Grishko

 

 

Newsletter  

May 2011  

  

Greetings!

  

green pointesIn celebration of spring, some emerald green Grishko pointe
shoes shining in the sun...

  

Grishko NYC is gearing up for a busy summer, with so many students coming to the city for intensive programs and lots of growth at the store. We're bringing in exciting new products to join our existing dancewear and shoes, and offering special promotions for you (including our month-long sale for May - see below).  We hope to see you soon!

 

Wishing you a happy springtime (and recital season!),

 

All of us at Grishko

Grishko NYC Dancewear Sale

 

WeightlessThe New York store is offering a 20% discount on knitwear and selected leotards throughout the month of May! This exciting sale will feature all knitwear including our uniquely summer-friendly Weightless and Silktex collections, along with a variety of gorgeous leotards. Valid at the NY store only; no mail order. May not be combined with any other discount.

Demi-Slippers

 

Irina Demi
The new "Irina" has joined our Standard and Alina Demi-Slipper models!
  
Irina is made of a very soft microfiber with a brushed finish, in Light Beige. Its vamp is similar to Alina's.
  
Standard and Alina are available in either leather or canvas, in European Pink or White. The difference between these two models is vamp length: Standard is high, Alina low.
  
All Demi-Slippers feature a suede sole and cotton insole, and are made in S, M, L and XL, in a single width. Demi-Slippers are lightweight and secure on the foot, with just the right amount of traction and protection for modern and lyrical dance and rhythmic gymnastics.

Help...I'm a Dance Parent

Book event at Grishko NYC  

  
Cheryl Trenary will visit Grishko's NY store on June 4 from 1:00 to 6:00 pm, to introduce her new workbook, Help...I'm a Dance Parent. Cheryl has 14 years of experience as a dance parent; her daughter is rising ballerina Cassandra Trenary (see below). She created the workbook to address parents' common questions and needs, including choosing a school, finding the best dancewear, participating in competitions and supporting your child's goals. Cheryl interviewed Judy Weiss while preparing the book, and includes several quotes from Judy.
In this issue
:: Grishko NYC Dancewear Sale
:: Demi-Slippers
:: Book Event at Grishko NYC
:: Custom Costumes
:: Vegan Shoes
:: Summer Intensive Program Discount
:: Grishko's Rising Stars at ABT
:: Fitting Notes with Judy Weiss
:: Keeping in Touch

Custom Costumes

 

In addition to our extensive line of costume designs, Grishko can make costumes to your own specifications. The photos below show the drawings and specs given to us by a customer, and the beautiful tutu that resulted!
costume
Vegan Shoes

VeganDid you know that Grishko offers vegan pointe shoes and ballet slippers by special order?
  
Vegan shoes are made with a cellulose sole in place of the suede sole normally used. Any Grishko canvas slipper can be made with this sole. Pointe shoes that can be made vegan include those with suede soles only: 2007 series (2007, Pro and ProFlex), Miracle, Maya and Elite Pre-pointe (not Elite pointe).
  
All Grishko pointe shoes are made with non-animal-based and non-toxic glue. In fact, staff at the Moscow factory often taste the glue to show customers that it is even edible!

Having the opportunity to wear vegan shoes is very important to some dancers. "We get quite a few requests," says director of sales Anna Crisci. "It's an exciting option for dancers devoted to the vegan lifestyle."

Summer Intensive Discount Program

  
Are you attending a summer intensive in New York? Grishko NYC collaborates with a number of local studios to provide summer students with discounted shoes and dancewear. If your program participates, you will receive a special discount card. Bring it with you when you visit our store on West 50th Street (between 8th and 9th). Limited to participating studios; valid for purchases at the NY store only, for duration of intensive program only; may not be combined with any other discount.
  
If you're visiting the store from outside the New York area, don't forget to put a personal pointe fitting with Judy Weiss on your to-do list!

Grishko's Rising Stars

at American Ballet Theatre

 ABT dancers
Three young dancers who wear Grishko have recently advanced in their careers with American Ballet Theatre. Cassandra Trenary (left) has accepted a contract with the company for this year's Met season and Japan tour. Paulina Waski (center, in her March appearance in Dance Spirit, wearing Grishko's Lilac Fairy tutu) and Gabby Johnson (right) have become official members of ABT Studio Company (ABT II). All three dancers are graduates of The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre. Paulina wears our latest model, Triumph, and Gabby wears 2007s. Cassandra wears a custom-ordered prototype of a pointe shoe currently in development. We are very proud to see our shoes on these gifted dancers. "They are just three of the many rising dancers I've been working with for the past year and a half, since the store opened," says Judy. "All three have switched to Grishko from other pointe shoes."

Judy WeissFittingNotesFitting Notes

with Judy Weiss

  

Q: How do you know if your pointe shoe fits correctly?        

  

A:  I always try to explain what the dancer should be feeling.  The foot is longest in parallel or a widesecond-position demi pli�. I use these positions to check the length and width for the fit. I explain that the toes should touch the end of the shoe while in pli� - if they don't, the shoe is too long. If the toes have too much wiggle room, the shoe is too wide. If the toes press against the platform, the shoe is too short, and if they cross over, it is too narrow.

 

To help the dancer understand this fit, I use my two hands to represent the foot and the shoe. You can convey the flatness of the toes against the platform by holding your "foot" hand flat in your "shoe" hand. To show what it feels like when the shoe is too narrow you can cross your fingers slightly to demonstrate squeezed, crossing toes. To show what the toes feel like when the shoe is too short, you can scrunch your fingers slightly, pressing them against your other hand.

 

Of course, it's absolutely necessary to explain and demonstrate in this way when a dancer is getting her first pair of shoes. But I've also found that more experienced dancers don't always understand how the shoes are supposed to feel - whether they're changing to Grishko from another brand or simply having their first fittings with me. As we work together, I can tell how much demonstration and explanation they need. It's essential that dancers understand these feelings, because until every fitter has an X-ray machine, we need dancers' feedback in order to fit precisely!

 

Have a question about Grishko pointe shoes? Send it to us, and maybe your question will be the next one Judy answers in the Fitting Notes!

Keeping in Touch 

 

We love to hear from you! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (click the icons) or email [email protected] with your questions and stories about wearing Grishko.
  
Flagship Store:    309 W 50th St (2nd floor)    New York, NY    917.262.0783

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