Popularity
Freed is the “Official Pointe Shoe” for many ballet companies around the world among them, the New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and The Royal Ballet are a few. Famous dancers such as Carla Fracci, Viviana Durante, Darcey Bussell, Alessandra Ferri, Margot Fonteyn, and Suzanne Farrell all wore Freeds. Current stars such as Leanne Benjamin and Wendy Whelan also wear Freeds.
Freeds were the premier choice for New York City Ballet's founding balletmaster (and co-founder) George Balanchine. He found Freeds to be lighter and more flexible than other brands of shoes such as Grishkos. Contrary to the assumption of the uneducated observer, it is not the stiffness of the shank or the hardness of the box that really gives the pointe shoe its strength.
Read more about this topic: Freed Of London
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