It all started with a promise to make the most comfortable dance shoes in the world.
From humble beginnings in a Sydney workshop in 1932, Bloch was born. Jacob Bloch made his first ballet shoes in his candlelit workshop located above his store. He made one pair of shoes, for one customer at a time, to order. That core competency and artisanal flair, together with the philosophy of listening to dancers, has been the vital essence of the company’s mission for 90 years.
Today, Bloch is the world’s leading provider of technical dance footwear and apparel. And we still make all our pointe shoes by hand. Led by David Wilkenfeld, Jacob’s grandson, we continue the tradition of listening to dancers, understanding what they want and what they need. David continues to work one-on-one with professional dancers to drive innovation in the industry forward. As a result, Bloch has built a track record for delivering both high quality and break-through innovation. Whether it be the first split sole dance shoe or the development of the first Relevease ballet shoe, we are constantly innovating, improving, and adapting our range to better meet the needs of our dancers around the world.
Leading dance companies throughout the world rely on Bloch to equip their dancers with the best tools of their trade, including the Royal Ballet, the American Ballet Theatre, the Bolshoi Ballet and the Australian Ballet to name a few. Our shoes are worn by the world's most elite ballerinas past and present including Isabella Boylston, Francesca Hayward, Lauren Lovette, Yasmine Naghdi, WanTing Zhao, Julian MacKay, Julie Kent, Sarah Lamb, David Hallberg, José Martinez and Maria Khoreva. Our collaborations have included former ABT principals Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky, internationally acclaimed tap dance and choreographer duo Chloe and Maud Arnold, and leading international tap icon and Emmy Award winning choreographer, Jason Samuels Smith.
From first position to grand jete, Bloch is there to inspire, empower and support our global dance community. We believe that movement is freedom, and we celebrate the commitment and creativity of the dance community to bring the artistry and emotion of dance into the hearts of their audiences.
– DAVID WILKENFELD
