Most people watching ballerinas preparing to dance or practice a ballet dance are left wondering why they destroy a brand-new ballet shoe before they start using them despite the relatively expensive nature of the shoes.
How can a ballerina bring out brand new ballet shoes and crunch them, hit them repeatedly on the wall or mutilate them with scissors before they put the shoes on their feet?
This article makes an effort to help you u understand why ballet shoes need to be broken in before they can be used by a ballerina to practice or perform in them.
Why do ballet shoes need to be broken in?
Ballet shoes need to be broken in because they are stiff, lack flexibility, are uncomfortable, and are rigid and prevent optimal performance for ballet dancers who are going to use the shoes during training or important performance.
For ballet shoes to be perfect for a ballerina, it needs to be changed to suit the individual need and preferences of the ballerina in question in other to help increase performance and comfort during training or professional performance.
Since most ballet shoes are not produced by the ballerinas themselves, the need to modify the shoe and make it more flexible is strongly recommended which leads to the ballet dancers breaking in the shoes before they will start using them after satisfying their individual needs.
5 reasons why ballet shoes need to be broken in by ballerinas.
Ballerinas are always breaking into their new ballet shoes as a result of several reasons.
Below are the five major reasons why ballet shoes need to be broken in before they can be used by ballerinas:
- For comfort reasons.
- To make it more flexible.
- To fit into the contours of their feet.
- To improve motion.
- To increase longevity.
For comfort reasons.
Ballerinas need their new ballet shoes to be broken in so that they can be more comfortable in them and give them the ability to concentrate and perform better without restrictions from the rigid or clicking sound of new shoes on the dance flow which can distract both the ballerinas and other spectators.
To get a better performance from ballet dancers, they must be very comfortable in what they wear, how they are treated and the place they are performing which makes it important for them to first break in a brand new ballet shoe to suit their preferences and help in improving their performance.
To make it more flexible.
The ballerinas break in their new ballet shoes so that they can get additional flexibility which can be hindered by a new ballet shoe if not broken in.
Flexibility is the bedrock of a ballet dancer.
To make you understand this issue better, consider buying brand new Mary Jane shoes or Hoka shoes that are one size smaller for your feet, the first time wearing them will be both difficult and uncomfortable because they are not serving well their functions and can affect your ability to walk or run across the street.
The issue is more dire to ballerinas because a single step in a not-so-flexible ballet shoe will either result in injury to the dancer or distortion of the needed performance that she spent weeks if not months practising for.
This can be devastating to the morale of the ballerina which is why to increase flexibility, the ballet shoes need to be broken in first.
To fit into the contours of their feet.
Individuals even if from the same family usually have physical differences that may or may not be obvious to another person on the street at a glance.
However, due to these types of differences, ballet shoes are broken in so that they can fit perfectly into the shape of a ballerina’s feet and give a her better chance of comfort, performance and overall confidence.
You will be surprised to note that when you wear a shoe that didn’t fit you well, you will not be comfortable walking on them because they can either slip out, make you lose a step or make your walk distorted and uncomfortable.
Each ballerina breaks into her brand-new ballet shoes taking into consideration the ability of the shoes to fit well without causing discomfort or slipping out during practice.
To improve motion.
Ballet shoes are broken in to give the ballerinas a chance to move about without restrictions.
As we are all aware of ballet dancing, motion is as important as having the right balance during training or actual performance.
If the ability of the ballerina to flexibly move about is hampered due to the ballet shoes she is wearing, chances are that her performance will not be to the standard needed.
As a result of the need to improve a ballerina’s motion when using ballet shoes, they are broken in and made more flexible.
To increase longevity.
Ballet shoes are naturally not durable for use in the long run.
They are short-lived shoes that are not only expensive but wear out quicker than anticipated and buying them cost either a ballet group or individual ballerina a ton of money that can be channelled into other productive activities.
In other to increase the longevity of ballet shoes, the stiffness and rigidity need to be broken so that when they fit perfectly into the feet of a ballerina, chances are that may last slightly longer than when it is not broken in which can be a costly and unpleasant experience.
Conclusion
Ballot shoes need to be broken in so that it can give the ballet dancers comfort and flexibility to perform optimally, improve their motion during practice and performing before an audience, to increase the chances of the shoes lasting a bit longer than they will do if not broken in and to fit perfectly into the contour and shapes of individual ballet dancers.
Reference
How to break ballet shoes for a ballerina