Article Date: 08th Jun 2008
Article Title: Which ballet shoes?

So the time has come to purchase a new pair of ballet Shoes, maybe they are your first ever pair or maybe they are a replacement for the battered old ones you have finally decided to throw away. Either way, with so many different outlets out there selling ballet shoes you are absolutely spoilt for choice.

With this is mind, it makes sense that if you are looking for a new pair of ballet shoes then it's a good idea to have a look on the web as there are many companies that provide dance accessories and apparel on the internet. When you are buying your new ballet shoes try and go for a company that has a website with a returns policy, this way you will be more confident that you will be dealing with the right kind of company. Plus it means that if for any reason the shoes aren't right you can send them back or exchange them without any problems.
Obviously every dancer has his or her own opinion on what the best material for ballet shoes is, but leather is normally thought of as more durable and more pleasing to look at than canvas. Generally speaking leather shoes will last much longer than canvas ballet shoes, but it varies depending on the floors you dance on, how much you weigh and what condition your feet are in to begin with.

When it comes to ballet shoes your weight is something that is important to consider because your weight will determine how much friction you will feel between the floor and the shoe. That is why because male dancers tend to be heavier they usually opt for canvas shoes, because wearing leather shoes would cause their feet to stick to the floor rather than gently slide along it. If you are purchasing a pair of leather ballet shoes make sure that you aware that the sticking action caused by leather shoes can result in marks on the studio floor and makes lunges and splits difficult as well as causing more stubbed toes.
As for canvas ballet shoes, they are popular amongst dancers too. Canvas shoes are likely to be cheaper in price and on a vinyl floor, they can last for up to three months of daily lessons. However canvas shoes do not hold up well if you will be dancing on rough wooden floors as the uneven surface tends to rip the canvas. If you do decide to go for canvas ballet shoes and you want them to last then pick the pair made from the heaviest canvas as these will be more resistant to wear and tear.

Both canvas and leather ballet shoes are widely available on the internet and some of the best sites have sections on how to care for your shoes and also links to useful general information about dancing. If you want to know whether the company you are buying from also gets involved with the local community you will be able to find that out on their website too.