Help! My soft shoes have holes!

Any soft dance shoe (ballet shoe, jazz shoe, modern pirouette shoe, ghillie, etc.) made of canvas or leather can get holes in it.  Soft shoes often get holes when they are old and worn out.  In this case, holes at the toes are a natural result of good use, and they symbolize that it is time to buy a new pair.  Sometimes soft shoes seem to get holes really quickly—the toes can be destroyed while the rest of the shoe still looks new.  When this happens, there may be a problem. 

In general, leather shoes last longer than canvas ones.  Similarly, thin stretchy canvas does not have as long a lifespan as thick, stiff canvas.  Sometimes heavy canvas can even last longer than thin leather.  Canvas shoes are usually softer and cheaper than leather, so they can be appealing choices.  Leather shoes are often stiffer and more expensive, so they are sometimes overlooked.  However, they are one of the best choices for longevity.

When purchasing soft shoes, think about what you will be using them for.  Will you be wearing your ballet shoes in class every day?  Or is this pair for a recital?  If the shoes are for class, you will probably want to choose a more durable option, like leather or heavy-duty canvas.  If the shoes are only needed for a short run of performances, it may be better to choose very thin canvas that shows off the shape of the foot. 

Regardless of what style you choose, make sure the shoes fit correctly.  All soft dance shoes should fit snuggly.  There should not be a gap at the toes or the heel.  The shoe should not wrinkle up when you pointe your toes.  You should be able to feel the end of the shoe with the end of your big toe, but it should not be painful or squeezing.  If the shoe is too tight, your toes will exert a lot of pressure on the toe of the shoe, which can make it wear out more quickly.

Take good care of your dance shoes.  This includes being conscious of what kind of surface you are dancing on.  Marley tends to be the gentlest surface for canvas and leather shoes.  Wood floors are a little tougher, but they also don’t really damage dance shoes beyond the normal “wear and tear” that comes with dancing.  Carpet, concrete, sand, and grass are all extremely harsh surfaces for canvas and leather dance shoes.  Avoid dancing on these surfaces if you can.  If you are performing on one of these surfaces, know that your shoes will probably be destroyed by the time you are finished.  If you are practicing informally or warming up on such a surface (like practicing in the hallway before going on stage at a competition), do not wear your dance shoes when you practice.  Wear socks or warm-up booties instead.

If you notice your shoes are starting to get holes at the end of your big toe, try switching feet if your shoes do not have a designated right and left (ballet shoes, some modern shoes, and ghillies generally are not marked right and left).  This will place the hole at your pinky toe, and it may cause less trouble over there. 

If your shoes are canvas and the holes are still small, you can sew them.  Use a thick thread like embroidery floss or pointe shoe thread and use a whip stitch to cover the hole.  This will hold your shoes together for a few more classes.  However, after about 4 more hours of wear, the holes will probably open up again. 

Holes in your shoes are really only a problem if your bare foot is touching the floor (detracts from ability to glide and turn) or if you are performing (audience can see holey shoes).  So if neither of these things are happening, it’s ok to wear shoes with small holes.  It shows that you are a strong dancer.