How to Measure Your Instep for Ballet

A ballerina should measure her feet before purchasing pointe shoes.

Ballerinas wear out two to three pairs of point shoes each week. Pointe shoes -- also called toe shoes -- allow ballerinas to dance on the points of their toes, which is a skill that requires years of training. Pointe shoes should fit snug, like a leather glove, to help ballerinas avoid injuries. Dancers should measure their insteps to ensure that they buy the best pointe shoes for their feet.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure or ruler
• Pen and paper

Instructions

1. Stand barefoot on a non-carpeted floor.

2. Find your instep, which is the tallest bone in your foot that sticks up. The instep is located between the ball and ankle of your foot.

3. Place a measuring tape or ruler flush with the floor and measure straight up to your instep.

4. Write down the measurement.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask a friend to measure your instep for you so that you don’t have to hunch over to read the measurement.

• Measure the instep on both feet because your instep can vary foot to foot.

References

• The Ballet Site: Fun Facts
• Valley Boot & Shoe Repair: Taking Your Measurements
• Gaynor Minden: Pointe Shoe Fitting Guidelines; Eliza Minden
• Best Ballet Shoes: Ballet Pointe Shoes