Everything in a good ballet studio exists for a reason and a purpose, including the DANCE WEAR

ABOUT BALLET SHOES:

Ballet Feet Move

So Must The Shoe

The amazing design of Ballet Slippers is over looked for so many have their sights set on Pointe Shoes. The ballet slipper, fits like a glove, molds to the shape of the owner's unique foot, yet twists and moves and bends without a pinch. It is a brake, allowing the dancer to land from any angle without skidding. At the same time it is as smooth as glass, offering little resistance when the dancer turns several revolutions.

3 BASIC CHOICES, BEWARE OF THE 2^nd

(F) and (X) are "full sole" ballet shoes but only one is zandance recommended. The best "full sole" for ballet is actually shorter than full length, stopping at the end of the ball of the foot, allowing the toes to grip the floor as needed. There are many (X) extended full shoes on the market and should be avoided. They allow the foot to slip within the shoe, reduce balance by limiting toe movement. The (F) full sole is the traditional ballet shoe that has graced feet for decades with very little change because it works well.

The third choice is the (S) split sole. It is most shaped like the foot, allowing the shoe to move with the foot, improving line and improving the instructor's ability to see the foot work.

WHICH IS BEST? Full or Split?

The “full sole” (X) extend almost the full length of the foot is not recommended. Trying to dance in them is a bit like trying to thread a needle with work gloves on. It can be done, but why try? The standard "full sole" (F) that's closer to a 3/4 sole is a workable shoe and a favorite for many for years. The newer (S) “split sole” follows the shape of the arch better than the full sole. This improves the artistic lines being drawn in space and that’s what ballet is all about. Some teachers feel it is easier to see what the dancer is doing with their feet in split soles. Full soles cost slightly less. Many teachers recommend full soles for beginning youth for they are not ready to develop the foot lines which can be concealed and usually grow feet go through shoes quickly making cost factor. It has been rumored that full soles are good because they make the foot work harder than split soles. I have not seen research to verify this. The ballet slipper, full or split, is very light weight and flexible. It hardly seems either would offer enough resistance to strengthen a foot.

MATERIAL CHOICE: "LEATHER", "CANVAS," "SATIN"?:

This refers to the upper portion of the shoe, not the sole. Different types of leather are used by different shoe makers. Ballet shoes are also made of imitation leather. While these are less expensive, they do not stretch as much. Leather is a better buy for growing feet than imitation leather. The term "Canvas" should be replaced with the word "Cloth" for the canvas shoe is a far cry from the canvas one might find on a sail boat.

Canvas uppers have become popular in recent year. Initially canvas cost less than leather. Recently the price of leather has not increased as fast as the price of canvas. As of today, it is difficult to say if the leather shoe will last so much longer than the well made canvas shoe that it justifies the additional cost.

Some ballet slippers are made of satin. Satin can be great fun for performance but not standard classroom issue. Satin shoes made by a ballet shoe manufacturer are acceptable shoes. There are imitation ballet shoes made of satin on the market. These make great bedroom slippers but have little to offer dancing feet on stage or in class. (Clue: Real ballet slippers have no padding.)

WHICH IS BEST? Canvas or Leather?

It seems to depend on the dancer's foot. Some dancers prefer canvas because they feel they have a better grasp of the floor and teachers can see feet working better. Canvas does not stretch as much as leather so it does not shape to foot over time as much as leather.

ADDING LEFT & RIGHT

SANSHA R&L #2: Until recently, all ballet shoes were made the same, allowing the foot to shape the shoe to a left or right. The Gaynor Minden pointe shoe designed separate shapes for left and right that improved performance. Sansha #2, a ballet slipper, offers a left and right shape. Significant improvement? At this time, the vote is out. What will the dancer with 2 left feet do for shoes? Most dancers consistently wear out a left or right quicker. Eventually 2 lefts, or 2 rights can be used to make a pair. This development ends that practice.

(Dancers who find most ballet shoes tight at the knuckle like these. Guess they are a hair wider than the standard shoe.)

