Soft ballet shoes

I’ve been dancing for a long time now and i’ve always used single shole soft ballet slippers but i dont think that these show off the point in my foot very well!! Alot of the girls in my class have just started wearing split shole shoes and i have noticed how nice there feet look in them, but a few days ago a friend of mine told me they weren’t very good for your feet does any one no if its true?

Meg

October 28, 2006 | In Questions |

14 Comments »

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  1. Well, did she tell you what’s wrong with the shoe? No? Split sole flats are (in my opinion) more comfortable than normal full sole as the sole doesn’t cover your arch. However, you’re not allowed to wear split sole shoes to ballet exams.

    Comment by Serena — October 28, 2006 #

  2. You really need to talk to your teacher about this first if she is happy to have you wear split soles go for it.

    Now just let me add one point, if you plan to go to pointe shoes it is best to stick with the same type of sole as your current flats.

    Most people start off pointe in full sole shoes and then if they wish then move on to the hard to work with split shoe pointes.

    I would stick to full soles if you are going to pointe soon other wise you have to re earn working your feet in both point and full sole shoes at the same time instead of just pointe shoes.

    I use both full and split sole flats and both split and full sole pointes so Id o not become lazy and then also able to change from shoe to shoe quicker.

    Yes your feet do look better in split soles with out much work but are you learning good habbits or not.

    Comment by Fee — October 29, 2006 #

  3. While split-sole shoes look fantastic, they don’t work your foot as much as full-sole shoes do. There’s less resistance for your foot to work against.

    I’d continue wearing full-sole shoes, just to gain the extra strength. I wear full-sole shoes for class, but split-sole shoes for performances. You could consider that instead. :)

    Comment by Andrea — October 29, 2006 #

  4. And then there’s one I’ve seen advertised recently called the Elastosplit shoe. It seems to consist of a toe and a heel, held together with crossed over elastic where the sole usually goes. Great if you can really arch your foot already!
    (I can’t - my teacher recently told me that I’m not pointing my toes correctly, but rather clenching my toes. Not sure quite how to correct it…)
    J

    Comment by Jen — October 29, 2006 #

  5. did your friend tell you what’s so bad about the shoe? no? in my opinion, split soled shoes are way better than normal full soles. it allows you to point better and it shows more of the arch in your feet. however, you’re not allowed to wear split soles flats to ballet exams.

    Comment by Serena — October 29, 2006 #

  6. What exam sylabbus do you do? If it’s RAD you can’t wear split soles anyway, and even if it’s not I wouldn’t, they don’t last as long as single soles, so you end up buying loads more shoes.

    Abbie

    Comment by Abbie Etheridge — October 29, 2006 #

  7. The resistance a soft soled ballet shoe offers - full sole or split - is so minimal I wouldn’t worry about it. If you want stronger feet do separate foot exercises: pick up marbles with your toes, one marble at a time, and put them into a basket or cup (but it has to be about 50 marbles for one foot). YOu can also sit on the floor with legs extended, and point and flex your feet starting 32 times and work up to 100; then keep your feet pointed and only lift your toes and extend them in a point again, as many times as you can. Also slow releves (slow down as well as up).
    Pointing your feet starts not only at the toes, the muscles used to point your toes actually start in your lower leg, so you have to feel a stretch in your shin area. Your toes do have to bend over when you point, if they don’t then the tip of your foot just flops.
    If you really want resistance in your shoes I suggest deshanked pointe shoes if you are at that stage in your training.

    Comment by Zoe — October 29, 2006 #

  8. i do RAD. you can use split soles for normal practise, not for the exam.

    Comment by Serena — October 30, 2006 #

  9. while we’re on the subject, RAD requires full sole shoes up through grade 5, and for intermediate foundation. and de-shanked point shoes for the other major exams. split soles are allowed for grades 6,7 and 8, but that part is up to the teacher.

    Comment by Marissa — October 31, 2006 #

  10. dancer whose grade is above intermediate fondation don’t neccesary need to wear de-shanked (demi-pointe) pointe shoes.

    Comment by Serena — November 1, 2006 #

  11. the de-shanked point shoes are required for the higher major exams. I now this, I’ve been through Advanced 1.

    Comment by Marissa — November 6, 2006 #

  12. i always wear split sole shoes and i think they are wonderful. they show off your pointed foot much more. also think about canvas split sole and not leather they are alot better.

    Comment by Amber — November 12, 2006 #

  13. i dance on full pointe on normal pointe shoes i have no idea what split sole shoes are can u tell me

    Comment by geane lyall — December 6, 2006 #

  14. My dance teacher does not like us wearing split sole ballet shoes but I personally think they make you foot look better. We do exercises called ’short foot’ exercises which improve your arch. Wearing soft blocks strengthens you feet a lot and improves your arch. You could try using soft blocks and then split soles afterwards.

    Comment by Anna — February 26, 2007 #

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