The Makings of a Ballerina
One of the main reasons that people are drawn to ballet is the sense of tradition that many people find extremely important. There is a prevalent perception among parents that ballet is an ideal activity for their children to channel their energies. There is a sense of discipline, grace and elegance in ballet dancing that seems to be lacking – if not missing – in other forms of dancing. At the same time, it also requires litheness, so you may say it is an excellent motivation for kids who are somewhat inclined to be overweight, to lose some pounds.
It is not surprising that ballet dancing is very popular among kids and youngsters. This is even manifested by the great demand for kids’ ballet shoes. It is no wonder that manufacturers have to move fast to keep up with the growing market. The variety of kids’ ballet shoes has never been as extensive as today. No matter what size, color or style, there’s always a good pair of ballet shoes for your little prince or princess when they take to the dance floor and start ballet dancing.
Before you jump to purchase your kid’s ballet shoes at the first store you set foot on, you may want to check a few things first.
Everybody knows that the bones in children’s feet are much more delicate than adults’; therefore, the first requirement you should look into is the greater degree of feet support that the ballet shoes offer. However, there’s also a need for the ballet shoes to be light and flexible, so there has got to be some sort of a tradeoff between the two – allowing the kids to dance freely is important but far more vital is shielding them from the risk of injury and danger of hurting themselves. This is something that manufacturers of kids’ ballet shoes see and understand, so you shouldn’t have a hard time looking for the right ballet shoes.
It is equally essential to be aware that children’s feet can grow quite quickly and the ballet shoes you bought which fit perfectly this month may not fit anymore next month. It can get very expensive but unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about that. Apparently, you would be tempted to buy ballet shoes that will provide room for some growth but with ballet dancing too much room may mean potential danger and difficulty of coordinated movement for your child. It is a must to have a perfect fit –neither too tight nor too big – to ensure that your child feels comfortable and that the shoes are worn securely without apprehension that they will come off while dancing.
Bear in mind that there are two sets of kids’ ballet shoes that you have to provide your child with after a certain period of time: the soft ballet shoes (also called ballet slippers) and pointe shoes.
Beginners start out exclusively in ballet slippers, which are suitable for everyday practice and performance. Ballet slippers are made of soft materials (leather, canvas or satin) and mold themselves to the shape of the feet. Canvas are the most common and popular among the three as they are more affordable and readily available. Leather is more durable but also a more expensive option, which may be a good reason why they’re not worth investing for very young kids, considering how fast their feet grow. Satin shoes are the least durable but they do look lovely and has the advantage of being easily dyed for when your child has to be a certain character in the next performance. All three come with either full or split sole. Split sole allows for greater flexibility but support is considerably reduced. This is reason enough for parents to go for full sole ballet shoes.
Intermediate dancers has to wear pointe shoes soon enough; but only after developing good basic ballet dancing techniques (usually takes around 5 years of dancing). Because of the additional strain put on the feet and ankles when dancing en pointe, this is usually allowed at the age of 12 (the child’s bones are supposed to be harder then). Pointe shoes have a reinforced to box with a flat end that allows a dancer to balance on their toes. They also have a stiff suede sole, which supports the arch of the foot. It’s very important that pointe shoes fit properly to provide necessary support and prevent injury. Pointe shoes are worn almost exclusively by female dancers.