A:  I always try to explain what the dancer should be feeling.  The foot is longest in parallel or a widesecond-position demi plié. 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 plié - 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!