Gaynor Minden

Catalog Winter/Spring 2007
its amazing what goes into

m a k i n g s o m e t h i n g e f f o r t l e s s.
Table of Contents
Pointe ShoesA Visionary Malcontent......................................................................................................3
The Glamorous History of Ballet Tradition (Not what you might think) ...........................................4
10 Ergonomic Secrets...................................................................................................................................5
Any Famous Dancers Wear Those Shoes? (Photo of Gillian Murphy + 20 others) .........................6
Any Important Teachers Recommend Them? (Yes indeed)..............................................................10
2,951 Custom Sizes: Fitting Explained....................................................................................................12
The Code Explained ..................................................................................................................................14
Is Pain the Necessary Price of Greatness? Totally Toes Fitting Kit ....................................................16
Save Skin, Dishearten Corns: Toe Wraps ...............................................................................................17
One Size Does Not Fit All: Adjustable Toe Separators ........................................................................17
Imagine Life Without Them: Ribbons, Elastics, Invisible Elastic.......................................................18
Transparent Imperial Elastic..................................................................................................................19
Gorgeous Arches: Vamp Elastic ...............................................................................................................19
We Did It For You: Suede Tips................................................................................................................20
More Gripping, Less Griping: Heel Grippers ........................................................................................20
Aristocratic Sockliners...............................................................................................................................20
Leotards(Photo of Maria Bystrova) .........................................................................................................21
Pointe Shoe Accessories(Photo of Alina Cojocaru).....................................................................15
Leotards: Dressy .........................................................................................................................................22

Leotards: Dance Dresses (Photo of Erica Cornejo) ...............................................................................23
Leotards: So-called Basic .......................................................................................................................24
Silks(Photo of Maria Riccetto)....................................................................................................................25
SilksShorts.................................................................................................................................................26
SilksWrap Sweater...................................................................................................................................26
SilksDancing Pants ..................................................................................................................................27
SilksLong Sweater ...................................................................................................................................27
TightsConvertible, Footless, Wool Blend ................................................................................................28
Paws for Dancers(Photo of Tara Birtwhistle) ......................................................................................30
Training Aids, Unusual Extras(Photo of Zenaida Yanowsky).............................................31

NYCB Therapists Teach You 13 Things: The Dancers Dozen .........................................................32
From the Master: David Howard DVDs................................................................................................32
The Best Dance Bag: Original Oval Backpack ......................................................................................33
Free Stuff: Posters, etc................................................................................................................................34
The Ballet Companion by Eliza Gaynor Minden ...................................................................................35
Frequently Asked Questions .........................................................................................................36

Scientists Prove It ..................................................................................................................................38
Contact Us ...................................................................................................................................................39
Founder, Eliza Minden.
To order call: 800.637. 9240 / 212.929.0087 / visit www.dancer. com / email: fitters@dancer.com
Pointe Shoes
es, revolutionary.
Yes, invented by a dancer.

A dancer who got fed up with sore
toes and did something about it.
(Theres a difference between necessary pain
and irrelevant pain.)
A visionary malcontent. Believes pointe shoes
must be tactfully silent, especially during
moments of wrenching emotional intensity.
Did something about that.
NO MORE clompclump.
A real person, outraged that struggling
dancers and non-profit dance companies

spend hard-earned dollars on paste shoes that
wear out in as little as 12 an hour.
Inventing revolutionary pointe shoes took
Eliza Minden eight years of painstaking
R&D. But it made possible a leap into the
technology of the next century, i.e. elastomerics; materials usually found in space
capsules, race cars, underwater exploration
equipment and other extreme forms of going
out on a limbmaterials intended to help
you to survive and to triumph.
3
Ballet Tradition
Not what you might think.
ts the 17th century. Its France.
Youve just been invited to the Court
of Louis XIV to see the latest royal
crazeeveryones talking about it
something called ballet.
Do you expect a hushed audience in a
theatre with a stage?
Do you expect tutus, tiaras, tour jets,
and toe shoes?
Not tonight, not for centuries.
What we think of as traditional is, in
fact, historically recent. That ethereal, anti-gravitational
sylph and that sparkling ballerina with legs of steel and
astounding pointes, these are products of slow evolution.
At Louis court, women baked under towering wigs
and headdresses, and would have preferred death to
being seen in a mere tiara. A proper ballet skirt was
six feet in diameter. (Youd have been arrested for
wearing a tutu.)
How unladylike to even contemplate a
cabriole; any vigorous dancing was done
exclusively by men. It would be seventy
years before a woman performed
(publicly) an entrechat quatre.
It would be one hundred and
seventy before she rosejust for
one unspeakably thrilling
momenton full pointe.
And it would be 250 years before
Virginia Zucchi declared, I refuse to dress like my
grandmother, as she defied the costume police at the

Imperial Theatre of St. Petersburg to wear what we
would call a tutu.
Toe shoes??? Didnt happen until the 1890s. Instead,
enterprising ballerinas added darning to the sides and
soles of their vulnerable soft satin slippers. Multiple
pirouettes, sustained balances on pointe: nonexistent
until the rebellious Zucchi, her colleague Legnani and
other daring Italian ballerinas started to wear slippers
with reinforced toe boxes.
Presto: Odile turns 32 fouetts.
Swan Lake becomes a hit.
Princess Aurora serenely
promenades in attitude
with four, consecutive,
look Ma, no hands!
balances. The beginning of
the modern ballerina. And a
passionate modern audience.
Cobblers were suddenly
overrun with ambitious dancers desperate for
newfangled reinforced slippers. They obliged using the
best materials at hand: leather, paste, burlap, paper.
Stateoftheart one hundred years ago.
That, however, was the end of serious toe-shoe
innovation for the next ninety yearsuntil 1993,
practically yesterday. Thats why todays traditional
paste shoes quickly end up as landfilland why Gaynor
Mindens revolutionary pointe shoes are now worn by
dancers in over 200 companies throughout the world.
1. Anti-shock Poron 4000 linings.

American Podiatric Medical Assn. Seal
of Acceptance. (Joyous jumping.)
2. Elastomeric construction.
Proven ergonomically correct to
promote proper alignment and strong
technique. (The ally of artistry.)
3. Slender, high-tech accessories.

