Ballet shoes are said to be the ballet dancer’s best friend. If a ballet dancer has the wrong ballet shoes, catastrophe can occur. Ill fitting ballet shoes can cause a new dancer to never learn the proper techniques. Improper balance and injury can also occur with ballet shoes that are not properly fitted. Any ballet dancer knows that properly fitted ballet shoes are of the up most importance. Ballet shoes have 5 parts. These are: The quarters, drawstrings, side seams, pleats, and binding. For properly fitted ballet shoes each of these parts should be adjusted to fit the dancer’s foot to perfection. Ballet shoes should be fitted so that the dancer can feel the floor beneath them. In essence, ballet shoes should feel like a second skin.

The first thing you must realize is that your feet can both be different sizes. Try on various ballet shoes to see what fits best. The next step to properly fitting your ballet shoes is to be sure you are wearing tights as you would be when you are wearing your ballet shoes to dance. This will help to ensure a better fit. Never try on ballet shoes without wearing tights. Next, when you first put on your ballet shoes, pay attention to your toes. You may also injure yourself if you cannot perform the proper dance techniques as a result of your toes curling. One more thing you should also pay attention to is if your ballet shoes are too big, you will curl your toes in effort to keep the ballet shoes on. This will also result in a poor performance, bad technique, and possible injury. The next step is to criss cross your drawstrings. Then “pointe” your foot. There should be no gaping in the width of your ballet shoes. This also means there should be no extra space at any part of your ballet shoes. Also, there should be absolutely no toe room. If there is toe room you will not be able to properly “pointe” your foot. You also will not be able to feel the floor beneath you. Hence you cannot perform any dance techniques properly. Properly fitted ballet shoes are the most important thing for a ballet dancer. With all of these things in mind, you should be able to properly fit your ballet shoes. This way you are sure to be on your way to a beautiful dance performance.

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