Thread: ballet slipper rec?

Does anyone practice in ballet slippers, and do you have any recommendations for me? Not looking to spend a lot, but I need an alternative to my hermes sandals and split-sole jazz shoe, neither of which are very comfortable for more than an hour or two.

I started reading reviews of slippers at Discount Dance Supply, and when I felt my eyes start to glaze, came here to ask.

I think you should try on at a dance store, the sizing runs all over the place depending on brands. I like split soles, and prefer canvas to leather because you can toss them in the wash.

I really like my gymnast slippers I found at the local dance supply store for under $20. They don't have the cushion on the ball of the foot like the ballet slippers do and made of canvas so easy to throw in the washing machine. They look like this http://www.onstagedancewear.com/PD-3161.aspx

I like these:

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Womens-Pro-Elastic-Ballet-Slipper/dp/B001U5U0CW/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_10]Amazon.com: Women's "Pro Elastic" Ballet Slipper - S0621L: Shoes[/ame]

I wear ghillies (Discount Dance Supply). But I agree with canvas split sole ballet slippers. The are flexible, will mold to your feet, and if you get pink or white, you can dye them! ;-) (I was recently in a dance supply store and saw a group of pointe shoes which had been painted with flowers and butterflies. I thought that was very cool!)

{{{HUGS}}}

i love the sansha pro 1c. under $20 and light as air

One of the things that concerned me about the canvas was that some of the reviews mentioned ripping and tearing. Good point about the dying, though! (I hate pink!)

I never found that canvas wore out any more quickly than leather. I was recently told that the current canvas ballet shoes have elastic in them to better mold to the foot. Now, I am of the school of thought that you choose a left and a right foot for your ballet slippers. Many people insist that you get more longevity out of switching back and forth. While this may be somewhat true, I also found that by dedicating them, they are more comfortable in the long run.

And yes, I always wore out the big toe on my ballet slippers. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

I suggest trying some on in a store if you can. I had to try on a few different pairs before I found a pair that I liked. I personally don't like the split-sole ballet slippers (it felt like a weird lump under the ball of my foot), so I have a pair of black leather Capezio slippers with just the one continuous strip of suede along the sole. Yeah, the split sole looks nice when you really shape the foot for ballet, but it's so rare that we point the toe that much in bd that I haven't noticed a difference.

Interestingly, my jazz shoes are split sole, though. Strange--if I dance in ballet slippers for more than an hour or two, my feet get sore, but my jazz shoes can get me through 3+ hour workshops with no problems! Perhaps it's because I put padded insoles into them for extra cushioning.

Good points about the, er, pointing, Anjela. My jazz shoes have a tiny heel on them which, as split soles, means no arch support, and that's what makes them uncomfortable to me. But--heck, unless you dance in them for a few hours at a time, how do you know?

I think I will go with a full suede sole slipper from Discount DS. I'm not risking a lot of moola and I'll know soon enough whether they work or not. If not, I'll move on to some of the other suggestions here. Thanks, everyone!

I use Paul Wright leather ballet slippers and find them excellent and very good value for money. Before the Paul Wright takeover of the local market I wore Blochs.

I wear a good oldfashioned ballet slipper with a sole, none of this split sole stuff. I have very high arches as it is. I do choose one to be the left.

Bear in mind that ballet slippers take a little while to break in. They tend to feel rather firm for a bit till they mould to your feet. But they're worth it. And they're not expensive.

My favorite at the moment are canvas Sancha, I have a pair with split soles and one with a regular sole. You can get them in different widths, find them very comfortable and not too expensive.

just wanted to point out that you can dye the leather ones too- just pick up a bottle of shoe paint- easy to do touch ups too. I've been buying Capezio split soles for the last 10 years 'cause that's what's available locally (that or the full sole daisy pinks). I like 'em but have nothing to compare them to.

While I don't dance BD in ballet shoes, (I find them a bit restrictive and I usually just use these) when I go to soft shoe ballet classes (not en pointe) I love these leather foot pads, but canvas uppers, the break in time is much less then leather shoes and the tightness is adjustable via an elastic that runs through the top. I also like that they come in regular and wide width (I have a wide foot.) They only take a class or two to break in.

You must be aware that ballet shoes encourage releve on the big toes which is great for ballet turnout but not so good for parrallel releve which should be done on the balls of the foot.

I wear Capezio leather Juliets. Very comfortable, soft. I put a flexible gel insole inside. The other shoe I wear a lot is the Capezio Pedini. And I have dance sneakers. You will see them all at dance camp 'cause I switch shoes as the day goes on depending on how my feet feel and what we are doing in class. Dance sneakers are UGLY but sure feel good.

It depends on the floor that I'm practicing on because sometimes ballet slippers can be too slippery while others work well with them. I agree that they are the most comfortable in my experience but sometimes I just give up and dance barefoot.

if your slippers (or any suede-soled dance shoes) are slipping too much, you can rough up the sole with a little fine grit sand paper- they get slippery over time as the suede mats down and polishes.

