Hi ballet friend,

When I got my first ballet shoes, I had no idea what to ask for. I spent years with muscle cramps because they didn't fit well (my foot shape is a little unusual), and I didn't know all the options for comfort, support, and showing off the articulation I worked so, so hard for.

It's fine to start ballet in bare feet or socks, although you might prefer a shoe built to support your dancing right away. As you start moving across the floor, turning, and picking up the pace, ballet shoes:

• provide traction and arch support

• keep your toes from getting caught on the floor (ouch!)

• provide light resistance to strengthen your intrinsic foot muscles — this pays off big time in jumps and pointework 🩰

You have tons of options — here’s what I like to look for:

Fit — your toes should rest flat on the floor. If the shoe makes them scrunch, it's too small. Once your toes have enough room, you're aiming to reduce excess material without making your foot feel tense. Try different lengths and widths until you find your Goldilocks combo.

Elastics and drawstrings — if the length and width are right, the shoe should stay on your heel when you rise. Then you can customize the tightness of drawstring and elastic to make sure the fabric stays pretty flush with the sides of your arch. That gives your foot a little more support and shows off your arches.

Material - leather provides the most structured support, but is the least clingy to your arch. Traditional canvas is your middle of the road option in terms of structured support and close fit. Stretch canvas is like extra clingy sock fabric with a sole - not a ton of support or resistance. Personally, I don't love wearing stretch canvas or recommend it for most dancers I teach.

Outer sole — a full sole is a single piece of leather (or veggie alternative) that provides support and resistance along the whole bottom of your foot. A split sole has two pieces of leather to protect the heel and the balls of the feet, and canvas that clings to the middle of your foot.

Extra support — dance sneakers have a split sole that supports your arch way more than traditional ballet slippers, and a smooth "turning surface" so the rubber sole doesn’t catch on the floor. The downside is that it's harder to learn correct use of your toes (and harder for your teacher to see what your feet are doing). Foot and ankle taping techniques can help manage instability while you build strength. Tape can be worn under any kind of dance shoe.

Colour — picking a shoe that matches either your tights or your skin tone can create a longer, more fluid line, but there's no hard rules.

If you’re in the market for ballet shoes, you can try different varieties at your local dance store or order online. Lots of shops will let you order a few sizes and styles, and return what doesn't work (as long as you keep them in brand new condition). I like ordering from The Shoe Room.

If you’re not sure of the fit, I’m always happy to show up at class a few minutes early to take a look for you — just shoot me an email.

Happy browsing,

Natasha