Slim, dynamic foam and gel liners,
cushy stretch toe tape, secure heel
grippers, adjustable toe spacers.
(Forget lambs wool and bulky pads;
think comfort with discretion.)
4. Ultra-thin cellular urethane foam

strategically placed to absorb
impact, suppress noise.
(Heavenly silence.)
5. Low profile box. Already shaped

the way your foot is shaped.
Extremely flattering and especially
kind to low-arched insteps.
(Sleek and elegant.)
6. 2,951 sizes. 5 flexibilities of shank,

3 shapes of box, 4 types of heel,
2 vamps + lengths + widths. Standard
options, readily available, no more
suffering in special order limbo.
(A stock shoe you can custom fit.)
7. Drawstring side closure.

Cleverly disappears under the arch.
(No more sore spot on top of foot.)
8. Injection molded shanks.

Gaynor Mindens last 5 times longer
than traditional paste shoes. Wont
break down. Dont need breaking in.
(Extra money for leotards.)
9. Classic lustrous peachy-pink satin

with sweat-wicking lining.
(You are a ballerina, after all.)
10. Pleatless panel yields 38% greater

useable platform. Secure, wobble-free
balances, both flat and on pointe.
(Flawless penchs and a triumphant Rose Adagio.)
10 Ergonomic Secrets
[patented for all the world to see]

5
Gaynor Minden Artists

Gillian Murphy Principal Dancer
at American Ballet Theatre
has worn revolutionary
pointe shoes since she was 15.
As a professional dancer Ive come to realize that what makes this art
form truly magical is something beyond technique. Gaynor Mindens
give me the added confidence to reach this next level. I know my shoes
will be soundless, and fit perfectly. I go onstage ready to completely
enjoy the movement and the moment.
Gillian Murphy
Excellent in the female lead...Ms. Murphy used her incredible

technique as a root to find the freedom within the rippling
architecture of Tchaikovskys Concerto No. 2...Her naturally
regal demeanor allowed the ballet to bloom like a flower.
Gia Kourlas, The New York Times
(review of Balanchines Ballet Imperial), 6/3/05
The crown of the Balanchine experience, and of the entire

season, was the performance of Gillian Murphy in Theme and
Variations. This ballet is Balanchines homage to The Sleeping
Beauty, and as in Petipas great work, the leading dancers are
completely exposednothing can be fudged or hidden. Ms.
Murphy has nothing to hide and in this masterpiece she has
found a signature role: regal yet youthful and fresh, undaunted
by the formidable technical challenges, slim yet womanly, with
the glowing confidence that marks a true ballerina, she triumphed
easily over all difficulties.
Robert Gottlieb, New York Observer, 11/13/00
I have never seen such feet before: strong as a truncheon, sensitive

as a finger.
Joan Acocella, The New Yorker, 7/1/02
To order call: 800.637. 9240 / 212.929.0087 or visit www.dancer.com
Right: Erica Cornejo,

Principal, Boston Ballet
Right: Veronika Part,

Soloist, American
Ballet Theatre;
Principal, Kirov
Ballet
Above: Alina Cojocaru, Principal, The Royal Ballet
Right: Vanessa Palmer,

Soloist and Assistant
Ballet Mistress, The
Royal Ballet
the story of
Gaynor Minden
1993 Who?
1994 Minden What?
1998 Progress! Theyd recognize our name.
(Even if they did misspell it.)
Below: Laura Hidalgo, Dutch

National Ballet
2000 But its only for students.

2003 Theyre strictly for professionals.
Above: Irina Kolesnikova, Prima Ballerina,

Konstantin Tachkins St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre
2006 They got it! Meet a few more of our

customers, some of the best dancers
in the world, no exaggeration. Many
started out in Gaynor Minden as
students, at their teachers
recommendation.
More Gaynor Minden
Artists
Right: Kristi Boone, Corps de
Ballet, American Ballet Theatre
Above: Jenny Jagerhorn, Artist,

Finnish National Ballet
Above: Nicholle Rochelle, Principal, North

Carolina Dance Theatre
Right: Karin Ellis-Wentz,
Corps de Ballet, American
Ballet Theatre
Above: Zenaida Yanowsky, Principal, The Royal Ballet
Left: Tatiana Tkachenko,

Soloist, Kirov Ballet
Right: Luisa Diaz,

Principal, Bjart Ballet
Lausanne
Right: Maria Riccetto, Soloist,

American Ballet Theatre
Above: Kelley Potter, Corps de

Ballet, Boston Ballet
Above: Tara Birtwhistle, Principal, Royal

Winnipeg Ballet
Below: Maria Bystrova, Corps de

Ballet, American Ballet Theatre
Above: Sarawanee Tanatanit,

Corps de Ballet, American
Ballet Theatre
Above: Yana Serebriakova, Coryphee,

Kirov Ballet
Above: Zhong-Jing Fang, Corps de Ballet, American
Ballet Theatre
And Respected Teachers, Too
Gaynor Mindens strengthen the feet and elongate the leg

muscles. They facilitate articulate footwork, good balance,
and correct technique. Gaynor Mindens shape to the foot,
allowing it to become an extension of the leg in a long,
continuous line. I recommend them to everyone I teach.
They are a must for my students.
Melissa Hayden
January 2006
A ballerina of unforgettable brilliance, power, and artistry. Principal Dancer at New York City Ballet for over 20
years, Melissa Hayden originated some of Balanchines greatest leading roles, and commanded a huge repertory
with that fusion of technique and passion that turns a dancer into a legend. She joined North Carolina School of
the Arts Senior Faculty in 1983 and started recommending Gaynor Minden pointe shoes in 1995.
Melissa Hayden
1923-2006
10
Gaynor Mindens are excellent for the

beginning pointe student. They enable
the dancer to build her own strength in the
foot, without overly relying on the shoe.
They encourage the correct position of the
toes, and provide just enough resistance for
a smooth roll-up and roll-down.
I strongly recommend this shoealong
with good trainingas a perfect way to be
introduced to the wonderful world of
pointe work!
Its the shoe of the new generation.
Kathryn Sullivan, April 2006
on pointe technique. Respected faculty member at Barnard College and New York University. Teaching
pointe at Steps on Broadway since 1991.
Kathryn Sullivan, master teacher of ballet and pointe. Published author of articles and videos
Recommending Gaynor Minden pointe shoes since 1995.

