subject: How A Ballet Shoe Is Tied [print this page] Would it even ever occur to you to wonder how a ballet shoe is tied? I know that it isn't really something that would be given much thought by the general population. Unless you are, or were, a ballet dancer I don't suspect there would be much reason to wonder. It is very interesting to consider how something so simple could potentially affect a dancer's performance. If the fit of a shoe is very important then I suppose it would be equally important to ensure that your ballet shoe was tied perfectly in order for you to achieve maximum performance.
As ballet shoes are as individual as the dancer wearing them, it is important to learn how to tie them properly from the first time you wear them. If you master this skill it is more likely that you will be able to be able to learn how to dance more easily and with more comfort.
So how do you properly tie a ballet shoe? First of all you need to pull each of the ribbons straight up alongside each other but allow for the outside ribbon to be slightly shorter than the inside ribbon. You should then pull the inside ribbon around the front of your ankle followed by pulling the outside ribbon around the front of your ankle. While you are pulling each ribbon across ensure that you are keeping them firmly in place and laying them flat. You then proceed to wrap the longer inside ribbon around the back of your ankle. When the two ribbons meet, tie them together. It is important that at this point you ensure the ribbons are secure so they do not slip. You can cover the knot with the remaining ribbon giving your shoes a finished look.
It is now important to test the fit. In pointe shoes you should now stand up on pointe if you can and test the feel. The fit of the ballet shoe should not be too tight or too loose. They should feel secure and give you support. The ribbons must not be so tight that they dig into your ankle. Although this sounds like a relatively easy process, it can be very difficult to get the right balance of tightness and it may take a lot of practice before you are able to do it quickly and easily.
So next time you watch a ballet or even see a picture of a ballerina you may stop to think about how the tying of their ballet shoe can make a difference to their performance and how something that seems relatively insignificant can be so important. We often see a pretty ballerina and see the glamour of the art of ballet dance, but it is actually quite a complicated and precise form of sport with specialist equipment that needs to be handled and worn correctly and a ballet shoe is no different. So from tying your first ballet shoe to doing your first performance, it is important to develop your skills to make you the best you can be.
