by Sarah Wilkiamson
Now that you have decided to enroll in ballet classes, you need to prepare a checklist for the things you need. Even if you are not a pro in this, you need to know that ballet shoes are very important when it comes to ballet. It is impossible for you to dance if you do not have the right ballet shoes!
Ballet shoes are important because they both support and protect your feet when you dance. They are specially designed to do this, and so you need to ensure that you wear ballet shoes and not just soft gymnastic type slippers. As much ballet work comes through the toes, ballet shoes are made with pads at the toes so that injury to the toes is prevented when performing.
There are different types of ballet shoes for different purposes. You need to choose between two materials which are used to manufacture ballet shoes.
1. Slip-on ballet shoes. These are made from a soft material and are easy to put on and off. They are perfect for beginners. Once you are more advanced, then you can use Pointe ballet shoes. These are made with even more protection around the toes and help to support you when you are balance “en Pointe”.
2. There are also full sole ballet shoes that are made in either leather or suede. Flexible enough to allow your feet to move freely, these shoes offer great support and allow you to develop your ballet technique and dance more complex steps without injury. Another variety of shoe is the split-sole shoe. Here only the toes and heels are covered by the sole which allows the foot to be arched and flexed to a more defined degree.
Pointers for Buying Ballet Shoes
Make sure you select the right kind of material for you when choosing your ballet shoe. Leather is by far the best option but when you first put leather ballet shoes on you might think that they are too small. While it’s important that you don’t buy shoes that are small, you need to make allowances for the fact that leather will stretch and take the shape of your feet over time. Leather shoes will take a lot of wear and tear and so although more expensive, they are a good investment. Canvas shoes are a cheaper alternative and if you have wide feet they are probably a good idea. Canvas shoes won’t stretch over time so make sure they fit perfectly before you buy them.
Never buy ballet shoes without trying them on in the shop. Stand on the balls of your feet and balance to see how they fit. Your feet must feel supported by the shoes, almost like an additional skin. You should be able to move around in the shoes without feeling that your toes are cramped. Remember if they’re leather, they may feel tight, but they shouldn’t feel small! If you are buying the shoes at a dance clothing store, ask the assistant to help you get the best fitting ballet shoe you can.
Even if you are a first timer, shopping for ballet shoes should be priority. You need to take note of the kind of ballet shoes that you would want to wear. Remember that you need to be comfortable in your ballet shoes and they need to fit properly so that you can move with comfort and ease.