These bones are small and did not evolve to support the weight of the body  It is painful and causes INJURY TO THE SMALL BONES, JOINTS OF THE TOES.

CATATAC pointe shoes were designed on a computer.  It follows the techoloogy of plastic ski boot and other special purpose athletic shoes.  They all replace flexible leather with more rigid injected molded plastic for better support.  An orthotic cup for the mid-foot is used to support the weight of the dancer on pointe.  It has two parts.  A rigid grey dorsal form of injected molded plastic.  A yellow piece of leather conforming to the arch.  The leather secures the foot to the dorsal form using two buckles and a sequence of screws and t-nuts.  Most of the weight of the dancer is supported on the bottom heel bone.  This downward force is passed to the rigid injected molded dorsal form, then to the grey toe cup, and then to the floor.   NO WEIGHT IS SUPPORTED BY THE TIP OF THE TOES.  It is less painful and prevents injury to the foot.  Especially to the small bones, legitiments, and tendons of the toes.  

U.S. Patent 7,036,244

Dancing is easier without pain  Say good bye to calluses on the tip of the toes and thick toe nails.   Squeezing the foot into a narrow pointed shoes, causes bunions.  The metatarsal-toe joint is arched up for the center toes. These joint cannot contact the floor, with the foot position flat to the floor.  CATATAC pointe shoes hold the the metatarsal-toe joint in a flat position.  The foot contacts the floor similar to a ballet slipper.  Balance on a foot flat on the floor is easier.  Because the shoe is rigid from the pointe surface to the ankle bone, it provides more lateral support.  Steps like arabesque and attitude are easies with the supporting foot in pointe position.

Shoe life expanctancy for a professional is months, not days.  They are pink and black and come with satin covers.  Size 5 to 12.