Choosing ballet slippers for a beginner

You are starting ballet and looking for your first ballet shoes? Here is everything you need to know to make the right choice from the start.

1. Canvas, leather or satin?

• Canvas: the quintessential choice for beginners. Flexible, affordable, easy to wash. Most schools require this material for the first few classes.
• Leather: more durable (3-4 times more than canvas) and fits the foot better. Choose leather after 6-12 months of practice.
• Satin: reserved for performances and shows. Not worn in class.

2. Solid or split sole?

For children and adult beginners, a solid sole is recommended. It strengthens the muscles of the foot and the arch. A split sole shows the arch better but already requires well-developed foot muscles.

3. Size: 1/2 size down or true to size?

For canvas ballet shoes: choose your usual size. The foot should sit flush with the shoe, without any gap. For leather ballet shoes: choose 1/2 size down (leather stretches with use).

4. Color

For classes, pale pink is the absolute standard for girls, and black for boys. White is reserved for performances and shows.

5. Elastic

Your ballet shoes must be sewn with elastic. Most models already come this way. If not, you must sew them yourself or have them sewn; it is essential for support.

6. And pointe shoes?

Demi-pointe shoes are flexible ballet shoes: they are worn from the very first class to work on the ball of the foot. Pointe shoes, with their rigid box, come much later, after several years of regular classes and only when the teacher deems it possible. See our guide pointe or demi-pointe: the differences.

Our selection

Our Ballet Shoes collection includes canvas and leather models for children and adults, from beginners to advanced dancers. Also see our demi-pointe shoes and the ballet glossary to understand the vocabulary used in class.