What's in my Dancing Shoes?

Dancers and teachers alike very often have preferences for the materials which their footwear is constructed from, but how many of them are aware of the exact properties and origins of those materials?

Have a quick read below to find out why your favourite shoes feel and work the way they do.

SATIN

Satin does not refer to a particular material fibre, but rather the weave of the fibre in question. Satin can be woven out of many different fibres, both natural and synthetic.

The characteristic shimmer of satin is a result of the way in which its weave reflects light.

As satin is a rather flexible weave with low friction, it is an ideal material for the construction of Ballet Pumps and Pointe Shoes made through traditional turn-shoe methods.

Ballet World stocks Satin shoes from various suppliers around the globe and, as a result, each shoe's satin has its own unique composition.

CANVAS

Traditionally, canvas has been woven from Hemp or Flax (Linen) fibres, but is now commonly produced from Cotton. Canvas woven from only one yarn tends to be heavy duty and far more durable than hybrid canvasses which are woven together with other fibres. From it's origins as the ideal material for ship sails, canvas now also features as the upper in most of our Ballet Pumps.

All 'Canvas' Ballet Pumps stocked at Ballet World are Cotton-based.

LEATHER

The leather in footwear at Ballet World is composed of the tanned hide of cattle, sheep, and pigs - depending on seasonal and regional availability of materials. It is durable, water-resistant, flexible, and (after some wear time) very soft. Leather is likely the oldest example of human-processed natural textile, although its appearance and properties has evolved quite significantly over millenia.

Various different grades of leather exist - the leather on the sole of your Pointe Shoes will not be the same grade of leather as that which makes up the upper on your Tap Shoes. Some of the leathers used in dance shoes are composed of bonded/recycled/reconstituted leather, and others from bicast leather.

For more information about different types of leather, click here.

EVA

Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) has rubber-like qualities in the sense that it is soft and stretchy, but also has excellent foamability. EVA can be found in some of the platforms under the soles of our Jazz Shoes, as well as the dampening layers inside some Ballet Pumps and Pointe Shoes.

Other common uses for EVA materials are the soles of flip-flops, yoga blocks, and exercise mats.

NEOPRENE

Neoprene is actually the brand name of Polychloroprene, which is a synthesised rubber. Neoprene is considered a textile fabric, but is formed rather than woven. It starts out as a liquid compound and, after additives are included to achieve certain traits, the Neoprene is then baked into a solid.

Neoprene can be found in some of our Toe Caps, and in panels in some of our Jazz footwear. It is spongy and flexible, which provides cushioning to your feet while they manipulate the shoe.

RUBBER

Rubber can be derived from natural latex tree saps, or from petroleum. Depending on how rubber is processed, it can be very soft with a large degree of stretch, or quite solid with a very springy quality.

Most of the rubber components in Ballet World's footwear are found in the soles of our dance sneakers, giving them excellent shock absorption and a slight spring in the step.

STRETCH/ELASTICATED MESH

Stretch mesh is usually used in footwear to accommodate vast degrees of twist and stretch, whilst still maintaining breathability. Typically, elasticated mesh fabrics are made from Polyester, Nylon, or Elastane.

COTTON

Cotton is a naturally occurring fibre which, when processed, results in fabrics that are durable but still have a very soft feel. Cotton is an easily renewable resource and is usually biodegradable.

Our best-selling Ballet Pumps, prized for their comfortable wearing feel, are made mostly from cotton-elastane blends.

POLYESTER

Polyester is a petroleum derived fibre which can take on many different qualities depending on the specific process through which it is created. Within the context of clothing and footwear, Polyester fabrics have excellent breathability and durability. Polyester is often blended with other fibres to create textiles with specific qualities.

Learn more about the complexities of Polyester here.

SPANDEX/ELASTANE

Spandex and Elastane are two common names for the same fibre. Also known by its brand name, 'Lycra', it was developed in the late 1950's as a synthetic alternative to rubber and is a product of processed polyurethane. Elastane is incredibly useful for the construction of form-fitting footwear and clothing, as it can withstand stretch and deformation of up to 500% of its fibre length.

Spandex is frequently found blended with other fibres.

NYLON

Nylon is a petroleum product which is created through a series of chemical reactions and heat processing. The resulting fibre has high tensile strength and is very flexible, giving nylon textile great stretch and compress properties. There are 5 major types of Nylon produced worldwide, with only 2 of them commonly used in textile manufacture. These different types of nylon blended with other fibres create very diverse fabric qualities.

ABS

ABS plastic is a thermoplastic (shaped by heat) which is very impact resistant and durable enough to withstand heavy use. Commonly used in footwear, it can be found in the heel blocks of our character shoes and some of our ballroom/latin heels.