Buying The Perfect Ballet Shoe

If you are considering attending a ballet class for the first time, or perhaps you are taking your child to lessons, it is important that you invest in a suitable pair of ballet shoes. There are a variety of ballet shoes to choose from, and it can often be quite a painstaking task to know which one is right for you. If you're interested in find out more about ballet shoes, read on for some useful tips for finding the perfect ballet shoe for you...

Do They Fit?

This is the prime and most important question when you are buying your first pair of ballet shoes. The ballet shoe should serve to improve your overall dancing technique as well as protect the feet and ankles. Although many people say that ballet shoes should “fit like a glove”, it is crucial that they should not be too small. There should be enough room so that you can raise your toes as this is a necessity in order to carry out certain moves and techniques. Your toes need to be relaxed and have plenty of space to move around. If you are deciding between two close sizes it is probably best to choose the larger size to avoid buying a ballet shoe that is a little too small for you. Shoes that are ill-fitting can also leave your feet in pain and you will be unable to perform to the best of your ability. In the worst case scenario, your feet could also be left with serious injuries.

Which Material Should You Choose?

Ballet shoes are usually made in leather or canvas. Which material you choose for your ballet shoe really depends on your personal choice and whichever you feel most comfortable in. Budget will also play a part in which one you choose. For example, leather ballet shoes are more expensive than canvas shoes but they will probably have a longer life-span. However, many people prefer the feel of canvas shoes and they are easier to maintain and clean as they can simply be washed in a washing machine or by hand.

Which Sole?

There are two main designs of ballet shoes, either full-soles or split-soles. If you are a beginner in ballet then you will probably not require full-sole ballet shoes – full-soles are generally only worn by more advanced dancers who are technically advanced and are ready to dance on their tip-toes (this requires a lot of strength and technique). Beginners will usually start with split-sole shoes.

Check for Elastics

When you are choosing your ballet shoes, it is worth bearing in mind that often enough, ballets shoes can be sold without elastics. They are sewn onto the ballet shoes in order to fasten them to your feet. They are left off the shoe in order for the dancer to sew them on in the exact place that s/he wants depending on where the foot arches. If you purchase a pair of ballet shoes without elastics you'll have to sew them on yourself – some dancers prefer to buy them pre-sewn simply for efficiency.

Hopefully you have found these tips for buying ballet shoes useful – good look in your search for the perfect ballet shoe!