Ballet shoes make it possible for dancers to perform some of the most breathtaking choreography. Does your child have the right gear to perform at their best?
The type of ballet shoes you buy for your child has a significant impact on their performance.
High-quality ballet shoes help prevent debilitating injuries. The wrong shoes can easily lead to sprained ankles, stress fractures, painful bunions, and more issues. Years of ballet also leads to a damaging medical problem, which is aptly called, “ballerina’s feet.”
Superior foot support is just one factor to consider. Discover the perfect ballet shoes for beginners in this latest buyer’s guide.
Types of Ballet Shoes for Beginners
There are three kinds of ballet shoes to know about. Since your child is a beginner, you’re not going to start with advanced pointe shoes. You would start with a sole shoe, also known as a ballet slipper.
There are two types of ballet slippers: split or full sole shoes. Beginners are encouraged to buy full sole ballet shoes first since they offer more support. With more experience, they can move up to split sole shoes for greater movement.
What Are Ballet Shoes Made From?
Next, you need to know the right ballet shoe material. Most high-quality ballet shoes are made from leather, canvas, or satin. Pointe shoes have additional fabric and cardboard added at the tip of the shoe.
When buying canvas ballet shoes, make sure the fabric is soft enough for full-foot flexibility. Stiff canvas fabric can obstruct movement. Avoid cheap, inexpensive canvas shoes that break easily.
Leather ballet shoes are highly recommended for beginners and experienced dancers alike. Leather is soft but durable. Most importantly, high-quality leather is more supportive than canvas.
Satin is another ballet shoe material to consider. Satin looks stunning on stage. It’s also soft like leather but not quite as durable.
How to Find Your Ballet Shoe Size
Your next step is to find your child’s ballet shoe size.
Ballet shoe sizes run a little smaller than typical kid shoe sizes. Ballet shoes have less padding and material than sneakers. It’s not uncommon to buy a ballet shoe size that’s one size (or even two sizes) smaller than their typical shoe size.
There are a couple of ways to find the perfect ballet shoe size. You can visit your local dance shoe store and have your child’s feet measured. You can also measure their feet yourself if you’re buying shoes online.
The easiest way to measure your child’s feet is to use a measuring tape. A regular stick ruler works fine. You can also trace their foot on a piece of paper and measure it that way.
If your child is a size 12 in kids, for example, you will need ballet shoes that are a size 11 or 10. If their feet are narrow, you may need a size 9.
Take Center Stage
The quality of your ballet shoes matters to your child’s performance and health. Don’t settle for shoes that fall apart. Follow these tips to find the best ballet shoes for beginners.
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