I highly recommend the Gaynor Minden pointe shoe for training
of young dancersit is not only the professional who enjoys its
benefits. It supports the foot in such a way that the dancer is better
able to feel and attain correct alignment on pointe.
The shoe is superb for students!
Mignon Furman, May 2006
Mignon Furman, distinguished, award-winning ballet

teacher. Creator of the Performance Awards Program. Founding
Director of the American Academy of Ballet.
11
2,951 Custom Sizes
Heres How it Works:

1. Fit Overall Length:
Gaynor Mindens sizing runs about to 1 full size up from American street shoe size. Our size 8, for
example, will probably fit a street shoe size 7. Do not fit tight. Our specially lined satin does not stretch out
nearly as much as conventionally-lined satin does. A small, pinch at the highest part of the heel, up by
the drawstring casing, is correct.
Select Size.
4 through 12
2. Fit Forefoot:
Narrow & Tapered
Medium
Wide
Select Box.
#2
#3
#4
4 pinch at drawstring casing
#2, #3, or #4
To ensure proper support and to prevent bruised toenails, do not fit

Gaynor Mindens too wide.
3. Fit Midfoot:
Select Width.
N
A
R
R
O
W
Narrow, Medium, or Wide
M
E
D
I
U
M
W
I
D
E
Same box, different widths.
Stock Availability Chart. Check the chart below to be sure the

combination of length, box, and width that you have selected is
available. For example, a size 9 with a #4 box is available in narrow,
medium, and wide, but the size 9 with a #2 box is available only in
4
Nar. na
Med. 2
Wide na
12
4.5
2
2
2
5
2
2/3
2/3
5.5
2
2/3
2/3
6
2/3
2/3/4
3/4
6.5
2/3
2/3/4
3/4
7
2/3/4
3/4
3/4
7.5
2/3/4
3/4
3/4
8
2/3/4
3/4
4
the narrow. Availability is based on our knowledge, after years of

fitting these shoes, of what fits properly and what sells well. It is the
rare dancer who is truly in between box sizes. In that case try the
larger box and use a Dynamic Box Liner (see the Totally Toes Kit).
8.5
2/3/4
3/4
4
9
2/3/4
3/4
4
9.5
2/3/4
3/4
4
10
2/3/4
3/4
4
10.5
2/3/4
4
4
11
3/4
4
na
11.5
3/4
4
na
12
4
4
na
12.5
4
4
na
or a pointe shoe to look, feel, and function just right

it must be fitted just right. Achieving that precise,
professional, customized fit in a traditional pointe
shoe often requires a Special Make-Up, with traditional
delays, traditional expenses, and traditional hassles.
Gaynor Minden has revolutionized pointe shoe fitting, too.
You fit by selecting six crucial specifications: Length, Box

Shape, Width, Shank Stiffness, Vamp Height, Heel
Configuration. Its the equivalent of your own Special MakeUp in a stock shoe.
(But if you really want that Special Order we can do it.)
4. Assess Support Needs:
Rememberthe stiffness wont diminish over time!
Select Shank.
CONVENTIONAL
All Gaynor Minden shanks and boxes are made from elastomeric polymer. Unlike conventional paper-based shanks and
boxes, Gaynor Mindens will not deteriorate, break-in, or even
soften. Be sure to choose a shank that not only provides adequate support but also provides adequate flexibility. The box
at right shows how our different shanks correspond to the
stiffnesses of conventional pointe shoes.
Hard through Pianissimo
GAYNOR MINDEN
BRAND NEW = HARD

SLIGHTLY WORN = EXTRAFLEX
BROKEN IN = SUPPLE
WEARING OUT = FEATHERFLEX
ALMOST DEAD = PIANISSIMO
5. Fit Top of Foot:

Select Vamp.
High Heel
Regular or Deep
Deep and Sleek Vamp
M
E
D
S
L
E
E
K
M
E
D
Regular Vamp
Sleek and
Regular Heel
6. Fit Back of Foot:

Select Heel.
Reg or High
Heel
Please note Sleek Heel comes only with Sleek Vamp
Regular, High, or Sleek
Sleek
Heel
Sleekfit Availability Chart. Sleekfit is for narrow heels. We make our Sleekfits on special lasts. If you have chosen a Sleekfit please check
the chart below to be sure it is available in the length, box, and width you selected.
4
Nar. na
Med. na
Wide na
4.5
na
na
na
5
na
na
na
5.5
na
na
na
6
2
3
4
6.5
2
3/4
4
7
2/3
3/4
4
7.5
2/3
3/4
4
8
2/3
3/4
4
8.5
2/3
3/4
4
9
2/3
3/4
4
9.5
2/3
3/4
4
10
3
4
4
10.5
3
4
4
11
3
4
na
11.5
na
na
na
12
na
na
na
12.5
na
na
na
Color: Gaynor Mindens are a beautiful European Pink. White is available by special order.
13
The Code Explained.

e use a six-digit code to specify the box, shank, vamp,
and heel of our pointe shoes. Length and width are
specified with the traditional number and letter, e.g.
8m (medium) or 5w (wide).
# ### ##
The first digit indicates the Box.
2, 3, or 4
# ### ##
The middle three digits describe the Shank. Of these, it is the
first one that specifies flexibility. (The others are for production
purposes.)
5## = Hard
1## = Extraflex (Medium/Hard)
2## = Supple (Medium)
4## = Featherflex (Flexible)
7## = Pianissimo (Very Flexible)
The code appears on our hang tags and inside each shoe.
You may find it convenient to use the code when ordering, but we will
gladly accept plain English, too. Please see previous page for detailed
explanation of our fitting system.
# ### ##
The fifth digit describes the Vamp.
1 = Regular Vamp
2 = Deep Vamp (+ )
3 = Sleek Vamp (+ ), comes automatically with Sleek Heel
# ### ##
The last digit describes the Heel.
0 = Low Heel (14 ) (available by special order only)
1 = Regular Heel
2 = High Heel (+38 )
3 = Sleek Heel
Example: 3 121 21 = #3 Box Extraflex Shank Deep Vamp
Regular Heel.
I fell in love with GM shoes

immediately because the shoes are
very comfortable and pliable and I
don't need to spend hours to make
them fit. And even after several
grueling hours without taking
them off, I always feel comfort
and support. After using them for
awhile, I understood that GM
shoes can last much longer than
the shoes I used to wear; not just
one or two rehearsals.
Veronika Part
Soloist, American Ballet Theatre;
Principal, Kirov Ballet
14
Gaynor Mindens are extremely

