How to Find the Best Ballet Shoes that Fit You

  Hey guys,

Today my blog is going to be about how to find the right kind of ballet shoe, for those who are on pointe and just regular ballet.  Also I will be giving my own tips and advice on how you can take care of them better so that they will last longer.

For those of you who are just dancing in a regular ballet slipper, your ballet shoe should fit snug like a glove.  I always found that wearing ballet shoes that did not fit that tightly just made it harder for me to dance in and it was frustrating that they just kept on falling off.  Even though your shoe should be tight, your toes should not be crammed.
Here is what you should do:

• Balance on the ball of your foot
• Relax your foot
• If your toes do not cram up against the front of the shoe, then it is your perfect fit. 

If you are struggling between two sizes, always go with the little bigger size, so your foot is snug, but you do not want your foot to be too loose in the shoe.

What brand of ballet shoes should I buy?
If you are new to ballet, or just do not know what brand of ballet slipper to buy, I am suggesting two different brands that are my favorite and that have lasted me a very long time.  I normally wear Capezio or Danskin dance slippers, or any other dance shoe for that matter because they have the best quality in their shoe.  Also, I would suggest buying a split sole ballet slipper because it provides friction and for new dancers.

If you are a pointe ballet dancer, finding the right ballet shoe is a little more difficult and more important because pointe is more dangerous. This is because when you are doing pointe, all of your weight is distributed to the top of your toes.  This causes blisters and bruises, so it is important that you find the right shoe so that you do not hurt and destroy your feet and toes.   

Many of the pointe shoes are made differently and  come in different length and styles so it is important that you try a lot of different types on before you make your choice. 
When trying on a pointe shoe, it is important, that you stand fully on your tip toes and make sure your toes are resting and laying flat.  If this is not the case, your shoe is too small.  It is important not to get pointe shoes too big however, because it is easy to trip over them and fall and pick up bad dancing habits. 

With pointe shoes, your toes  actually lay on a piece of wood at the top of the shoe.  When you stand on your tip toes, your toes push up against that wood and will cause ingrown toe nails, blisters, and cuts all over your feet.  It is important that you put some kind of pad insert at the tip of your ballet shoe so that there is some cushion for your toes.  After all, if you are a constant dancer, you do need some comfortability.

Pointe Shoes are going to get really worn and ripped.  Your are going to have to replace them every two-three months, which is very costly considering that one pair of ballet shoes can cost up to $200.  I  take care of my shoes by:

• Airing them from sweat between dance practices
• Keep them in a mesh bag, not a regular dance or gym bag- we do this so that they do not get moldy from the sweat of you foot after your dance.  Also it eliminates the bad odor that can occur from sweat.
• Stick a dryer sheet in your meshed bag
• Make sure your ribbons are sewed on well

These little tips helped me when I was looking for ballet slippers and pointe shoes.  I hope that this was informative and I was able to help you learn more on how to find the right ballet shoes and how to take care of them.