Dance Workshop 2000

They were based in London and sometimes sold in the shop - Gandolfi -  which made some confusion set in about whether they were Gandolfi Innovation Pointe Shoes or if this workshop was a different company entirely.

Well, Dance Workshop sold the Innovation pointe shoes for a time through Gandolfi as well as his London-based workshop. He began in  July of 1995, made shoes for dancers all over the world, and I currently do not know the date they ceased operation.

Dance Workshop was formed by Bob and Pat Martin to make what they called, "the ultimate pointe shoe." And they say about their shoes:  "Feet were not made for pointe shoes-but our shoes were
made especially for feet."

Bob Martin worked for Gamba for 35 years and then decided to go off on his own to fulfill his ambition to make his own line of pointes for dancers.

There was no "stock" shoes available to order.  They were all specially made to the dancer's foot and it's needs, with a long list of variations to choose from.

"Innovation" typically had a high vamp wing block with a V-shaped vamp (although it could be cut to any shape and height required.) The heel is tapered to give a closer fit. Sizes range from 8 to 13, with half sizes as well.
Widths available: N(narrow), X(medium), XX(wide), and XXX.(extra wide)

Innovation has graced the feet of Darcey Bussell, Antoinette Sibley, Lesley Collier, and many other dancers for the Royal Ballet.