popular in our area. I think the
demand is so great because they
enhance the line of the foot and
are truly more comfortable than
any other pointe shoe. Parents
and students alike appreciate the
durability of the Gaynor Minden.
Leslie Roy-Heck, Owner
Saratoga Dance, Saratoga Springs, NY;
former Soloist, New York City Ballet
Pointe Shoe Accessories
The Royal Ballets Principal Dancer Alina Cojocaru, seen here in rehearsal for Manon, has been
wearing Gaynor Minden pointe shoes since 2002.
In Gaynor Mindens I am free to take my dancing to my highest possible level, because I never worry about
consistency, durability, comfort, or quietness. I cannot imagine going back to a traditional pointe shoe.
Alina Cojocaru, 2005
15
Is Pain the Necessary Price

of Greatness?
Wanting comfort doesnt make you a bad person.
Gaynor Mindens Totally Toes Fitting Kit makes you feel
like youve been reborn with custom-made ballerina feet. A
breakthrough (its actually patented) in pointe shoe fit
and comfort.
No comparison to lambs wool, bulky toe pads, make-up
sponges, or any of those other antiquated desperation measures.
Longer 2nd toe (a.k.a. Mortons Foot)? Cool Blue Gel
Crescents redistribute the weight off of that poor,
vulnerable toe.
Big toe taking all the abuse? Cool Blue Gel Ovals.
Instant relief. And a certain comforting give.
Sensitive big toe nails? Try ingenious Mushroom
Micro-pads. Their only job in life is to protect that
crucial -inch of your body. Made of real *Poron.
Sliding down into the box? Stop the pain and chafe right
now. Poron* Dynamic Box Liners hold your foot up and
out of the box on pointe (actually you have to hold yourself
up, but these will help keep you there). Then, the moment
youre down, they compress so you can truly spread your
foot. Thats the dynamic part. Amazingly effective. Puts
the joy back in jumping.
Totally Toes Fitting Kit. Contains one pair each Cool Blue
Gel Crescents, Cool Blue Gel Ovals, Mushroom Micro-pads,
Dynamic Box Liners and clear, illustrated instructions.
* Real Rogers Corp. Poron has the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance.
16
Save skin, dishearten corns.

And while youre at it, make bunions feel unwelcome.
No, this doesnt require experimental treatment at some
hush-hush clinic in Switzerland.
All you need is Gaynor Mindens elastic microfoam
toe tape.
It protects and cushions.
It allows complete freedom of movement.
It peels off without leaving sticky residue.
This is the same soft, light, stretchy, and resilient tape
surgeons use.
Now its
available to you.
Toe Wrap.
5 yards per roll.
The shape of my legs has changed, the

muscles have elongated and become less
bulky, as a result of having to be up on
my leg in Gaynor Minden.
Vanessa Palmer
Soloist and Assistant Ballet Mistress,
The Royal Ballet

Adjustable Toe Separator.
(because one size does not fit all)
Got a big space (smaller

than the Grand Canyon, but
still) between your big toe
and your second toe? And is that
second toe by any chance on the
long side?
Too bad. Thats the ideal
arrangement for a non-hereditary
bunion and its unpleasant little
companions, the hammertoe and the soft corn.
You may know that a toe separator may help prevent
these sad developments. But perhaps you were put off
because they felt bulky or awkward.
Thats why we developed the adjustable toe
separator.
You customize it. You decide what length andthis
is the crucial partwhat width suits your own anatomy.
Its simplejust peel,
snip, then tape in place.
Toe Separators.
Instructions included.
17
Imagine life without them.

Double-faced. Soft. And
pale peach. Almost good
enough to eat.
Custom-dyed to match
your Gaynor Mindens.
Imported English Ribbon.
Nylon. 2 yards, ample for
one pair of shoes, or by the bolt:
50 meters (right).
Secret European Elastic.

Pale Peach Elastic.
15 long, ample for one
pair of shoes, or by the
bolt: 72 yards.
18
Over there, the

ballerinas appear to be
dancing in shoes secured
only by satin ribbon, and
they also appear to have not
the slightest worry about
their shoes slipping off.
The secret, of course,
is Invisible Elastic, s-t-r-e-t-c-h-y, lace-like material that
virtually disappears next to tights. Works for technique
slippers, too.
Imported European Invisible Elastic. Ample (30 long)
for two pairs of shoes.
Stop feeling sorry

for dancers born with
gorgeous arches.
Transparent Imperial Elastic.

Fairy tales inspire great ballets. And now a great ballet
accessory: Transparent Imperial Elastic.
Imperial, in honor of the Emperor who had a suit of
clothes so fine that no one could see it.
7
8 wide, stretchy elastic thats as clear as Scotch tape.
Utterly transparent so that your shoes seem to stay on all by
themselves.
You dont need to see it to believe it; our elastic really does
exist and you really will dance...happily...ever...after.
Transparent Elastic. Color: none. Length: 30; enough for
two pairs of shoes.
Sympathy no longer needed.

Problem solved.
Gaynor Mindens ingeniously simple
Vamp Elastic eliminates the curse of
going over too far or popping outthe
punishments, once, for those born with
gorgeous arches.
The delay and expense of a remedial
special-order vamp is
now unnecessary. Just
stitch Vamp Elastic in
the throat of your shoe and youll get
the same kind of extra support that a
deeper vamp would providewith
no compromise of demi-pointe
flexibility, either.
Vamp Elastic. Instructions included.
Gaynor Minden pointe shoes are the wave of the

future. The old paste shoes are going to go the way
of vinyl records.
David Howard
Internationally Renowned
Ballet Teacher and Coach
19
More gripping. Less griping.
We did it for you.

Suede Tips already built in. Peachy pink suede to
match the satin.
No more cutting, gluing, waiting.
Darning? Forget about it.
Now you can preserve your shoes, and your aesthetics.
And your time.
All-terrain-tips for even longer living shoes.
But wed still rather that you not practice fouetts on the
sidewalk.
By Special Order.
I am so glad to have discovered Gaynor Minden.

