Beginning ballet students look forward to the day when they will advance to ballet pointe shoes. Ballet pointe shoes have an odd shape, but they allow ballet dancers to dance on the very tips of their toes. More advanced ballet dancing requires ballet pointe shoes.

Ballet pointe shoes should not be purchased at a discount store where you wait on yourself, or through the mail. After you have purchased your first pair, and you know exactly what you need, then you may consider ordering ballet pointe shoes through the mail or over the Internet - but that first pair should be fitted by an expert. Visit a shop that sells ballet pointe shoes, or ask your instructor for advice.

Arrive for your fitting prepared. What will you wear with your ballet pointe shoes? If stockings will be worn, make sure that you wear stockings for the fitting. It is very important that you try the shoes on in a way that will be identical to how the shoes will be worn. If padding at the point of the shoes will be used, make sure that you bring that padding with you to the fitting as well.

Purchase lightweight ballet pointe shoes. Lighter shoes make getting up on the tips of your toes easier. Price matters a great deal. Depending on how much ballet dancing you do, the type of surface you are dancing on, and the quality of the shoe, your ballet pointe shoes will need to be replaced often. However, do not sacrifice quality for price, and don’t pay too much for shoes that will need to be replaced often.

When you find ballet pointe shoes that work well for you, buy several pairs of the same shoe at one time. In fact, buy as many pairs as you can afford, and save them for later use. You will want to continue to use the same type of pointe shoes when you find the one that works best for you - having those extra pairs will definitely come in handy!

Ballet Shoes provides detailed information on Ballet Shoes, Ballet Pointe Shoes, Ballet Flat Shoes, Discount Ballet Shoes and more. Ballet Shoes is affiliated with Ballet Classes.

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Have you ever wondered why ballet pointe shoes get soft after wearing them in pointe class or
after many on stage performances? If you ask any ballet dancer she will tell you why. But since you want to know why now, here goes.

Let us begin at the beginning of how pointe shoes are made or put together. (A bit difficult to give you a blow-by-blow description, technique or making them, but take my word, they are very difficult to make).

In its simplest form the shoe consists of a leather sole and shank, a casing holding the drawstring, pink or light-pink satin material covering the shoe. And the most important part of the shoe is the BOX. Ah yes, the BOX. This is the part of the shoe that either you love as a dancer or hate. Why? Because this is where it all happens, taking all other parts of the shoe in consideration.

Basically the BOX is made with a mixture of material, glue and/or paper in such a way that when the shoes dry, the BOX becomes very hard, permitting support of the feet when on pointe.
When the shoes are worn to the point that the dancer begins to feel uncomfortable, that is
when the BOX starts to become soft losing the support the dancer needs. What to do?

Pointe shoes are very expensive and don’t last very long. So, you use JET-glue (following their
directions)or clear Shellac (no color) that can be bought at a nearby hardware store.

Using a small paint
brush, you actually paint the inside of the BOX with the Shellac. Let it dry out completely
before putting your feet into the shoes. It may take a few days for the Shellac to dry. You should have at least a minimum of two pairs of pointe shoes. Oh I know. Pointe shoes are expensive, anywhere from 50-70-90 dollars a pair! So you must take care of your pointe shoes.

There are a few tips on taking care of them on www.ballet-feetfirst.com.

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When it comes to ballet flat shoes, there are really two choices - leather and canvas. You could also choose imitation leather shoes, but these won’t usually work well, and they wear out quickly. So really, your two choices are leather or canvas ballet flat shoes.

Before shopping for ballet flat shoes, ask your instructors which type of shoe they prefer you to have. Most instructors do have a preference, and that preference comes from years of experience not only in ballet dancing, but in teaching ballet classes as well. They know what works and what does not work for the classes that they teach. Listen closely to their opinions and preferences when it comes to ballet flat shoes.

Leather soles are usually preferred, even though they are a bit more expensive than canvas. Depending on the type of floor that you are dancing on, leather soles will usually last longer than canvas; however, if you are heavier, leather will cause you to stick to the floor more, which may cause injuries. For this reason, men usually prefer canvas because there is less possibility of sticking to the floor. Canvas wears out faster than leather, though, and you can expect to replace your ballet flat shoes much more often.

Another decision that must be made for ballet flat shoes is the type of closure on them. Beginning ballet dancers are usually required to have an elastic band that runs across the top of the shoe. The band is sewn to each side of the shoe, making it more secure on the foot while dancing. This is a common request made by ballet instructors for children, and often for adults as well. Ribbon closures are usually reserved for advanced students and recitals.

Color is another factor. Your instructor may prefer a specific color of ballet flat shoes. For recitals, shoes may need to be dyed, which is easily done, especially for canvas shoes. Again, your instructor will tell you what color is required for your ballet flat shoes, as well as what type of sole and what type of closures are preferred.

Ballet Shoes provides detailed information on Ballet Shoes, Ballet Pointe Shoes, Ballet Flat Shoes, Discount Ballet Shoes and more. Ballet Shoes is affiliated with Ballet Classes.

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