FITTING OF BALLET SHOES: (NO GROWING ROOM NEEDED)

	The ballet slipper should be comfortably snug. They stretch and form to the foot. Allowing growing room turns to slop. In addition, the shoe too large may place the end of the sole in an uncomfortable place. Besides, compared to tennis shoes, ballet slippers are reasonably priced.
	Notice that toes naturally lift from the floor near the ball of the foot. The ballet slipper's pleated toe attaches to the sole of the shoe in this space. This helps distribute weight and adds balance. But if the shoe is too long or short, the dancer may feel she is standing on an uncomfortable wad of something.

The sole of the shoe ends slightly before the heel of the foot ends. To extend the sole further can cause problems in releve. Too much heel past the end of the sole can be uncomfortable. Try a larger size. Sometimes the fit is right, but the dancer's foot is sensitive. Try padding with a Kleenex, or small amount of lambs wool until shoe and foot get used to each other.

After 2 years of wear, this shoe has completely shaped to the dancer's foot. It is now about 2 sizes larger than it began. Beginning students would have found the initial fit too tight. But the shape of this dancers foot makes it impossible to get the front of the shoe properly aligned in a larger size. Even tho her heel extend past the sole, the entire shoe is most comfortable and provide excellent balance for her.

(P.S. The big foot pictured above belongs to me. It's danced in soft ballet shoes for over 50 years. It's been in pointe shoes for decades. It's still working great. Any damage done has been from improperly fit street shoes. If you are a tennis street shoe maker, would you please make one for long toes, high arches, and narrow heels? At the least, could you stop making women's' shoes on men's' molds?)

WHAT OLD SHOES TELL THE DANCER:
Keep a close watch on the wear pattern of ballet shoes. It offers valuable feedback.

1: If the shoe wears out on the instep side of the sole (the big toe side) but not on the outer side (little toe side) the dancer is rolling in. This is often a result of attempting to get the turnout from the feet rather than the hips. This risks injuries to ankles and knees, and the dancer will find movement very awkward. 2: I wear marks wrap the little toe the dancer is cycling, brushing the little toe on the floor when pointing it to the front. Another ungood thing to do. The foot should always rotate outward not inward. 3: If the dancer is properly aligned the dirt, scuff marks, wear marks will be in a straight line down the sole of the shoe, from toe to heel.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN BALLET SHOES and DANCE BOOTS?
About a quarter inch.

Sansha JB3 dance boots are made for quiet movement. They are split sole canvas ballet slippers with a quarter inch heel. While a quarter inch does not seem like much, it is enough to alter body positioning. It requires practice to get used to this small difference. The heel makes a nice brake, giving movement a quick sharp appearance. The lace-up ankle high style makes them a great shoe for soldier roles and other roles needing a more street shoe appearance.

(I have not noticed black scuff marks on the floor from these boots. While I won't say it will never happen, I will say it is less likely than many other jazz shoes.)

FAQ: Which BRAND & STYLE is BEST?
Brands and Styles vary in design and material content. Some have a deep vamp. Some have a short vamp. Some are lined. Some are not. Prices vary. Some expensive shoes last longer. Some do not. Some are made better. Some are not. Some only come in medium width. Which is best? Consult your instructor and your foot.

FAQ: Why Can’t I Wear My Sister’s Shoes?
Ballet Slippers, especially leather, form to the feet. Your sister’s foot is shaped differently so her shoes have formed to her feet, not yours.

FAQ; Why do cheap ballet come with elastic attached and the spendy ones make you sew it on?
Traditionally elastics were not attached. Rule of thumb today is expensive shoes do not have elastics attached. Why? Perhaps because more advanced dancers buy more expensive shoes. Advanced dancers have learned the best spot to attach their elastics, and that best spot varies from one dancing foot to another. The elastic should be attached at the best point to pull the shoe to the arch.

Dance Wear Evolution:

Would you wear a football helmet to play basketball? Would you wear basketball shorts to go snow skiing? So why wear gymnastic clothing for a ballet class?