Trying them on in a store's better than buying online unless you're sure of the brand/size. I recommend tan or pink leather, they last longer & can be spray painted if you want to wear them onstage. Tan & pink doesn't look good onstage with a costume.
I do full soles for performing but split soles are ok for practising at home.

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

You must be aware that ballet shoes encourage releve on the big toes which is great for ballet turnout but not so good for parrallel releve which should be done on the balls of the foot.

That is really interesting. I had never really stopped to consider anything like that. I once took classes from a bellydance teacher that required all her upper level students to wear ballet slippers; I wonder if she'd taken that into consideration.

I will say that when I bellydance in ballet slippers, I unconsciously tend to dance in higher releve than I normally would. I was thinking that somehow just having the shoes on my feet recalls muscle memory from ballet class, but maybe the shoes themselves are having an influence, too.

love mine, after a year on em I am getting cute holes in the first layer on the bottom

Bloch Pro Elastic for Ladies - S0621L

I love Capezio Pedini Femme. I bought mine at the Capezio store in NYC, but most shoe outlet stores carry them. There's a Pedini that has buckles; the Femme is elastic.

Women's “Pedini Femme” Teaching Sandal - Style #PP323 at Discount Dance Supply for a picture.

Originally Posted by anala

love mine, after a year on em I am getting cute holes in the first layer on the bottom

Bloch Pro Elastic for Ladies - S0621L

These are my favorite as well, but holes appeared in the big toe area within 6 months..... I tried the black leather and they slide sideways, so now I am going back to get another pair in canvas. Remember to pay attention to sizing as 2 sizes smaller than street shoes with these is definitely accurate. $15 won't break the bank, especially if you order several to combine shipping charges...I believe you can make returns at DDS.

Originally Posted by Souzan

I wear Capezio leather Juliets. Very comfortable, soft. I put a flexible gel insole inside. The other shoe I wear a lot is the Capezio Pedini. And I have dance sneakers. You will see them all at dance camp 'cause I switch shoes as the day goes on depending on how my feet feel and what we are doing in class. Dance sneakers are UGLY but sure feel good.

I'll probably bring along my dance sneaks too, but they don't have a "sweet spot" for turning so I don't know if I'll end up using them. But I think it's a good idea to bring different pairs along, and I think I'll also start looking for gel inserts. Just trying to embody the Girl Scout Belly Dancer and be prepared!

Originally Posted by Taj

I'll probably bring along my dance sneaks too, but they don't have a "sweet spot" for turning so I don't know if I'll end up using them. But I think it's a good idea to bring different pairs along, and I think I'll also start looking for gel inserts. Just trying to embody the Girl Scout Belly Dancer and be prepared!

We might be on carpet over concrete so the gel inserts are good. My sneaks have a spin spot and the soles are smooth enought that they work on carpet. I usually bring a soft knee brace and ankle brace along too just in case the floor is really hard. Gel is the ticket!

Originally Posted by Anjela

That is really interesting. I had never really stopped to consider anything like that. I once took classes from a bellydance teacher that required all her upper level students to wear ballet slippers; I wonder if she'd taken that into consideration.

I will say that when I bellydance in ballet slippers, I unconsciously tend to dance in higher releve than I normally would. I was thinking that somehow just having the shoes on my feet recalls muscle memory from ballet class, but maybe the shoes themselves are having an influence, too.

Firstly, I don't understand higher level students being required to take class in ballet shoes unless they are required to perform in ballet shoes, it trains the feet, movement and tactile sensation differently then barefoot.

I tend to have a higher releve because I am using the toe position like ballet, but also because the shoes have the leather pads that help balance on demi pointe and create more stability.

Also I love my Sansha ballet shoes, but only for ballet. I use pedis for BD and gladiators, or low heels for performing when I simply can't be barefoot.

I dont require shoes...but I do encourage them. We have water cooled air conditioners (swamp coolers) in the studio and the wooden floor gets too damp to to turn on easily with out knee stress. Socks are too slippery.

I have had too many experiences with rocks, beads, broken glass etc- even on recently swept supposedly clean stages- to risk barefoot any more. I don't really like the hermes style sandals since I have yet to find a pair that actually fit well & don't give me blisters, so I stick with ballet slippers, pedini femme or ballroom heels, depending on the venue. I recommend ballet slippers to students because most of them don't need to drop $40+ on shoes when ballet slippers start around $12.

Originally Posted by basina

I like these:

Amazon.com: Women's "Pro Elastic" Ballet Slipper - S0621L: Shoes

how does the sizing run on these?

pedini femme

I hate those!!! The ones I have had 2 pair (just in case it was the size). The heels are not placed well. They migrate to the middle of my heel and create a huge amount of pressure on my arch.