How to Fit Soft Ballet Shoes

Soft ballet shoes, more commonly known as slippers, are the soft shoes you wear during practice and for floor work. These shoes keep your foot aligned for proper muscle control and for learning steps before putting on pointe shoes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Choose a shoe 1 1/2 to 2 sizes smaller than your street shoe size.

2. Step into the shoes and point your toes or stand in first position. The shoes should feel a bit snug, but not tight.

3. Go down a size if the shoe has lots of excess in the toe or if your toes slide forward when you move.

4. Go up a size if the shoe feels uncomfortably tight or the back digs into your heel.

5. The shoe fits properly when you don't have to tighten the drawstring, your heel stays in place, the tips of your toes fit almost to the tip of the shoe, and you have room to wiggle your toes.

Tips & Warnings

• As a general rule, a wide foot requires a wide shoe.
• Split sole shoes fit the same as full-sole shoes.
• Soft shoes tend to feel stiff and move on their own when new. Soften with a bit of shoe oil to make them more comfortable.
• Use rosin on the entire sole of the shoe.
• Though a proper-fitting ballet shoe should have almost no room in the toe, do not confine a child's foot in too snug a shoe. Change shoes when growth occurs to prevent injuring the foot.

[Gumbigirl114]

on 5/28/2007 Again, as I said in the pointe shoe fitting, a professional should fit ALL ballet shoes. A shoe that is not fitted properly will damage the foot and cause bunions, blisters, corns and other disgusting foot problems. DO NOT FIT SHOES YOUR SELF. ASK A DANCE STORE TO DO IT FOR YOU!

on 8/6/2006 Students who try to accommodate a ballet shoe that is too big tend to yank on the cords until gathering forces the toe forward in the shoe and away from the heel. If this is happening, the shoe will curl up when it is removed. Parents who want to purchase ballet shoes slightly roomy for their children to grow into sometimes defeat that purpose because this forward forcing prematurely wears a hole in the toe of the ballet shoe.

on 6/30/2006 If your shoes get dirty, instead of putting them in the washing machine (it makes them shrink) take a piece of cloth and soap and scrub at the dirty spots. If the cloth doesn't work, try using an old toothbrush.

on 11/22/2005 Not all shoes are 1 to 1 1/2 sizes bigger, it depends upon the brand. Be sure to check out the websites sizing chart if you're ordering online.

A good way to see if your shoes are too small is to demi-plie and if your toes curl up off the floor.

Shoes also tend to stretch when they are broken in, so a little tightness at first can be expected.

on 11/22/2005 Some times it works if you do a quick jump,and hop on your feet one at a time
then do your hardest step and then stand
still,press down hard on 1 foot and a little less pressure on the other then
move the second foot slightly back and forth on the second foot. If it touches
get a 1/2 size bigger cause you will probly wear it out.