Why Do Ballet Dancers Destroy Their Shoes?

Ballet|Ballet Shoes

The art of ballet is an incredibly physical one, demanding a great deal of dedication and skill from its dancers. Yet, what many people may not know is that it also requires a great deal of wear and tear on their shoes.

Ballet dancers often replace their shoes frequently because the soles of their shoes are worn down quickly. This is due to the extreme amount of pressure they must put on them in order to perform certain steps. While it may seem wasteful, it is actually necessary for maintaining proper form and technique in ballet.

Ballet shoes are made with special leathers, suedes, canvases or other materials that are designed to be able to easily slide along the floor. This allows the dancer to perform steps such as pirouettes or fouettés, which require them to spin around quickly while keeping their balance.

The soles of these shoes are also made thinner than most everyday shoes in order to allow better contact with the floor. This thinness makes them prone to quick wear and tear.

In addition, dancers must usually purchase pointe shoes which have an even thinner sole than regular ballet slippers. Pointe shoes must be broken in before they can be used effectively and this process requires the dancer to bend and flex the tip of the shoe repeatedly until it is sufficiently softened. This repeated bending causes even more wear and tear on the sole.

Conclusion:

The reason why ballet dancers destroy their shoes so quickly is because of the immense pressure they put on them while performing various techniques during a dance routine. The materials that these shoes are made from are designed for flexibility but this means that they have thin soles which can easily become worn down when subjected to too much pressure or bending. Pointe shoes additionally require extra care in order for them to be worn properly, which contributes further to their rapid deterioration.