Ballet Dancewear, Shoes & Accessories Ideas: Put Your Best Foot Forward

So you’ve decided to give ballet a try. It looks so gracious and elegant, doesn’t it? The movements are so precise and calculated yet ballerinas seem to move with such poise and ease that they’re a wonder to look at. Mind you, ballet isn’t as easy as it looks. A few jumps here, a couple of twirls there. It’s so much more than that. And we’re not trying to discourage or dissuade you from trying it out but it’s good to have a general idea of what you’re getting yourself into. But don’t fret, with a little practice and the right equipment, you’ll be at the top of your game in no time.

Speaking of ballet equipment, it’s absolutely crucial that you get all the necessary items. From comfy ballet shoes to practical dance accessories, it’s a hefty list. It can be a little tricky, especially if you’re just starting out which is why we’re here to give you a helping hand with all the ballet essentials you’ll need.

Kick Up Your Style With the Right Dance Apparel

First thing’s first, we need to look at the fundamental items of ballet apparel.

Tutus

We think it’s safe to say that pretty much everyone knows what a tutu is. It’s essentially a puffy and ruffled tulle skirt. And no, tutus aren’t made for little girls only. They’re used by professional ballerinas in official as well as unofficial performances as they add a special touch to their movements. It might be a good idea to have a backup practice tutu and a performance tutu just in case anything happens to either of them. Better to be safe than sorry anyway. Be careful with how you carry and store them though, since they can get easily crushed or deformed if not cared for properly. For this purpose, you’ll probably need a special tutu bag.

Skirts

For beginners, ballet skirts might be a better option than tutus since they’re not as rigid or stiff. This way, you’ll get the chance to practice your ballet movements freely, without any restrictions. Any neutral colour is a good choice – either black or white. You don’t have to pick skirts that are overly expensive since trends tend to change frequently. And remember, when choosing a skirt, the taller you are, the longer your skirt should be.

Leotards

While it’s nice to have a general idea of what type of leotard you need, a useful idea would be to choose one that’s a cotton-lycra mix so that it complements your body shape and accentuates your best features while keeping ease of movement intact. After all, leotards are skin tight so you definitely shouldn’t feel suffocated or restricted in your movements.

As for design, there are so many interesting options out there that you probably wouldn’t go wrong with whatever it is you decide to get. Because really, it all comes down to personal preference.

Show Your Feet Some Love With Ballet Shoes

Choosing the appropriate ballerina shoes for your feet is of utmost importance. They’re literally the most important item of dancewear.

Ballet Shoes Materials

In most cases, high-quality ballerina shoes are made of satin, leather, canvas and more recently, mesh. Generally speaking, ballet dance shoes have a flexible sole and no heel in order to maximise freedom of movement. Regardless of the material type, your shoe should be snug but not too tight. You wouldn’t want to feel uncomfortable while doing an already difficult dance, would you?

On the bright side, ballet shoes are customisable which means you can easily adjust how tight they are using the drawstrings. Everyone’s feet are different, so what works for someone else might not work for you. Base your decisions on what makes you feel most comfortable and not what others are telling you to get.

Ballet Shoes Types

Basically, there are four main types of ballet shoes and we’ll go through each one to give you an idea of how they look.

Full-Sole Ballet Shoes

Full sole ballet shoes provide the perfect amount of support for newcomers. By wearing them, you train your muscles and joints to be able to withstand the pressure as you progress through your training. Our advice is to start with full-sole shoes and then move on to other models so that you can adjust more easily.

Split-Sole Ballet Shoes

Once you’ve reached a more advanced level, you can switch to split-sole shoes whose sole has two parts, hence the name. One offers support for your toes while the other supports your heel. This makes way for greater flexibility but puts a bigger strain on your muscles.

Demi-Pointe Ballet Shoes

Demi-pointe shoes come with a reinforced leather outsole which, in turn, makes your feet work harder to keep your balance. Some consider demi-pointe shoes as a transition phase because they will dramatically help you develop proper techniques for eventually wearing pointe shoes. Mind you, inexperienced beginners will definitely struggle if they go straight to demi-pointe shoes, so make sure you have some training under your belt.

Pointe Ballet Shoes

These are the most popular type of ballet shoes and you’ve probably already seen ballerinas wear them. They provide rigid toe support to help you dance en pointe. It’s a tough but comfortable build that’s the ideal choice for ballet footwear.

Additional Ballet Accessories

We’ve jotted down the essentials, now let’s have a look at some extra accessories that you should have.

Dance Bag

This one goes without saying because you need a place where you store your dance equipment. Surely you won’t strut the streets in a tutu so you’ll definitely need a bag to transport your items to different locations.

Towel And Wet Wipes

If you’re doing any type of exercise, ever, you’re bound to sweat. And in most cases, you can’t run to the bathroom to take a shower whenever you feel like you’re sweating buckets. This is where towels and wet wipes come in handy.

Hair Accessories

In ballet especially, you need to keep your hair off of your face. A simple hair pin or band is enough to get any excess hair out of the way. It can get annoying when your hair just goes in every direction possible constantly.