Bloch’s philosophy of listening to dancers is still as strong today as it was when Jacob Bloch made his first pair of pointe shoes in 1932. Jacob arrived from Europe in 1931 at the height of the Great Depression and began making shoes by hand in the workshop where he lived.Jacob loved watching ballet and visited many dance studios. At one such studio, he noticed a young dancer who was having trouble staying on pointe. Jacob promised he would make her a better pair of shoes. And so he did.Jacob’s reputation for making good dance shoes spread rapidly. In the late 1930’s many overseas ballet companies toured Australia. Among these, was De Basil’s Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, the original Ballet Russe. Jacob made shoes for Spessiva, Baranova, Riabouchinskaya, Toumanova, David Lichine and many others, all to their own specifications.Today Jacob’s family is still listening to the needs of dancers. “We work with professionals” says David Wilkenfeld Bloch, Jacob’s grandson, who is Managing Director of Bloch International. “The most important part of the design phase is combining both function and aesthetic to meet the dancers needs.”In addition to shoes, Bloch makes a comprehensive range of dance apparel and accessories designed specifically for dancers. “Working with the dancers is an essential part of designing garments that will perform well, enhance movement and feel great. Our greatest pleasure is when dancers tell us they love our products.”