Ballet Clothes and Shoes

Everything you need to know about Ballet clothes and shoes and what to wear to Ballet class is here.

You have probably seen pictures of dancers in rehearsal or class wearing Ballet clothes that look like they've come straight out of a dumpster. Ripped tights, holes in every other item of clothing and Ballet slippers that look like they’ve been chewed by a dog.

It is true to say that Ballet dancers, perhaps in rebellion at the ‘immaculate’ visions they become on stage when in costume, take perverse pleasure in turning up for class in Ballet clothes that a tramp would think twice about.

But, every one of those rips and holes has been danced for and sweated for and they are worn with pride. Well, usually. Sometimes it’s really obvious which rips and tears have been added for dramatic effect – and they don’t have anything like the kudos of truly worn Ballet clothes.

It’s a dance thing and you’re now part of that world, so you might as well get used to it.

So the best tip is:

Buy your Ballet clothes and shoes new and enjoy wearing them out over the years!

First, and most importantly, call your teacher or dance studio and find out what ballet clothes they recommend. This is part of the information that you should always get before you go. See the Classes section for other questions you should be asking before joining a class.

Ask if the Studio has a Dress Code

Generally they will tell you if you must have the right shoes or if socks are OK (see below). And then, as far as the Ballet clothes themselves are concerned, they will probably say something like “Just wear whatever you feel comfortable in”.

This is what they mean:-

Comfort is the key.

If you don’t feel comfortable in the Ballet clothes you’re wearing, you won’t be comfortable enough to dance as well as you truly can.

You don’t need expensive new ballet clothes. You can wear fitted jogging pants or leggings and a t-shirt. Just make sure that you don’t wear anything too tight or too loose. Very loose fitting jogging pants hide the line of your leg so the teacher can’t see if your hips and knees are positioned correctly.

Loose clothing can also flap around which is annoying and distracting (for you and your fellow class-mates). So wear something semi-fitted and comfortable. And that allows for the full range of motions.

But do try to get hold of some proper Ballet shoes.

Your Ballet teacher or studio should be able to tell you in advance where to get these from or may even supply them for you. For beginners, you need a totally flat leather or satin shoe.

In life as in dance: Grace glides on blistered feet.  - Alice Abrams

If you have a choice, the leather will last much longer than the satin. The satin will make you feel more like a ‘proper’ Ballet dancer, but when it’s new it is so shiny that it almost glows, so you can’t hide any of your mistakes as your feet will appear near-luminous.

Also, they will wear out much quicker (although if it is the scruffy look that you are aiming at – see above – then go for it).

You should always try to buy the shoes ahead of time so that you can try them out a little at home first to get used to them. And some of them need a little bit of work before they can be used.

Placing Elastic on Ballet Shoes

If your shoes don’t come with elastic already attached (most don’t) you’ll need to sew elastic onto them so that they’ll stay in place.

You simply sew on elastic pieces, usually supplied with the shoes, across the shoe so that it will be held in place. You can be shown how to do this when you buy the shoe.

There are a few different ways of placing the elastic. It is a matter of personal choice if you want a straight piece from one side of the shoe to the other, or if you want two pieces for extra security or a criss-cross effect for extra comfort.

Whatever you decide, try to use a reasonably wide elastic that won’t easily fray or snap.

And remember that the point of the exercise is to keep the shoe on, not cut off the blood supply to your foot, so don’t sew them too tight.

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You should be aware that your shoe is securely on your foot and not of discomfort as anything digs into your skin. This is how to achieve all that:

If you’ve bought the shoes without the elastic attached, this criss-cross method is the most popular and secure (although you can just opt for one piece straight across).

A good tip is to sew the ends of the elastic on the outside of the shoe. This will mean that it is less likely to rub the side of your foot and cause irritation when you are dancing.

Here are the drawstring ties on the front of the shoe.

Pull the ties until the shoe tightens around your foot. Tight enough so there are no gaps between the shoe and your foot, but not too tight!

Then knot the ties and tie in a bow.

Finally, tuck the tied drawstrings well under the front of the shoe so you can’t see them. Voila! You’re ready to dance.

Shoes are the only financial outlay before going to a Ballet class, and aren’t too expensive.

Wearing Socks

In theory, you can do a Ballet class just wearing socks on your feet. But this isn’t ideal as socks don’t give you any grip whatsoever, and this can make it hard to hold some of the foot positions. It can also be hazardous, causing you to slip.

But it is better than trying to do a class in bare feet. Then you won’t have enough slip to be able to glide your feet through the motions. So socks are better than nothing at all.

Increasingly popular are pirouette socks – socks which just cover the front half of your foot and your toes. But do always check with your teacher or studio first. Do they insist on proper Ballet shoes? If they do, they should be able to supply them or recommend a local supplier.

You've never felt pain until you've walked in a dancer's shoes.  - Anon

There is always a startling array of Ballet clothes (or sometimes lack of them) in classes. So just as long as you are comfortable and have a go, that’s the important thing. You can always go searching for outfits at your local dump as you become more proficient...

And remember...

It is as important to be comfortable in your head and your heart as in what you are wearing.

So finding the right class to dance in should get your best attention and the outfits can follow.

A Big No-No...

A quick word about pointe shoes. These are the ‘block’ shoes that are constructed to allow a Ballerina to dance by standing on the very tips of her toes.

There is no law that says you can’t buy a pair of these and have a go at dancing in them if you want to. But standing and dancing en pointe is not a matter of simply strapping on the shoes and hoping they will do all the work.

The work required to dance en pointe is hard, very technical, demands huge strength and usually takes years to achieve.

But, there are people out there who think that simply putting on pointe shoes will magically turn them into a Ballerina. Yes, excruciatingly, we have seen people stupid enough to try this. That’s a very harsh thing to say but it is absolute stupidity.

Bear in mind the potential for damage to your feet, legs and back is so high, you will almost certainly injure yourself. You won’t be able to dance in them properly and therefore won’t look like you thought you would. And it’ll be ridiculously painful. And as if you need any more warning, you could be ruining your chance of becoming a really good dancer in the future by doing damage to you body that you can’t undo.

Anyone who has a genuine, sincere interest in Ballet and dancing it, would never consider standing en pointe unless fully trained to do so.

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