As most beginners start ballet when they are very young, parents usually are tasked with finding them the right ballet shoes. Ballet is an enriching experience for both girls and boys, even if they do not grow up to do it professionally. Many ballet teachers will take all the guesswork out of it and supply the shoes as a part of the class. Other teachers might give specific instructions about what to get in the way of child ballet shoes, and where to get them. You may, however, have to do all the research and make all the decisions on your own.



The first thing to look for is excellent materials and workmanship. You may be able to find discount ballet shoes in this category, too. Watch out for cheap ballet shoes that are sloppily made of inferior materials. The best materials for ballet shoes are fine leather or suede. Ballet shoes are meant to be made of materials that allow the dancers to be aware of the contact they have with the floor. They should feel their feet touch the floor with every dance step they make. If they learn this early, it will be useful to them as they grow in their ballet studies. Workmanship is also important. Whether your child's ballet shoes are hand stitched or made in a factory, the stitching should be tight and secure.

Always look for beginner's ballet shoes with a sole that can be flexed. A child's foot moves best with the natural feel of a shoe that bends. There are shoes that are made with a strip of support in the sole, but they are not right for a child. Child's ballet shoes will suit them best if they can move, and therefore dance, without stiffness in the soles. If the ballet shoes are stiff, it will inhibit the children in their dancing and make them seem stiff as well. With flexible shoes, they can be more graceful and assured.

When you have found dance shoes that will meet your child's needs, it is time to try them on. Your child not only needs to be with you to make it work. Your child also needs to be wearing the same kind of tights they use for dancing. Only then can you be sure that the ballet shoes will work on the day of class, and more importantly, on the night of the ballet recital.

With the ballet shoes on your child's feet, put your finger around the top opening of the shoes. If there are any puckers or gaps, the shoe is much too big. It will not stay on at the crucial moments when your child is dancing. On the other hand, make sure that the ballet shoes do not cut into your child's feet or force the child's toes to bunch up. It is hard to dance freely when your feet are bound up so tightly. They do not have to be so tight to stay on because child's ballet shoes come with an elastic strap to hold them on. They just need to be a perfectly snug fit. Get your child a pair of ballet shoes that are comfortable, durable, and made for dancing, and you cannot go wrong.