Ballet Slippers History
The ballet slipper, as it is known today, has taken centuries to create. Through the years, the evolution of the ballet slipper has occurred to further enhance the ethereal, ephemeral character of the dancer who seems to quite literally float across the stage and appears to be performing barefoot.
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Early 1400s to late 1600s
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In Italy during the 1400s, "balletos" were performed, with the dancers wearing shoes considered to be within the height of the fashion of the day. It was not until the late 1600s, under the French King Louis XIV, that shoes took on a role within the performance when silk and damask uppers with guilt fittings were favored.
Marie Ann Cupis de Camargo and the Ballet Slipper
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Marie Ann Cupis de Camargo, of the Royal Ballet, is credited with initiating the creation of the first ballet slipper. It was she, in the 1700s, who first began dancing in slippers verses shoes with heels, to facilitate more graceful jumps and leaps.
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Radical Changes in the 18th Century
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The most radical changes in the ballet slipper came during the 18th Century. Dancers largely came to favor the soft slipper during this time period, however, this slipper was not like those worn today.
Salvatore Capezio Advances the Slipper
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Salvatore Capezio is credited with advancing the making of the ballet slipper. During 1887, Capezio set up a cobbler's shop across from the Metropolitan Opera House, where he soon found himself making dance shoes and thoroughly enjoying it. His talent caused dancers from around the world to seek out his skills and purchase his slippers.
Jacob Bloch Designs for Dancers
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During the Great Depression, Jacob Bloch of Russia began fashioning ballet slippers of the finest leather. Bloch, who was a great ballet aficionado and visited many studios and attended many performances, crafted his first slippers in 1932 to meet the specifications of dancers.
Ballet Slippers Today
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Today, ballet slippers are typically made in pink, black, grey or white and are crafted in leather or canvas with a soft-suede sole, to which the pleats of the upper are precisely stitched. Traditionally, men wear white slippers and women pink, however, when performing, both male and female dancers often wear slippers dyed to match their costumes.
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References
- Photo Credit Bob Gherardi
