Tips for Buying Ballet Shoes

With so many ballet shoes available in shops, how do you choose the perfect shoe for you? If you are new to ballet, or if you are buying a first pair of shoes for your child, the following tips will help you find the perfect pair.

It should fit you
Ballet shoes are designed to portray the dancer's technique as well as to protect the dancer's feet and ankles. Ballet shoes should fit the foot like a glove. Don't intend to buy the shoe too small as it wouldn't be comfortable while dancing. There should be sufficient space for moving the toes. When trying on ballet shoes, raise up and balance on the balls of your feet. Your toes should not be crammed into the front of the shoe, but should be relaxed, with plenty of space to move around. If you are struggling between two close sizes, it's probably best to go with a slightly bigger size, rather than buying shoes that are a bit too snug.

Considering the material
Ballet shoes are available both in leather and canvas. The material you choose should be your personal preference. Leather ballet shoes might be expensive, but are more durable and lasts longer than the canvas variety. Some people believe that leather ballet shoes accentuate a pointed foot and simply appear more elegant than canvas shoes. However, some dancers prefer the feel of canvas ballet shoes. Canvas shoes are easiest to clean, as they can be thrown right into the washing machine.

Check the sole
Ballet shoes are designed with full-soles or split-soles. Full-sole ballet shoes closely mimic pointe shoes, which is important to dancers that are technically ready to dance on their toes. Half-sole ballet shoes are preferred by some dancers because they allow the foot to create a stronger point, as the sole is split between the heel and the toe. Sole preference is acquired through experience, and rarely makes much of a difference in dancing ability.

Check for Elastics
When picking out ballet shoes, keep in mind that some shoes are sold without elastics. Elastics are placed on ballet shoes to secure them to the feet. The elastics are purposely left off the shoe so the dancer can sew them on in exactly the right place, depending on the location of the arch of the foot. If you buy a pair without elastics, you'll have to sew them on yourself. It's not difficult to sew on the elastics, but some dancers, and especially parents of young dancers, prefer to buy them pre-sewn. If you find a pair of ballet shoes with pre-sewn elastics that happen to fit your foot well, consider yourself lucky to avoid threading a needle.