Ballet Slippers

Whether you dream of dancing "Swan Lake" with the Royal Ballet or are taking ballet classes simply for fun and exercise, you'll need ballet slippers. It's important that you find the best brand and fit for your needs.

Don't confuse ballet slippers with pointe shoes. A slipper is flexible, while pointe shoes are box-toed, made of shiny satin and used by advanced ballet dancers for pointework, or dance moves that require balancing on the tips of one's toes. Pointe shoes, also called toe shoes, are normally worn only by female dancers, though male dancers will occasionally wear them.

Style
If you're new to the world of ballet, buy your slippers at a store that specializes in dance shoes and do it in person. As with any other shoe, size matters. Make sure you can wiggle your toes inside the shoe. Despite what a salesperson may advise, if the shoe makes your toes curl up, don't buy that size. While a leather slipper will stretch a bit, it won't stretch that much. If you can't allow your toes to spread when in ballet positions, your balance will be affected.

On the other hand, if you're buying ballet shoes for a child, don't buy them too large, thinking your child will grow into them. Oversize shoes make dancing difficult. Some instructors recommend shoe shopping at the same time of day as your dance class, since your feet swell during the day.