How to fit ballet slippers

September has come and almost gone, and we know that some of our parents are still on the look out for a pair of ballet slippers for their dancers. Sometimes we can find great slippers in consignment stores or that are handed down to us from friends and family, but how do you know if they fit properly? 
At Pegasus we use a 3 step fitting test and we want to share it with you

1. Are the toes flat during a demi plie (or bend of the knees)?

With both shoes on (this is important in case one foot is slightly bigger than the other), have your dancer stand up and bend their knees slightly. Make sure the whole foot is flat on the floor and feel the toes. Are they flat or are they scrunching up? If the toes are able to spread out flat, you have passed test number 1!
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*In this position, the dancer should not have any more than 1 cm of extra space. Any more than this and the shoe will become a tripping hazard. 

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2. Can you pinch the back of the shoe with the foot pointed out in front?

With one foot pointed out in front, you are looking for a small pinch at the back of the heel. It does not need to be a big pinch, but if you have a bit of shoe to grab you have passed test number 2!

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3. Can you pinch the back of the shoe during demi pointe (or standing on tip toes)

Have your dancer rise up onto the balls of their feet, or as if they are tip toeing, and see if the toes still lie flat. Pay close attention to the baby toe and make sure it is not getting tucked underneath.
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*Sometimes, it helps to do this test first and have the dancer walk around on their tip toes. This helps the dancer relax their toes and test #1 goes a bit smoother. 

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