Ballet dancers of all skill levels, from beginners to principal dancers, rely on ballet shoes for practicing. A young ballet student can use ballet shoes for a ballet, jazz or tumbling class. A serious ballet student will use ballet shoes for technique classes. Only advanced ballet dancers dance in pointe shoes. Dancers must be very skilled and strong to safely dance in pointe shoes, and if they are still growing, they will need a doctor's approval before being allowed to wear them.
Ballet shoes, also referred to as ballet slippers, are soft, generally made of leather and have pliable leather soles. An elastic strap crosses the top of the ankle to secure the slipper to the foot, and an elastic cord surrounds the top of shoe in a pocket with the ends protruding at the front to be tied snugly. Pointe shoes, also known as toe shoes, are made with leather, glue and satin. The "box" of the pointe shoe is rigid and surrounds the dancer's toes. The box keeps the dancers toes supported while dancing "on pointe." The sole of the pointe shoe is hard leather which resists bending. Dancers use the flat tip of the shoes as an even surface on which to dance. Glue is used to harden the shoe while allowing for the shoe to mold to the dancer's foot over time. Dancers use an elastic loop and satin ribbons tied around the ankle to secure the shoes to their feet.
Ballet dancers use the soft ballet shoes to dance "demi pointe." Demi pointe means rising only to the ball of the foot. Ballet dancers use pointe shoes to dance on pointe, meaning the dancer rises to the tips of her toes. When on pointe, the dancer's toes should be kept straight. Lambswool or other padding can be used to cushion the toes.
Both male and female dancers use ballet shoes. Male dancers usually use black ballet shoes, female dancers commonly use pink, white and black ballet shoes. Pointe shoes, however, are only used by female dancers as they are the only dancers to dance on pointe. Pointe shoes are generally pink.