Athletic shoes + pointe shoes + Nike = the Nike Arc Angel. This is a training pointe shoe (really only half a shoe...there's no heel) that is designed for stability, absorbing impact, durability, support, and promoting good habits (no sickling).
I personally think this is an interesting idea that had a strange execution. There isn't much information given on the page - it was obviously written by non-dancers. I don't see how it "encourages proper technique," but I haven't tried it so I don't know. Maybe it will encourage less sickling and getting over the box of the shoe, but I don't know. Also, it has no heel, meaning it's only a half-shank. Some dancers can use and prefer shoes with only half a shank. This shoe, however, is meant for beginners ("training purposes") who probably need the stability of a full shank. It does look comfortable, but it's definitely not a performance shoe. I really don't know...it's a strange concept. What do you think?
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Update edit: These shoes are not actually affiliated with Nike, and were designed by a design student at the College of Creative Studies named Guercy Eugene.
They are not in production, nor do they seem like they will be at any time.
I think designers who borrow a company's name for their non-existent fantasy are intentionally misleading people for personal gain, and I'm surprised Nike doesn't tell Guercy Eugene and Bēhance to knock it off. Perhaps companies look at the practice as free market research; if enough people blog/tweet/share/+1 it then Nike will come out with the Tiger Woods Black Swan pointe shoe.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Eugene had permission to use their logo? Seeing as Nike isn't so forgiving about these things (rather like Disney), I'm surprised as well. Nike is getting a lot of free advertising out of this...it has been the most popular topic on every dance site for at least a month now. Hey, maybe we will benefit from this eventually!
DeleteThese shoes are a great idea in theory, but they need to have more info on how they can actually help a dancer(s) technique. I would love to try them and see if they are helpful at all. I have been en point for three years now, and have a decent arch. To see if these cooperate with a dancer's arch, being a half shank, could be interesting. I think that maybe Nike could have a fitting of them of different levels of dancers to see if they work well with different ages and levels.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree there. I would love to try these and see them prove me wrong! If they do, it would be heavenly!
DeleteGreat invention and fun. The only sad part is that they do not exist. Hopefully you received an A in your class... You deserved it.
ReplyDeleteAh, thanks, but they're not my design. It is a great idea though, maybe if it were a little more researched and developed, it could be a winning product. Who knows?
DeleteI read on another page they are for people who are training to be professionals (20-30 years of age)
ReplyDeleteThese shoes were designed by a student for a class project - they're not in production, or even affiliated with Nike. That would probably a great use for them if they were real though!
Deletehow much are these??
ReplyDeleteThey're not a real shoe, and they're not even endorsed by Nike. This was a prototype idea created by a design student. It's unfortunately not in production!
DeleteNobody noticed it, but this student also had stealed the brand name of Nike to promote his own project. And professional dancers say that using of his "pointe shoes" would be very dangerous for a dancer.
ReplyDeleteWhile Nike seems to have good intentions, this really seems like a limited design. These were clearly designed by a non-dancer, because they really don't seem to be a modern take on the pointe shoe, and it appears so, but really only the basic silhouette is true to a traditional pointe shoe... other than that the shoe lacks support in many places. Others above mentioned that students often need a full shank, and as a student I totally agree. Also, I'm not sure any company would allow these on stage, and probably not in class either.
ReplyDeleteI agree entirely! At first I thought "wow, a pointe shoe that lasts!", and love the idea of a sound-muffling box. But , despite the rest looking smart, the drawstring tie looks clumsy and isn't practical.
ReplyDeleteIf Nike considered making it, they would have to take into account preferences of a full shank and the infinite number of styles/shapes that would be required too. But it would be pretty awesome . . .
Not affiliated with Nike! They better get affiliated! If Nike made a pointe shoe I think these things would definitely change. Equipment rights for dancers? Who knows...
ReplyDelete