R-Class pointe shoes now available in The United States and Latin America are not exact duplications of shoes created in the past for other brands; they are improved, upgraded and redesigned ballet shoes with a mathematical approach to achieving the best fit for every dancer. These Russian pointe shoes are the next generation - tradition meets innovation.
With 12 base models and hundreds of varieties and customizations, R-Class has a shoe for every type of foot.
Our expert staff in the US work to support dancers by travelling in conjunction with our retail partners for fittings, helping answer questions and direct dancers, and continuously developing new ideas, products, and ways to support the dance industry as a whole.
R-Class treasures our partnerships with dance retailers and always recommends finding your perfect fit with a qualified and experienced pointe shoe fitter.
RC SIGNATURE COLLECTION
Pleatless pointe shoes by R-Class have shallower crowns that lift the dancer high in the shoe and stitched soles for wonderful durability and stabilization.
RC10 – Pristine: Most tapered
RC20 – Brillante: Tapered with broader metatarsal
RC30 – Fantasia: Square and broad
RC40 – Iridescence: Similar shape as RC30 with more volume in the box and less volume in the heel
RC50 – Incande: Extra long wings and lateral support - V Vamp with drawrstring
RC90 – Enchante: Broad and wide – same last as CL90 – broad and very wide with pleatless technology that makes the crown more shallow and secure.
Base models end in “0” and are in stock in vamp 2 in soft, medium, and hard
Limited Stock/Special Orders: Vamp 1 Vamp 3 “V” Vamp
Ending in “1” – First Pointe – super soft shank with lighter pasting (wonderful option for demi-pointe as well as a ready-to-wear performance shoe)
Ending in “2” – Quiet
Ending in “6” – 3/4 sole and hard shank to make the shank extra hard
Ending in “7” – Microfiber Tip
CL ClASSIC SYMPHONY COLLECTION
Pleated pointe shoes have higher crowns due to the traditional turn-shoe method of construction. The shanks and soles are attached using nails and glue.
Both of these make shoes more pliable and allow the dancer to go further over the platform.
CL60 – Crescenda: Moderately tapered med-high crown.
CL70 – Arpeggia: Very square.
CL80 – Toccata: Very tapered with high crown.
CL90 – Legata: Very broad and wide – compare to RC90 (same last with different technology).
The base models that are in stock are vamp 2.
Vamp 1, 3, and V are limited stock and special order.
NEW! ADAPTIV COLLECTION
AD19 - Astra - Broad with a shallow crown
AD69 - Soleia - Moderately tapered with a med-high crown
About the R-Class Shanks
The new R-Class shank construction is available across the board for all of the 12 R-Class models.
Soft, medium, and hard shanks ALL have a 3/4 component which support where it is needed and allow greater flexibility at the 3/4 mark.
One of the key design improvements from previous shanks offered by R-Class in which they were called "Flexible Soft" etc is the cut out in the center of the ball of the foot instead of along the edges.
This key improvement creates greater wing stability and makes the sole more flat and sturdy when on flat.
Most dancers find this modification in the shanks a dramatic improvement over previous generations of pointe shoe made for both R-Class and other brands.
A Comparison of Models
Both the CL90 and RC90 are made on the same last. The last is very broad and runs wider than all other models. Fitting is typically 1 size down and two widths down from other models. Wide and broad feet now have options! The pleated construction (CL90) has a higher crown and is more pliable and the pleatless construction (RC90) has a more shallow crown and is a bit sturdier.
The images below show the same dancer in the shoes - you can see how in the CL90 she is pitched further over the platform and the RC90 she is lifted higher in the shoe.
