Figure 1.--Most classic ballet teachers insist on proper dance shoes for both practice and performance. HBC is unsure at this time as to whether boys had preferences over the colors.

Boys wear soft ballet slippers to dance, usually either black or white. Girls also commonly wear pink dance shoes, but never the boys. They also wear toe-shoes, although this is more common for the girls. A toe shoe is a heel-less damce slipper fitted with a boxed toe to enable the dancer to toe dance. The toe dancing is more common for the female than the male dancer. Some modern dance is done barefoot, but classical dance is always done with proper ballet shoes.

Color

Boys wear soft ballet slippers to dance, usually either black or white. Girls also commonly wear pink dance shoes, but never the boys. I believe black shoes are more common. I'm not sure why the black shoes are more common. I also do not know if boys had preferences om such matters.

Toe Shoes

Bpys also wear toe-shoes, although this is more common for the girls. A toe shoe is a heel-less damce slipper fitted with a boxed toe to enable the dancer to toe dance. The toe dancing is more common for the female than the male dancer.

Slippery Soles

Dancers often complain of slipery soles on shoes after they are worn a while. One dancer complains, "With flat shoes I wear them out alot. The sole goes all balck and it results in being very very slippery. Last week at my lesson, I was doing kicks and i kept slipping. Do u know of anyway i can stop them from being slippery?" Selveral suggestions were offered. "That happens with me too. Try using rozen(sp.?) it really helps." Another suggestion was, "That also happens so me, if you don't have any rosin, spraying the bottoms with hairspray helps a little." Leslie

Modern Dance

Some modern dance is done barefoot, but classical dance is always done with proper ballet shoes.