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Ballet/Demi-pointe shoes

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Expert: - 11/26/2009


Question
I am thirteen and just last month begin pointe. (i've done ballet since i was three)  I was searching around the internet a bit and came upon demi-pointe shoes. I was meerly wondering what exactly they are. Are they just the typical ballet slippers a dancer dances in until/if they begin pointe? Or something different? Do they have a box like a pointe shoe? I would ask one of my dance teachers but we are out for thanksgiving break and im very curous to know what they are. Thanx if you can help. :)

Answer
Demi-pointe shoes are basically pointe shoes with the shanks removed.  Soft shoes are what I would call normal ballet slippers that are used for technique class.  The demi-pointe shoes have the box of a pointe shoe, but don't have the hard shank.  They are used by some dancers to strengthen the feet or to prepare the feet for pointe work.  I hope this was helpful!

Ballet

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Connie

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I can answer lots about ballet, specifically the Vaganova syllabus. I'm still training, but both my parents were professional dancers, so most answers will be coming from them, not me. :) They're the experts. Obviously, questions about difficult technique, etc, would be better answered with someone else, but if you're just becoming interested in dancing, or are having problems with basic steps, like pirouettes or plies, then I may be able to help

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I've seen ballet since the age of 0, because of my parents, and I am training to become a professional dancer now.

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