Unique styles of clothing develop through attempts to improve performance and to meet the unique needs of the selected activity. The football player needs protection thus there is the helmet, great for football, too view constricting for basketball. At the first sliding downhill fall, the skier wearing basketball attire would tear his/her unprotected skin to shreds.
Dance wear has evolved to meet its unique needs, just like football, basketball, ... In the early 1900's dance wear looked like swim wear, and swim wear looked more like a dress with bloomers. Both swim wear and dance wear evolved into body hugging shorts and top. Then swimming got the bathing suit and dancing got the leotard. But dance has many forms, each with its own unique needs:
Modern Dance includes falls (from standing to lying on the floor.) Obviously a dancer would get tangled up doing this in a traditional ballet skirt. Falls, often broken with an arm sliding on the floor, make long sleeves appealing. Tights without feet were developed for Modern Dance since it is performed barefoot. Then the desire to get rid of bulky layers led to joining the leotard and tights into the unitard.
Ballet needed shoes of incredible specialization. Tights are full footed, providing a thin layer of protection for skin. Ballet (before cross-pollinating with modern dance) was performed mostly in standing position. Without concern for falls, ballet evolved into sleeves of various lengths.
Ballet classes consist of repeating methodical exercise followed by rest followed by exercise followed by rest, followed by exercise... The ballet dancer must wear clothing that is not too hot during exercise but prevents too much cool down during rests. Tights and leotards with cotton content or fabric that absorbs perspiration, provide the best temperature control. (Shiny lycra may look like fun but gets cold and clammy feeling real fast.)
Unique to ballet is the barre work where cold bodies are gradually warmed. This has resulted in the development of over wear. "Warm-ups" are sweaters, tights, leg & arm warmers to be worn over regular dance wear until the body has been warmed up. They are also used to keep the body warm during extended rest periods such as between class and rehearsal.
Ballet "practice skirts" evolved to help dancers see how the movement moves. Some instructors do not permit skirts in class, or only permit sheer ones, because they can prevent the instructor from seeing if the body is properly aligned. Skirts can also cause problems in partnering classes. Nothing like a guy trying to grab a body before she hits the floor and coming up with only a handful of skirt. (Drop waist tutu's and costumes were designed to solve this problem on stage.)
Aerobics is a form of movement to music that has no intention of staging a performance. Being gym bound for life provided new freedoms to dance wear designs for it meant no concern for group conformity, or the effects of stage lighting on fabrics. The purpose of aerobics is to get the heart pumping. That means no rest stops and the body gets hot. The tank leotard became the standard. Tights got shortened to "bike shorts" & the combination was invented the "Biketard". Aerobic's method of getting the heart pumping includes series of bouncy jumps. This resulted in a need for shock absorption greater than the typical dance shoe provides. The light weight tennis shoe became the solution. As aerobics became fashionable, dance wear became high fashion. Multi-colors, patterns, you name it and a leotard became created in it. Great fun for the gym, but not automatically appropriate in the dance studio.
Dance studio wear is not a fashion statement. Dance gear is selected to improve performance. Even hair style effects performance. Hair is not warn up so a student can look like a ballet dancers. A student cannot dance like a ballet dancer unless the hair is out of the eyes for clear sighting (spotting) while turning.

FAQ: How do you know what to purchase for class? Ask your instructor.

Dance Tights: Foot who?

	Ballet Tights are extend over the entire foot, like panty hose, and are referred to as "footed" or "full foot". Ballet tights are different from panty hose. The fabric has more stretch and warmth.
	"Footless" tights are dance tights designed for Modern Dance, and Gymnastics. They are made of the same fabric as footed tights, so they keep muscles warm and stretch well.

Prices for tights vary widely. Good dance tights have so much stretch that they do not pull or bind in a grand plea. At the same time they do not wrinkle or bag at the knees or ankles.