I dance in them with extra confidence and joy.
Yana Serebriakova
Coryphe, Kirov Ballet
20
The extraordinarily useful Gaynor Minden Heel Gripper

actually keeps your shoes on your heels.
The textured surface really holds your foot.
The peel-and-stick backing keeps gripper
locked in place.
And, by filling in the extra space around
your heel, it makes the back of the shoe
beautifully smooth, sleek, and free of lines and
wrinkles. No Botox required.
(Especially helpful for dancers with narrow heels.)
Heel Grippers.
Aristocratic Sockliners.
For narrow, fine-boned feet (the
kind that grew up with nannies
and Shetland ponies.)
Gaynor Minden recommends
these particular Sockliners as a
very effective and straightforward
method for reducing excess material
at heel and sides of shoe.
Full Sockliner.
Leotards
Your extensions are divine, your turns seamless.

You are centered, confident, and lovely.
Make sure they notice.
Gaynor Minden leotards. Each original.

Each worth having. All painstakingly
designed to cover the butt without riding
up. Leotards built to make a dancer feel
self-assured, long-legged, maybe slightly
daring, maybe actually relaxed, maybe
beautiful.
All in sizes S, M, L.
Check pricelist for latest color and
fabric availability.
Maria Bystrova, Corps de Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, has

been wearing Gaynor Minden pointe shoes since 2002.
21
LACE. Vintage haute couture. Schiaparelli,

Coco Chanel, Dior. Dancers have exquisite
necks and collarbones. This shows them off.
Slightly belled cap sleeve. Pretty enough to
wear out to dinner. Shelf-bra.
HALTER. How dazzlingly low can we cut

the back and still make it work? Took us a
year and half to get it right. The better for
those to see from the other side of the studio.
Nice detail: self material ties in back, you
adjust the neckline.
STRAPS. The 40s and 50s. The age of real

Hollywood glamour. When the night sky lit up
with sweeping searchlights, and a movie star
was a confident woman in bright red lipstick
with an unshakable sense of style. The backline
is as dramatic as the neckline. Shelf-bra.
GALA. A dressy leotard. And why not?

If ballet class isnt a formal occasion
then what is? Pleated cummerbund
top. Adjustable spaghetti straps (fettuccini actually, more comfortable).
Detail
Shelf bra. Cotton/Lyrca.
22
LA BELLE EPOCH. High-neck lace leotard

inspired by the art and gaiety of La Belle
Epochthe days of the Moulin Rouge, Monets
Water Lilies, and, incidentally, the first pointe shoe.
Soft, pretty stretch lace. Eight buttons down the
back (purely decorative, extremely fetching). Shelf
bra. Back zipper.
Ballet has always been hard, but

Gaynor Mindens make it easier.
Ive worn them for seven years already.
I love them.
They dont make any noise when I
jump and I can use the same pair many
times because they last longer.
Erica Cornejo, 2006
Principal Dancer, Boston Ballet
SWEETHEART DRESS. Demure, lady-like,

possibly saucy, indisputably flattering.
PANEL SKIRT DRESS. Pure, clean lines.

Timeless, yet totally modern.
23
Classic Never Goes Out of Style.

LOOK AGAIN.
Theyre deceptively simple.

Each of our so-called Basics is a
classic design, but none is plain.
Notice the detailsa back, a button,
a gather, the perfectly cut legline.
Basics with panache. Like watching
the Kirov do barre.
90% Tactel (the really good stuff)
and 10% Lycra. As light and rich as
whipped cream. Feel it to believe it.
The humdrum-free everyday
leotard. Machine washable. Shelfbra. Fade resistant.
CAP SLEEVE. Sweet, flattering V-neckline
with a sophisticated back.
OPEN-BACK MOCK TURTLE. Sleek,

athletic front and a knockout tear drop back. Elegant
covered button. 1 diameter.
Back Button Closure

V-NECK TANK. Crisp V- lines front and
back. Discreet gathers where straps meet
torso define the shape.
24
SKINNY STRAP V-NECK. A classic you

can customize. Adjustable straps and adjustable front gathers. Stunning open back.
Great dancers, and other

exotic royalty, have always
preferred silk.
Rajahs, Sultanas, Doges of Venice, Moghul Princes
(and even their elephants), the Emperors of China and all
two hundred Imperial concubines, wore nothing less, and
nothing more, than pure silk.
Margot Fonteyn specified silk tights, Taglioni had silk
slippers, and Balanchine would accept no substitute for the
gowns in Vienna Waltzes.
Because nothing, absolutely nothing, moves and feels
like Silk.
You, too, should dance in silk. Presenting sumptuous,
silken Studio Wear.
Blended with just enough spandex and cotton to make it
stretchy, andin case Her Serene Highness ever has to do
her own laundrymachine washable.
Maria Riccetto, Soloist at American Ballet Theatre, has been

wearing Gaynor Minden pointe shoes since 1998.
25
Silk Shorts.
Not bike shorts. Not bloomers.
Years ago they might have been called
hot pants.
Our sleek, slimming silk-blend transforms readily
into a boy short.
And that can be
very sexy.
Dont say we
didnt warn you.
Shorts.
Silk Blend.
Machine washable.
Sizes: S, M, L.
Color: Black.
Imported.
Silky Wrap Sweater.

An elegant improvement on the classic.
Extra-long sleeves for staying warm during extralong balances.
Smart-looking self-tie goes side or back, up to you.
Wrap Sweater.
Silk Blend. Machine
washable.
Sizes: S, M, L.
Color: Black.
Imported.
26
Long Silky Sweater.

Silk: delicately thin but plenty warm.
Our Long Silky Sweater keeps the chill off
without swaddling you beyond recognition.
Cut long, with extra-long sleeves you
can roll up to meet special challenges.
Flattering scoop neck.
Side vents so it always hangs
perfectly, whether in bharadvajasana or
six oclock pench.
Silk Blend. Machine washable.
Size: S, M, L. Color: Black.
Imported.
Attention Teachers, Coaches,

Ballet Mistresses, Directors:
When youre dancing,

and when youre not.
Silk-blend Dancing Pants.
Boot-cut gives legs extra dazzle when youre
really moving, and extra sleekness when youre
standing still.
Fetching low-slung V-shaped waistline.
Silk Blend. Machine washable.
Sizes: P, S, M, L.
Color: Black.
Imported.
Have you noticed

how elegantly our Long
Silky Sweater pairs with
our Dancing Pants?
Thats no accident.
For years teachers have
asked us to design something
for them.
Here it is. Something to
keep you warm, something that
lets you demonstrate full-out,
something not just dignified,
but a little bit distinguished too.
27
Tights
Who knew your legs had such shape?

