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| Everything You Need to Know About Ballet Shoes |
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Many young girls want to be a ballerina when they grow up. They aspire
to be the most feminine and graceful of dancers. However, they need to
undergo long years of training and a high degree of discipline before
they can hope to perfect this art.
Anyway, every prospective ballerina
needs ballet shoes. Professional dancers know that these shoes are
different than any other type of shoe. A little insight on the history
of these shoes may prove enlightening and helpful to those who are
interested in them.
The first ballet shoes were created in the early 1800's. They were soft slippers with no toe block that is important for en pointe work. Dancers worked en pointe in soft slippers because there was only one choice in ballet shoes.
Many feet were deformed and injured because of these soft shoes. Today’s technological advances make the modern ballet shoe more comfortable and durable. Dancers can now execute difficult steps with fewer injuries.
Those who are beginners to ballet still begin training with soft ballet shoes. Dancers still continue to perfect their steps and develop the strong leg and foot muscles necessary to begin using en pointe shoes. Janssen first introduced the famous Taglioni ballet shoe in Paris. His creation was considered the best of its time. Crait moved his ballet shoe operations from Lyon to Paris in 1850. His shoes became the first serious competitor to Taglioni. Shoemakers in Milan, New York, Italy and London eventually joined this specialty market. Are you in the market for your little ballerina's ballet shoes? Then you should remember that our feet swell during the day. You should go shopping for your daughter’s shoes on the same time of day she normally dances to assure a good fit. Some sales people tend to try to fit people in a shoe that's too small.
Find a snug fit but with enough room to allow each of your daughter’s toes to feel the floor. You should remember that leather stretches just a little when you’re fitting a leather shoe.
You should not make the mistake of buying a shoe that she'll “grow in to” if your daughter’s feet are still growing. You see, the shoe may not make it to that point if your daughter is dancing regularly. The excess shoe material and space can also be painful and may contribute to injuries. You will also have to decide between canvas and leather when it comes to ballet shoes. Leather lasts longer and may look more attractive to some. On the other hand, canvas is usually less expensive and can be machine washed. You should try both types on your daughter before making a purchase. It would also be wise to consider the advantages and feel of each type of shoe. |
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