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Stepping into the world of ballet and worried about which ballet shoes to buy or perhaps overwhelmed by the range of options out there? As a beginner, it can be quite challenging to navigate all the choices available.
We hear you, and we’re here to help! The Mino Dance team has compiled a buying guide covering what ballet shoes are, their types, and which are the best ones to buy and use as a beginner dancer. Hopefully, these insights will be adequate for you to make an informed decision.
If you're unfamiliar with their use, ballet shoes are specific types of shoes that dancers wear to perform ballet. They are lightweight, round-toed, and have flexible soles, designed to fit snugly around the foot so that dancers can move with intention, without impediment to movement with uncomfortable fabric-to-skin contact or unnecessary wiggle room.
Ballet shoes come in different materials like leather, satin, or canvas, and have either full soles or split soles, depending on the dancer's level and preference:
A welcome benefit of canvas shoes is that they’re significantly easier to clean than leather, as they can be thrown in the washer! However, we recommend removing the suede heel and toe pads first, as they are highly susceptible to damage from water.
Truthfully, it's quite difficult to figure out what shoe and size is the best for you. Visiting a dance store (like Mino Dance!) and trying one on is the best way to do that.
Remember, everyone's feet are different. A trip in-store allows you to try on multiple shoes, and maybe even ask the staff for valuable advice on what fits you best.
With that said, we do often recommend that beginners should start with a full soled leather slipper, which offers more robust feet and heel support, and helps in building a strong arch in your feet and ankles. They also allow you to work your feet as much as you can, while being thin enough to ‘feel the floor’ as you dance.
This is incredibly important, as you want to be able to feel your feet in relation to the floor, so that your instructor is able to clearly see the mechanics of your movement. Leather slippers also last longer, and therefore will give you the most value for money.
We highly recommend taking a look at Energetik’s Harper Ballet Shoe. Not only does it mould perfectly snug to your foot, but it has also pre-attached elastic over the instep, an excellent slimline design with elastic binding, and is available in four widths to accommodate growing feet.
As a more experienced dancer in your career, you can then choose to move onto split sole leather or even canvas slippers. The latter part is often regarded as a great contender, as they conform to the foot nicely and come in a variety of colours, which can make your lines ‘look longer.’
Note: If you would love to know the difference between full sole or split sole ballet shoes and the better option between them, we invite you to check out our guide.
In conclusion, a full sole leather ballet shoe is the best option if you’re starting out. As you show more and more improvements, your options can expand to split sole leather or even canvas shoes.
Just make sure to get a shoe that fits snugly, but not too tight that you can still wiggle your toes. However, we highly recommend visiting our Sunbury as it will allow you to try on multiple brands and styles that you might like. This us to accurately evaluate your foot shape and recommend a suitable ballet shoe.
If you have any questions or inquiries regarding ballet shoes, we invite you to reach out to us today for assistance.