Elegant, defined, sexy.
Meticulous manufacturing and advanced textile

technology. Gaynor Minden weaves tights with only
the finest, genuine microfiber throughout (70 filaments
per thread) because only real microfiber produces a
truly soft, luxurious hand. And our 3d stretch
provides the utmost freedom of movementfor
strength and flexibility to match your own. Crotch
gusset. Sizes: S, M, L.
See price list for size chart.
28
Convertible Microfiber
Net reinforced convertible
opening. Pink (yes its the right pink).
Footless Microfiber
Black.

Wool/Microfiber Blend
Warmth without bulk.
The alternative to those thick, baggy, oldfashioned legwarmers (especially the ones that need
to be pulled up after every exercise).
Slimming, sleek, and amazingly light
wool/microfiber tights.
Imported from Italy. Black.
29
For dancers who have

an as yet unconfessed thing
about leopard.
Your feet will purr.
Extra-long, extra-cuddly, extra-cozy,
extra-fleecy, extra leopard-like warmups.
We call them paws. No explanation
needed.
High-tech stretch fleece loosens up
dancers feet, ankles, and toes so much
faster than possible with regular
legwarmers or ordinary socks.
Start looking forward to warmer and
more exciting tendus on those inevitable
cold mornings ahead of you.
Available 2 ways: sexy leopard
or panther black.
Each with a witty paw print on
the sole.
For better traction. (Leopards
and panthers never slip up.)
Paws. Size: Medium.
I have been wearing Gaynor Mindens for almost three years; I am

thrilled with the results. Amazing as it sounds, they have changed how
I dance and have certainly lessened the pain I had in my feet and
ankles. A godsend!
Tara Birtwhistle, left, 2006
Principal Dancer, Royal Winnipeg Ballet
30
Training Aids & Unusual Extras
The Royal Ballets Principal Dancer Zenaida Yanowsky, seen here as Odette in Swan Lake, has been wearing Gaynor Minden pointe
shoes since 2003.
31
The physical therapists at NYC Ballet

know your body better than you do.
They can teach you a thing or 2. Actually, 13 things.
13 dancer-specific exercises, using Resistabands (special
giant-sized elastic straps) that intelligently help you
increase your strengthand your flexibility.
2 bands of different resistances, and a nifty,
flip-card, illustrated instruction booklet come
in a pouch designed to fit perfectly in
your dance bag. (Dont have one?
See our Dancers Backpack).
The Dancers Dozen.
Take a master class with

the same man who taught Baryshnikov,
Makarova, Gelsey Kirkland,
Paloma Herrera, etc.
Quit stalling.
You could be next.
David Howard, Americas foremost ballet teacher, has created two
exciting do-at-home ballet class videos, now re-edited and expanded to include
The History of Toe Dancing and Pointe Technique, lavishly illustrated with rare
photographs and footage, presented by Eliza Minden, designer of the
revolutionary Gaynor Minden Pointe Shoe. (Along with valuable advice on
pointe-shoe fitting and tips on strengthening the feet.)
David Howard DVDs I and II. Take a Master Class with David Howard,
Intermediate Class I and II. Two 90-minute DVDs.
32
Zipper flip-top
for instant
accessibility.
Large ventilating
mesh compartment.
Dancers Backpack.
Quick access to shoes in their own private,
ventilated compartment.
Thoughtfully designed with clever pockets in
considerate places.
Surprisingly spacious. Dimensions: 17 x 12 .
Colors: Black, Raspberry.
Youll feel ready for Balanchine or Starbucks.
Dancers Backpack.
Generous High
Security outer pocket
has both zipper
and Velcro flap.
Another zipper
flip-top to main
compartment;
no more rummaging.
Padded shoulder straps for

total comfort. Adjustable
length so its right for you.
Handy small zip pocket
right where you need it
for keys, change, class
card, etc.
Elegant satin-finish
nylon is actually tough,
water-resistant, and
slides perfectly under an
airplane seat.
Literature pocket for
magazines, notebooks,
fan mail.

33
Free Stuff.
Thats right, these are free while supplies last. Breathtaking imagesthe perfect size for your store. Great give-aways for your customers.
Gillian Murphy Pench.
Irina Kolesnikova
in Swan Lake.
Zenaida Yanowsky
Grand Jet.
Tara Birtwhistle
in Raymonda.
Its amazing what goes into making something effortless.

Gillian Murphy Arabesque
Zenaida Yanowsky Grand Jet. The Royal Ballets
extraordinary Principal Dancer soars across stage as
Odette in Swan Lake.
Gillian Murphy Pench. Wow.
Irina Kolesnikova in Swan Lake. Prima Ballerina of
Konstantin Tachkins St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre in
Swan Lake.
Alina Cojocaru
Tying Her Ribbons.
Tara Birtwhistle, Principal Dancer, Royal Winnipeg

Ballet in Raymonda.
Alina Cojocaru Tying Her Ribbons. Alina Cojocaru is a
native of Romania, and instead of accepting a fee for
doing our ads she had us send free shoes to the dancers
at the national ballet company there.
The image on this poster is the result of a grueling

day of photography in which Gillian Murphy had to
achieve that spectacular bourre into arabesque, on
exactly the same mark, at an instant not of her
choosing, over and over and over again. And that
was after wed done the jumping shots.
We hope her stamina, perseverance, and
professionalism will inspire you. She is a Principal
Dancer at American Ballet Theatre. Caption: Dance
captures the dancer and then the dancer captures the
audience. Size: 37 x 24 .
Refrigerator Magnets
Jenny Jagerhorn. Star of Finnish National Ballet.
Jenny Jagerhorn, star of

Finnish National Ballet.
Above posters: 12 x 18 .
Zhong-Jing Fang
34
Irina Kolesnikova
Odile adjusts
her shoes.
A New Classic for Todays Dancer.

