Women began to dance in ballets in 1681, but dancing en pointe—on the tips of the toes—was a 19th-century development that necessitated a new type of shoe. Pointe shoes have two special features that enable this sort of dancing: the box and shank. The box, made of layers of paper or fabric, encases and supports the dancer’s toes and forms a platform upon which she may balance. The shank, meanwhile, provides arch support. How long does a pair of pointe shoes typically last? Discuss