An Introduction to Ballet Dance Shoes

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Ballet as a performance art developed in the 17th Century courts of King Louis XIV in France, and ballet dance shoes were inspired by the original high heels the king wore for such early performances. The primitive models had uppers made from fine fabrics like damask and silk, and simple leather soles.

Modern ballet shoes still seem quite simple, but the technology and materials have changed considerably. Innovators like Charles Didelot challenged early ballerinas to dance increasingly "en pointe" or on their toes, and the level of technical skill, agility, and strength required to perform the spinning, twirling, and leaping manoeuvres demanded a better-developed style of shoe.

Two other gentlemen earned a reputation for making fine quality ballet dance shoes as ballet's popularity took hold in other parts of the world.

An Italian shoemaker named Savatore Capezio arrived in New York City in 1887 and began repairing theatrical shoes for performers at the Metropolitan Opera House. After making an emergency pair of shoes for Jean de Reszke, Capezio began making shoes for some of the best dancers, and his company is one of the largest suppliers of dancewear today.

The other prominent figure in the world of dance apparel is Jacob Bloch, who followed much the same path to success in his native Australia around 1931. At the time, Russian ballet companies began to tour the country, and Bloch's name spread among professional dancers as a talented shoemaker who built an equally prestigious brand of merchandise for the ballet community.

Today, most traditional ballerinas have several pairs of ballet dance shoes, including pointe shoes made with a special toe box to accommodate the difficult pointe work that professional dancers are required to perform. Standard colours are shades of pink, and less often, white or black. The other distinguishing characteristics of pointe shoes are the shank and the sole.

The shank is a particular type of insole typically made from cardstock, burlap, leather, or plastic of varying thickness and length, and some dancers wear more than one type for different performance styles.

The sole is often a solid piece of leather that is sewn into the surrounding fabric and is well hidden on the bottom to accent a dancer's foot. Silk ribbons, a drawstring tie or an elastic band secures the shoes over the top of the ankle. Some ballet shoes have split soles for extra flexibility.

Then there are ballet slippers that are designed for softer floor and studio work. These lighter ballet dance shoes are made from canvas or suede leather, and have split soles for better flexibility and a more tactile feel. Dancers often use these shoes in practice or when pointe work is not required, and the uppers are sometimes dyed to match specific costumes if necessary.

Ballet dance shoes are sized differently than conventional footwear, and each manufacturer may have subtle differences in size runs. They are also designed to fit snugly, but not to the point where they inhibit circulation or rub on a dancer's foot. The specific fit requires that dancers try shoes on and choose carefully, since they are vital tools for proper form and function in ballet.

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