Over 150 stunning photographs of ballet stars Maria Riccetto
and Benjamin Millepied demonstrating perfect execution of
positions and steps
Practical advice for getting started such as selecting a school,
getting the most out of class, and studio etiquette
Explanations of ballet fundamentals and major training
systems
An illustrated guide through ballet classwarm-up, barre,
center floor
Guidelines for safe, healthy dancing through a sensible diet,
injury prevention, and cross training with yoga and Pilates
Descriptions of Must-See ballets and glossaries of dance,
music, and theater terms
Lavishly illustrated sidebars on ballet history
Tips on everything from styling a ballet bun to stage make-up
to performing the perfect pirouette
The Ballet Companion by Eliza Gaynor Minden. 333 pages.
A superb reference bookall the information todays students need but cant
get just by taking classevery dancers library should have it.
Angel Corella, Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre
Everyone involved with or interested in ballet should read this book.

Comprehensively researched and packed with valuable information,
The Ballet Companion is a treasure-trove for ballet enthusiasts.
Kirk Peterson, Former Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre;
Artistic Director, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company
This is the very book I would have loved to have discovered when I first
started to study ballet.
Allegra Kent, former Principal Dancer,
New York City Ballet and author of Once A Dancer
Eliza Minden, Author
35
Frequently Asked Questions.

1. Are Gaynor Mindens suitable for beginners?
Definitely. Whats important is that the shoe fit very well and
that the stiffness be appropriate for the dancers strength and size.
Gaynor Minden is especially beneficial for beginners because its
elastomeric box promotes proper alignment and correct technique.
The box minimizes sickling and winging, bad habits that can
stress the ankle and lead to injury. The box actually makes it hard
to roll up incorrectly because the elastomeric never wears down to
create an uneven surface as paste boxes do. The student uses and
develops the correct muscles to achieve full-pointe and once there
does not need to over-clench to maintain balance.
Finally, Gaynor Mindens are lined with soft, cushy materials.
They are comfortable. Painful pointe shoes can be so discouraging
that many girls stop enjoying ballet class and give it up altogether.
Yes, ballet is demanding and sometimes painful, but a great deal
of the discomfort associated with pointework is preventable.
Never fit with room to grow! A shoe that is too big, or too wide,
cannot provide proper support. It could lead to severe pain and
serious injury.
2. Wont an unbreakable shank do the work for me and

let my muscles grow weak?
An overly stiff shank of any brand could do this. If you feel you
are not being made to pull up out of the shoe, try a softer shank.
36
Remember, Gaynor Mindens do not break in, so be sure

to select a shank that is sufficiently pliable. Ask about Supple,
FeatherFlex, and Pianissimo shanks.
3. Why are Gaynor Mindens more expensive?

Actually, Gaynor Mindens cost less to use than other brands
because they last an average of 3 to 5 times longer. And longer still
if you protect the tips.
How? Patented Gaynor Minden is the only pointe shoe with
resilient elastomerics in the supportive parts of the shoe: the shank
and the box. Most other pointe shoes have a paste and cardboard
construction for those elements, as they have since the 19th century.
You can break such a shank in your hands; you cannot break or
weaken a Gaynor Minden no matter how much you bend itgo
ahead and try!
Elastomerics are more costly than cardboard and paste. Also,
Gaynor Minden is the only pointe shoe with high performance
impact-absorbing foam built right into the shoe. Not cheap latex,
this is the same urethane cushioning found in the very finest
athletic shoes.
Finally, Gaynor Mindens are handmade in the United States.
If you examine the stitching and workmanship we think you
will agree that our quality and consistency are unequalled. It is
more expensive to manufacture in America, but the result is a
superior product.
Many dancers woes, whether mild aches or serious stress

fractures, are caused by the traumatic impact of jumping on hard
surfaces. Many dance floors are not resilient. Some are even made
from wood or linoleum laid directly on concrete. And most
theatres in the world were built for opera and drama, not dance.
Our cushions are made from real Rogers Corp. Poron 4000
which carries the American Podiatric Medical Associations Seal
of Acceptance.
5. If a dancer breaks shanks easily, should she wear Gaynor

Mindens Hard Shank?
Not necessarily. Most dancers who use a hard shank in
traditional paste shoes do so because traditional shanks break down
so rapidly. Our shanks are unbreakable, they never soften or
weaken. Our ExtraFlex provides plenty of support for most
dancers, enabling them to enjoy the benefits of a light, flexible shoe
without compromising supportiveness. Our Hard shank is
extremely stiff, appropriate only for dancers with very high insteps,
or who require extra support for some other reason.
6. My teacher wants a really tight fit, why must Gaynor Mindens

have 14 pinch at the top of the heel when on pointe?
Because Gaynor Minden will not change over time the way
traditional shoes will. The tight fit of a traditional shoe anticipates
stretching out and mushing in. Our satin is backed with a
moisture wicking lining, so it does not stretch the way other satin
does. Do not fit Gaynor Minden as tight as a traditional shoe.
system uses ultra-thin gel and urethane foams to customize the

fit and maximize comfort without compromising either floor feel
or snugness.
8. What is the right age to begin pointework?

Most students should not begin before age 10 or 12. Dancers
must train for several years in soft slippers, rising only to half-toe
(demi-pointe) before attempting to use pointe shoes. They must
learn to pull up out of the shoe, never allowing their full weight
to sink into it, and always maintaining the correct alignment of
spine, hips, knees, and ankles. A dancer who attempts pointework
before she has developed sufficient strength and technique and
before her bones have fully formed could seriously injure herself.
Everyone develops differently, this is a decision to be made by
parents and qualified teachers.
4. Why is shock absorption important?
Within three weeks of switching to Gaynor Mindens

the shape of an eleven year old students legs visibly
improved. Because Gaynor Mindens align the
dancer correctly over her toes and do not allow rolling
out, my students musculature changed to become
properly shaped and balanced. I now start my beginners
in Gaynor Mindens and recommend them to all
my students.
Jody Jaron, Director
School of the Garden State Ballet
Artistic Director, School of the Garden State Ballet Youth Co.
7. Why do I need these extra cushions?

