4 Tips to Buying Child Ballet Shoes

With so many ballet shoes to choose from, how do you know which ones are right for you? If you are new to ballet, or if you are buying your child's first pair, the following tips will help you find the perfect pair. 1. Make Sure They Fit Ballet shoes are designed to enhance the dancer's technique as well as protect the feet and ankles. Many people say that an adult ballet shoe should fit the foot "like a glove.", but children’s ballet shoes should be fitted with room to grow. When trying on child ballet shoes, raise up and balance on the balls of your feet. Your toes should not be crammed into the front of the shoe, but should be relaxed, with plenty of space to move around. If you are struggling between two close sizes, it's probably best to go with a slightly bigger size, rather than buying shoes that are a bit too snug. 2. Consider the Material Girl ballet shoes are available in leather and canvas. The material you choose is a matter of personal preference. Leather ballet shoes are more expensive, but are more durable and will probably last longer than the canvas variety. Some people believe that leather ballet shoes accentuate a pointed foot and simply appear more elegant than canvas shoes. However, some dancers prefer the feel of canvas ballet shoes. Canvas shoes are easiest to clean, as they can be thrown right into the washing machine. 3. Look at the Sole Ballet shoes are designed with full-soles or split-soles. Children’s ballet shoes are primarily full-sole ballet shoes. Half-sole ballet shoes are preferred by some adult dancers because they allow the foot to create a stronger point, as the sole is split between the heel and the toe. Sole preference is acquired through experience, and rarely makes much of a difference in dancing ability. 4. Check for Elastics When picking out child ballet shoes, keep in mind that some shoes are sold without elastics. Elastics are placed on ballet shoes to secure them to the feet. The elastics are purposely left off the shoe so the dancer can sew them on in exactly the right place, depending on the location of the arch of the foot. If you buy a pair without elastics, you'll have to sew them on yourself. It's not difficult to sew on the elastics, but some dancers, and especially parents of young dancers, prefer to buy them pre-sewn. If you find a pair of ballet shoes with pre-sewn elastics that happen to fit your foot well, consider yourself lucky to avoid threading a needle.

Girl ballet shoes are available online at: Tootsies Children Dancewear. You can visit our store by clicking on the following link: http://www.tootsiesdancewear.com/