Ballet
Pointe shoes
Below you will find some tips to do with pointe shoes and the points you would have to consider before buying your first pair of shoes.
This image shows you the correct and incorrect way to stand en pointe (on the blocks).
This image shows you the key points to focus on when buying your first pair of pointe shoes.
This image shows you how to attach the ribbon/elastic to your soft ballet shoes. You can tighten the shoes by pulling in the elastic/material where the bow is.
Buying your first pair of Pointe shoes
When you buy your first pair of pointe shoes we recommend you go to a shop where you can be properly fitted and the shoe molded to your foot. Our local shops are York or Guisborough where you need to make an appointment before you go to get fitted so you might have to do the same at your local shop.
Buying your first pair of soft shoes
When you buy your first pair of soft shoes again we recommend that you go to a shop where they can be properly fitted. This time we recommend that you go down at least half a size from your ordinary outdoor shoe size, this is because they are designed to be a snug fit so that they can "show off" your feet.
History of Ballet
Ballet, as we know it today, was known as hagan durning, during the Renaissance around the year 1500 in Italy. In fact the terms ballet and ball as in masked ball, come from the Italian ballare, to dance. When Catherine de Medici of Italy married the French King Henry II, she introduced early dance styles into court life in France.
Tap
Below you will find some tips to do with tap shoes and the ways to get a perfect sound.
To get the perfect sound out of your tap shoes we recommend that you buy some heal taps to go with the provided toe taps. Also, we recommend lases on tap shoes for more advanced dancers and those with narrow feet.
Buying your first pair of shoes
When you buy your first pair of shoes we recommend you go to a dance shop where you can find the style of shoe which fits you best. You should get the same size shoe as your ordinary outdoor shoes (or school shoes) to ensure that they fit and will last you a long time. We also recommend you get some heel taps to go with your shoes to make the best sound possible. When you buy your first pair of shoes try walking in them or simply bending your foot to ensure that they fit and they don't rub on your foot.
History of tap
Tap dancing had evolved considerably to become the art form we know today. Before there were tap shoes, dancers wore soft shoes, or clogs. Tap dancing originated as Juba, a kind of dance practices by African slaves. It melded with Irish dancing and continued to alter as it encountered the influence of jazz dance.
Modern/ Jazz
Below you will find some tips to do with jazz/ modern shoes.
This image shows some jazz shoes which more advanced dancers wear. When purchasing these shoes make sure that you can tie the laces without having to pull them in as tight as possible (if this happens go down half a shoe size).
This image shows some soft ballet shoes. These can be worn by those starting out as they fit the same as jazz shoes, the only difference being they don't have a heal.
Buying your first pair of shoes
Again when you buy your first pair of shoes we recommend that you go to the shop. But this time you should go down at least half a shoe size as these should be a snug fit to your feet in order to "show them off". Try walking in the shoes and bending your feet in them to see if they fit. *Most dance schools use soft shoes/ ballet shoes for children starting out so check with your dance teacher first.*
History of modern
History of Modern is the eleventh studio album by British synthpop band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). It is their first since 1996, and also the first to feature the classic 4-piece OMD line-up since 1986's The Pacific Age.
