Although we regularly see how 3D printing helps athletes by providing a more comfortable shoe, the idea of a 3D printed ballet shoe has not yet been realized. But, Hadar Neeman is changing this.
Neeman is a Bezalel Academy of Art and Design graduate who is using 3D printing to reduce the pain of a ballet dancer and create a personalized shoe which provides higher comfort and protection.
Neeman was inspired to design such a shoe when she saw the crooked and bruised toes of her ballet friend. She had been searching for a way to apply the methods of 3D printed fabrics and this appeared to be the perfect option.
The result is the P-rouette pointe shoe and it’s three times more durable than regular ballet shoes. It is designed to reduce injuries and make dancing on tip toes less painful than when wearing traditionally made shoes.
Neeman told Dezeen: “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.”
Making a (Slightly More) Comfortable Ballet Shoe
Neeman’s ballet shoe is made in a similar way to that of other 3D printed sports shoes. Firstly, the dancer can 3D scan their own foot using a mobile phone app. From this, a model of the perfectly personalized shoe is created on a computer.
Next, the sole is modeled into a lightweight lattice-structure and printed using elastomeric polymer. During the 3D printing process, the upper part of the pointe shoe, made from an elastic yet satiny material, is integrated and trapped between printed layers. This also means no glue is used.
This method is very different from the traditional way in which ballet shoes are currently made. But, it does mean dancers don’t need to pad their shoes every time they wear them.
Better yet, Neeman explains that these shoes last three times longer than traditional ballet shoes which only make it through 10 hours of dancing.
Find out more about the P-rouette pointe shoe on the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design website.
Source: Dezeen
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