Once upon a time, a ballet dancer was a ballet dancer. A modern dancer was a modern dancer. A tap dancer was a tap dancer. A jazz dancer was a jazz dancer. Now a dancer may take a class in each, one right after the other. The dance wear industry has risen to the challenge with "convertible tights." Convertibles are full footed tights with a hole in the bottom of the arch. Come from ballet, pull the toes through the hole, roll up a little and wella - footless for the next class without having to change clothing.

Feedback from Dirty Tights:

While most parents are constantly shouting, "Keep your cloths clean!" tights need to get dirty. With proper execution of steps, the working foot touches the supporting leg from arch to knee. There should be dirt lines on the inside of ankles and knees, lines from inside arch to ankle to inside knee.

Leotards: Tank what?

The Basics: The body of all ballet leotards are about the same. Fabrics vary. Most are describe by the type of sleeve or lack of sleeve. "Long Sleeve" leotard extends to the wrist. "3/4 Sleeve" ends between wrist and elbow. "Short Sleeve" ends between elbow and shoulder. "Cap Sleeve" barely covers the shoulder. "Tank" has no sleeve, just a strap between shoulder and neck that varies in width from 3/4" to 1.5" and the "Camisole" has a strap of less than a half inch in width.

"Dancer's Leg Cut" has a leg hole that clears the hip socket so that there is no binding while dancing ballet. "High Leg Cut" can have a leg hole that extends to the waist is more of a jazz and aerobic style.

The "high back" or standard back leotard covers the bra strap. The "low back" leotard is popular with advanced dancers for it is cooler. The camisole is also popular with good teachers for the instructor can see how the back muscles are working. The basic leotard (above) has a "scoop neck" or circular shape at head opening. The scoop neck shape can be changed by gathering, pulling fabric together at center front and is called a "pinched" front (right). Some leotards are not scooped at head opening; they are "straight" across or "square" neck. Seams may be added to define the leotard shape and line and may be referred to as "body darts".

What difference does the color make?

Over the centuries, color and style of wear have become the signature of many athletic activities. Traditional classical ballet evolved in black leotards and pink full foot tights. As soon as invented, pink shoes became the standard because they help to visually extend the leg line from hip to toe.
Some schools use colors to separate skill levels. It can help the student to see the ladder of success to be climbed as well as to realize the ladder has many steps requiring many years of study.

Modern Dance began as a revolt to ballet so it could hardly be caught wearing pink tights. Modern Dancers find black tights and natural colors more appealing. Tap dancers were once identified with fishnet black tights. This tradition seems to have given way to an anything but pink stance (usually black or skin tone tights, often shimmery.)
Jazz is a mix of Modern, Ballet, Tap, & Ethnic. Jazz is exciting, alive, unpredictable. Jazz's mix and message is hardly suited to the wearing of black.

In response to many dancers taking classes in different forms of dance at the same time many instructors have relaxed dress codes to "a solid dark color leotard" hoping the dancer can find within that range something earthy enough for modern, lively enough for tap or jazz, yet focused enough for ballet.
(Some people identify themselves as being "Irish," or "English," or "German," ... To wear black leotard, and pink tights is to identify oneself as "ballet dancer" without saying a word.)

Warm-Ups

The goal of warm-ups are to warm muscles
(and a great way to escape the pink and black for a while.)
Wear over regular dance wear until the body has been warmed up. Use before and after class. Use to keep the body warm during extended rest periods such as between classes and rehearsals. Youth should not use them for the entire class. Adults may need them for entire class. (If used for entire class, put sweats on over them after class to permit gradual cool down.

Some bodies need help warming specific parts of the body. So there are several styles. "Leg warmers" come in different lengths. Give just one or both ankles a head start. Give ankle and knee a head start on the rest of the body. "Warm-up shorts" (below) are to get hip muscles moving. The "roll down tights" permit an extra layer of warmth at the hips. The "Camisole" can keep the back warm, or be pulled down over hips.

Warm-ups made from fabric containing silk are Zandance recommended. They are lightweight, not too hot or too cold, and last if cared for properly. Note that Sansha has paired the red baggy warm-up with their jazz sneakers. Their tight fitting warm-ups are paired with pointe shoes.