Every foot is different; not all are perfectly suited for
pointework. In the past such dancers were told to suffer patiently
until their feet toughened up. Now, thanks to advances in
technology, there are much better solutions. Gaynor Mindens
Gaynor Minden pointe shoes help me dance my best

I love them.
Tatiana Tkachenko
Soloist, Kirov Ballet
37
Independent Scientific Research

(as if dancing in them isnt enough.)
Better Alignment.
Even highly
trained dancers are
better aligned in
Gaynor Minden,
according to a study
at the Exercise
Science Department
Incorrect
Correct
Incorrect
at the University of
Massachusetts,
A 115-lb. dancer who sickles only 2, as
Amherst. Proper
shown above, may transfer 40 lbs. to the
alignment is crucial
lateral ankle, the site most vulnerable to
sprain. While dancing, these forces may
for ballet technique,
increase to 10 times her body weight.
for correct muscular
development and
for protecting the joints from injury. Forces to the ankle
during vigorous dancing can reach 10 times body weight,
misalignment can transmit these potentially injurious forces to
the medial/lateral ankle structures. Kinematic analysis of the
dancers ankles showed that sickling is reduced and subjects
stand straighter in Gaynor Mindens than in traditional shoes.
Superior Motion Control,

Weight Distribution,
and Stability.
Researchers from the Temple
University School of Podiatric
Medicine also studied issues of
stability and alignment, in this case
using a pedabaragraph. Gaynor
Minden again proved superior to
other shoes and was shown to have
a 38% greater useable platform area.
Greater Impact Absorption.

In addition, the Temple
University team assessed shock
absorption, using advanced F-Scan
technology, which enabled them to
detect actual pressures to specific
areas of the foot during dancing. Again, Gaynor Minden proved
superior. All subjects in the Temple University studies were
professional dancers.
Much Better Durability.

Worthen, L et al., Biomechanical Issues in Ballet: Alignment at the Ankle in
Pointe Shoes, Performing Artists Medicine Association, proceedings of Annual
Meeting, 1997.
Ng, G. et al., F-Scan Evaluation of a Revolutionary Pointe Shoe Design, Temple
University School of Podiatric Medicine 14th Annual Scientific Seminar, 1999.
Cunningham, B.W. et al., A Comparative Mechanical Analysis of the Pointe
Shoe Toe Box, American Journal of Sports Medicine 26(4):555-561, 1998.
A study at The Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory of

Union Memorial Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, published in
the American Journal of Sports Medicine, evaluated the durability
of various brands of pointe shoes using a machine that simulates
relev. Gaynor Minden was still going strong after 248,000 relev
cycles. The others didnt come close.
Simulated relev cycles before shoe failure

Freed
Capezio
Grishko
Gaynor Minden
38
8,868
24,592
71,817
248,646
Contact Us
New York Headquarters
Fax 212 .929.4907
Phone 800 . 637.9240
212 .929.0087
European Office
Fax 44 01273 429 420
Phone 44 01273 429 429
Australian Office
Fax/Phone 02 9869 4722
Email fitters@dancer.com
Internet www.dancer.com
140 West 16th Street

New York, New York 10011
Copyright 2007
Printed in U.S.A.
Photos: All are by Eduardo Patino except: Founder photo by Edwin Gaynor; Zenaida Yanowsky and
Alina Cojocaru by Johan Persson; Mignon Furman, Tatiana Tkachenko, and Yana Serebriakova by
Costas; Luisa Diaz by William DuPont; Melissa Hayden and Cortney Connor by Rick McCullough;
Irina Kolesnikova by Nina Alovert; Tara Birtwhistle by Bruce Monk; Nicholle Rochelle by Leslie E.
Spatt; Jenny Jagerhorn by Jonas Lundqvist; Vanessa Palmer by C. MacMillan.
All product photos by Paul B. Goode.
Photos of Zhong-Jing Fang and Kathryn Sullivan taken at Steps on Broadway.
Students courtesy of The School at Steps.
39
Gaynor Minden, inc.

140 West 16th Street
New York, New York 10011

Gaynor Minden

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Catalog Winter/Spring 2007

its amazing what goes into

Leotards(Photo of Maria Bystrova) .........................................................................................................21

Pointe Shoe Accessories(Photo of Alina Cojocaru).....................................................................15

Leotards: Dressy .........................................................................................................................................22

Training Aids, Unusual Extras(Photo of Zenaida Yanowsky).............................................31

Frequently Asked Questions .........................................................................................................36

Yes, invented by a dancer.

dancers and non-profit dance companies

grandmother, as she defied the costume police at the

1. Anti-shock Poron 4000 linings.

3. Slender, high-tech accessories.

4. Ultra-thin cellular urethane foam

5. Low profile box. Already shaped

6. 2,951 sizes. 5 flexibilities of shank,

7. Drawstring side closure.

8. Injection molded shanks.

9. Classic lustrous peachy-pink satin

10. Pleatless panel yields 38% greater

[patented for all the world to see]

Gaynor Minden Artists

Excellent in the female lead...Ms. Murphy used her incredible

The crown of the Balanchine experience, and of the entire

I have never seen such feet before: strong as a truncheon, sensitive

To order call: 800.637. 9240 / 212.929.0087 or visit www.dancer.com

Right: Erica Cornejo,

Right: Veronika Part,

Above: Alina Cojocaru, Principal, The Royal Ballet

Right: Vanessa Palmer,

Below: Laura Hidalgo, Dutch

2000 But its only for students.

Above: Irina Kolesnikova, Prima Ballerina,

2006 They got it! Meet a few more of our

More Gaynor Minden

Above: Jenny Jagerhorn, Artist,

Above: Nicholle Rochelle, Principal, North

Above: Zenaida Yanowsky, Principal, The Royal Ballet

Left: Tatiana Tkachenko,

Right: Luisa Diaz,

Right: Maria Riccetto, Soloist,

Above: Kelley Potter, Corps de

Above: Tara Birtwhistle, Principal, Royal

Below: Maria Bystrova, Corps de

Above: Sarawanee Tanatanit,

Above: Yana Serebriakova, Coryphee,

And Respected Teachers, Too

Gaynor Mindens strengthen the feet and elongate the leg

Gaynor Mindens are excellent for the

Mignon Furman, distinguished, award-winning ballet

2,951 Custom Sizes

Heres How it Works:

Narrow & Tapered

4 pinch at drawstring casing

To ensure proper support and to prevent bruised toenails, do not fit

Narrow, Medium, or Wide

Same box, different widths.

Stock Availability Chart. Check the chart below to be sure the

the narrow. Availability is based on our knowledge, after years of

or a pointe shoe to look, feel, and function just right

You fit by selecting six crucial specifications: Length, Box

4. Assess Support Needs:

Rememberthe stiffness wont diminish over time!

Hard through Pianissimo

BRAND NEW = HARD