Ballet dancing puts a lot of strain on the feet and it is therefore very important that you invest in the right type of ballet footwear. When choosing your first pair of ballet shoes it is probably best to go to a professional shoemaker or with a teacher who can advice you on the best fit.
Traditionally ballet shoes are mostly thought of as pink satin with straps that are tied around a perfect calf. But ballet shoes come in different materials such as canvas or leather as well as satin. Canvas and leather provide a more durable shoe however canvas has less give. Canvas shoes are generally worn by men. They are more cost effective than leather shoes however they tend to wear faster than leather so long term they may be equal in cost. Leather ballet shoes allow for more give to allow them to mould to the shape of your feet.
There are also three main types of ballet footwear. Soft ballet shoes are more for the beginner. They are very soft and slip easily onto your feet. You can get them with or without straps. Pointe shoes are you usually purchased by the more experienced dancer. This type of shoe allows the dancer to balance on their toes therefore most schools will not allow dancers to wear this style until they have at least five years experience. With pointe style ballet footwear fit is crucial, therefore most are custom made for the dancer to allow for the best fit. As every dancer has unique feet that vary in shape and toe length it is important that pointe style shoe are chosen carefully. Ballet shoes are also available in full or split soles. The split soles of these types of shoe are reinforced with suede giving them more strength and durability. On full sole shoes suede covers the entire sole giving a complete strengthening across the entire sole of the foot, whereas suede only covers the toe and heel on the split sole version of this ballet footwear. New dancers will tend to purchase the full sole version while more experienced dancers usually chose split soles.
Ballet dancing is hard work and wearing the right shoe will help increase your performance. It is crucial that the shoes have a good fit and are the right style. Ballet footwear is widely available for in shops and online and once you find a reputable merchant that you trust, you are sure to continue to purchase equipment from them for years to come. It is therefore important to do your homework and research companies who specialise in.
