If the Shoe Fits Mary Carpenter...Dancer, Teacher, Expert Pointe Shoe Technician
I've been in your shoes is a phrase often used but for Capezio's pointe shoe fitter Mary Carpenter the phrase can be applied literally. For students taking their first pointe class and for their teachers and parents, it is comforting to know that an expert is fitting the shoes.
Mary Carpenter comes to Capezio on 51st Street in New York City as a dancer, teacher, and with over 15 years of experience as a pointe shoe fitter. Her initial dance training began in Cincinnati, Ohio with Tina Dunn and continued at the Cincinnati Ballet School under the direction of Oleg Skibine. Upon graduation from high school she attended Butler University as a dance major and received a BA Honors degree. Mary performed with the Lexington Ballet in Kentucky and moved to New York for further study at the David Howard Dance Center where she was a scholarship student.
Like so many with professional career goals, Carpenter looked for a way to pay for classes and pointe shoes and still keep her connection to the dance world. Working for Repetto and Gamba was a double solution. It was there that she began her auxiliary career as a pointe shoe fitter. In two years time, she moved on to Gaynor Minden and later to Capezio to become a wear tester and train others to become fitters.
Mary Carpenter continued her performing career with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in New York and regional companies and now performs in choreographic workshops and free lance guest appearances. Teaching was the next step along the way with schools in the tri-state area. She is currently on the staff of The School at Steps as well as Barnard College and the New School University's Eugene Lang College.
Mary is "unique in the business" says David Howard. "She works with students and teachers to get the proper fit in a pointe shoe, and also gives seminars on pointe shoe fitting to teachers at workshops." Barbara Mullen sends her students from New Hampshire to Mary at Capezio. "She is willing to take a lot of time with each student to find the best shoe fitting and helps them understand the shape of their feet to choose the proper shoe they should be working in. She has an almost innate sense after checking the students feet of knowing the exact pair that will work for them." Because of this, parents of Mullen's students are willing to travel to New York for the fittings.
There is an art to fitting pointe shoes and it's not only the shoe itself. From measurement of the foot and its shape to where the ribbons are sewn and the constructive padding for inside the shoe make for an all important and complete fit. Mary goes through the process with each dancer.
To book a fitting, e-mail dancewithmary@aol.com. You can also check out Mary Carpenter's CDs of class
instruction for children and young adults at www.roperrecords.com and www.bobrizzo.com.