Ballet dancers make what they do look effortless, but it’s far from it. If you’ve ever seen a ballet dancer’s feet, you were probably shocked, but bruised and bloody feet are normal for these athletes. Dancers accept that their work is going to cause them pain, but Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design graduate Hadar Neeman realized, after seeing a ballet dancer friend’s feet, that she could do something about it.
Neeman graduated with a degree in product design and was looking for a field where she could apply 3D printed fabrics. After seeing the damage her friend had suffered from dancing, she began investigating the creation of a 3D printed ballet shoe – as far as she knew, no one had made one yet, although 3D printing has been employed to create several other types of footwear, such as athletic shoes, sandals, and high heels.
“I learned about pointe shoes and the more I got into the field, the more I realised that there was a lot of potential for improving the existing shoe and improving the quality of life of the dancers,” said Neeman.
Neeman designed and 3D printed a ballet shoe called P-rouette. She used a lightweight lattice structure for the sole as well as the insole. The satiny upper part of the shoe was cut on a special shoemaker’s last that Neeman designed herself, and is placed between the sole and insole during printing, trapping it so that no glue or stitches are needed. The toe of the shoe is 3D printed from the same lightweight lattice material.
As with most other 3D printed shoes, the P-rouette shoe is customizable in order to perfectly fit the feet of each individual dancer. The dancer simply takes a scan of his or her feet, using an app, and the scan is then used to create a detailed map and then a 3D model. Each shoe is then optimized for perfect fit and comfort.
“We are living at an age where technology is prevalent and accessible in almost any field, particularly in sports,” said Neeman. “Why were pointe shoes left behind? In order to allow customization for professional dancers, most pointe shoes are still created by hand using traditional techniques.”
Those techniques leave a lot to be desired; dancers commonly pad their shoes to safeguard against injuries, but injuries still happen. P-rouette shoes offer extra support in addition to customized fit, protecting against the kinds of injuries that are common to ballet dancers. The shoes are also three times more durable than conventional ballet shoes, which typically last through only 10 hours of dance.
It will be interesting to hear feedback from ballet dancers who try out the 3D printed P-rouette shoe in regards to its comfort and level of protection from injury. Could the production of ballet shoes become an industry that gets taken over by 3D printing? If the technology can reduce pain and injury, there’s little reason not to use it. The footwear industry as a whole is embracing the mass customization possibilities that 3D printing offers, and Neeman is right – why not ballet shoes? It’s high time that ballet dancers got some relief.
Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below.
[Source: Dezeen / Images: Hadar Neeman]Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
3DPOD Episode 190: Generative Design for 3D Printing with Novineer CEO Ali Tamijani
Ali Tamijani, a professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, has an extensive background in composites, tool pathing, and the development of functional 3D printed parts,...
3DPOD Episode 189: AMUG President Shannon VanDeren
Shannon VanDeren is a consultant in the 3D printing industry, focusing on implementation and integration for her company, Layered Manufacturing and Consulting. For nearly ten years, she has been involved...
3DPOD Episode 188: Clare Difazio of E3D – Growing the Industry, and Growing With the Industry
Clare DiFazio’s journey into the 3D printing industry was serendipitous, yet her involvement at critical moments has significantly influenced the sector. Her position as Head of Marketing & Product Strategy...
Printing Money Episode 15: 3D Printing Markets & Deals, with AM Research and AMPOWER
Printing Money returns with Episode 15! This month, NewCap Partners‘ Danny Piper is joined by Scott Dunham, Executive Vice President of Research at Additive Manufacturing (AM) Research, and Matthias Schmidt-Lehr,...