dancinghomeschool.com

24thJune 2008

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  and we’ll be offering  sections on how to care for your shoes and useful general information about dancing.

Thanks Collin.

Ingrid

Canvas or Leather..?

 There are so many different kinds of shoes that it is not at all easy to find the right one for you. It is a trial and error process, and an expensive one too! You need to start from what type of foot you have,wide or narrow, well-arched or not, very flexible or not so flexible, etc. Then you have to try different ones to find what works for you and what fits you best. Your teacher should have some recommendations to start with, as she knows your foot type best. Sometimes it is necessary to order certain things in a shoe to make it right for you, for instance the vamp length. A very high instep and arch may need a higher vamp than a foot that is less arched, for instance. The early years of pointe work are generally spent in a search for the right shoe for your foot, and what works well for you might not work so well for someone else.