Ever thought about just how painful ballet shoes really are? Honestly, only ballet dancers understand that kind of pain. Before a fresh pair even goes on their feet, they have to break them in first. Dancers twist the shoes, pull out the rigid insole, scrape the sole down—whatever it takes to make them more flexible. And since ballet is performed right on the tips of the toes, the front of a pointe shoe is extremely hard. It’s crazy to realize that such a small box is holding up an entire body.