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 Greetings!
Welcome to the first issue of the Russian Pointe Newsletter! I hope that you will enjoy reading all of our news, from product announcements to special events to features on stars of the dance world.
This is a very special year for Russian Pointe.
I founded the company ten years ago (incorporation date: May 28, 1998). Our tenth anniversary has been a perfect time for me to reflect on how we have grown from those earliest days, especially in the last few years. I've also been looking ahead, and have some exciting
plans for Russian Pointe's next ten years!
I have been especially pleased over the years to be able to work closely with Russian shoemakers, creating shoes especially designed to meet dancers' needs
and requests. There is probably nothing more
satisfying than that "ah!" moment when a dancer
finally slips her feet into a perfectly fitting pair of pointe shoes.
Opening Russian Pointe Dance Boutique in 2007 was a major step for the company, and the Boutique has, perhaps, surpassed even my own dreams. Our pointe shoe fittings have become highly sought after. As I had hoped, the Boutique has become an elegant and congenial meeting place for dancers and others interested in the arts. And, with the finest dancewear from the world's best makers, we have been able to serve a wide variety of dancers, including those who enjoy an art form close to my heart, ballroom dancing.
Please read on for more about Russian Pointe, Russian Pointe Dance Boutique, our Tenth Anniversary events and promotions, and a piece of my own exciting news!
Aleksandra Efimova
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Tenth Anniversary of Russian Pointe
Russian Pointe was founded by Aleksandra Efimova in 1998. Since then, the company has grown steadily, and never more than in the last year. Aleksandra has become more and more deeply involved in pointe shoe designs, traveling frequently to Russia to consult with the fine makers who create the shoes. New, innovative models have been added, with particular attention to the needs of American dancers. Last year, Aleksandra opened Russian Pointe Dance Boutique, a beautiful theater-inspired locale for merchandising the finest dance products and providing a cultural and social meeting place for dancers and others.
We have many plans in the works to celebrate this milestone year. A wholesale incentive program was very successful earlier in the year. Other exciting programs are planned, including discounts at the Boutique - keep checking the website for more details. Our plans also include a party at Russian Dance Boutique; we'll be sure to give a full report here in the Russian Pointe Newsletter! |
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Jewels
Collection
Russian Pointe's new Jewels Collection of pointe shoes debuted in 2007, starting with Almaz (Russian for "diamond") in the spring, followed by Rubin ("ruby") and Sapfir ("sapphire") in the fall. The Jewels Collection was designed to make dancers' dreams come true, and the response among dancers has been magnificent. The shoes feature new-material shanks that mold to the foot, plus an elegant pleatless platform for a flawless finish and line. Jewels truly shine! Please visit the website for more details on these spectacular shoes. |
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The Magic of Russian Pointe
 By popular demand, Russian Pointe now presents pointe-fitting seminars to our valued retailers. Aleksandra is personally conducting "The Magic of Russian Pointe" seminars, available in three options. For established Russian Pointe clients, we offer quarterly group seminars at the Russian Pointe Dance Boutique in Chicago, and also full-day visits at your location from President Aleksandra Efimova, including pointe fittings for your own customers. For retailers who are considering adding Russian Pointe products, we offer visits to Chicago for individual consultation with Aleksandra. All retailers' seminars are given free of charge; minimum orders apply to visits from Aleksandra to your location. In all seminars, Aleksandra teaches you everything you need to know to provide a custom pointe shoe fit to each of your customers, focusing as much as possible on the needs of your individual business. Look for more information about The Magic of Russian Pointe on our website, and feel free to give us a call. |
Russian Pointe Dance Boutique
Russian Pointe Dance Boutique opened in 2007, on Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Inspired by theater design, the Boutique is an artwork in itself, with historic London theater seating; crystal drop chandeliers; and hand-painted walls with gold leaf detail; and rich velvet curtains around the windows and stage, designed and imported just for Russian Pointe. As word spreads of our expert pointe shoe fittings, customers from as far away as Minnesota and Atlanta are making special trips to Chicago for fittings, and we have welcomed many dancers from Joffrey and touring professional companies. The Boutique carries a full line of dancewear from the finest makers, and Russian Pointe engages in targeted marketing of these products. In addition to its main function as a shop, the Boutique has become a meeting place, a beautiful space for receptions for the arts, and an elegant addition to Chicago's historical district. |
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Special Events
Russian Pointe has reached out to the community by offering special events at the Boutique. In January, we hosted a reception for the Benjamin Marshall Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of Benjamin Marshall, the Chicago architect of many historically important buildings. In March, we were thrilled to celebratethe first tour to Chicago of the State Ballet of Georgia, with a gala reception. Among the 75 guests were Joffrey artistic director Ashley Wheater, dancers Nino Gogua and Lasha Khozashvili of the State Ballet, and the consul generals of Korea and Barbados. Following the reception, guests enjoyed a performance at Chicago's Auditorium Theatre. Aleksandra also attended the State Ballet's opening night, enjoying an exquisite performance by State Ballet's artistic director Nina Ananiashvili, Bolshoi prima ballerina and principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre, plus an exciting backstage visit with Ananiashvili.
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