The 9 Best Ballet Shoes For Girls

Many studios ask preschoolers for exactly this kind of shoe, and the Capezio Daisy 205 is the classic version: soft pink leather, a suede sole that covers the whole bottom, and a cotton lining printed with little daisies. An elastic strap comes sewn on, and a satin tag inside gives you a spot for your child's name. Capezio says to start a size up from street shoes. The toe drawstring can work loose and may need tucking or trimming.

The Bloch Dansoft keeps its shape through a long season of classes, which is the reason to pick it. The leather upper is lined with cotton, the stitching is reinforced, and a full-length suede sole gives small feet steady support. Elastic comes attached, so there's nothing to sew. Its sizing follows Bloch's own chart rather than street sizes, so a guess based on sneakers often misses. Measure the foot and check the chart before you order.

Toddlers who want to put on their own shoes do well with the Stelle Split Sole Slipper, since crossed elastic straps hold it on with no ties to manage. The split suede sole lets the foot bend and point. Despite the leather in its name, the seller describes a polyurethane upper, so it won't stretch and mold the way real leather does. It fits true to size, but some studios want full soles for beginners.

Canvas is the budget route, and the Stelle Canvas Slipper can go through the wash when it gets grubby, which leather can't. It has a soft cotton lining, a split suede sole and two elastic bands across the top instead of a drawstring. A pair usually lasts a full year of weekly classes before it's outgrown or worn through. Canvas does loosen with wear, and this one can run a little big, so check the chart before ordering.

Girls whose teachers now want a split sole can step up to the Bloch Performa, a stretch canvas shoe that hugs the arch so the line of the foot shows. Suede patches sit under the ball and heel, and the heel has a cushion to soften landings from jumps. The elastics come sewn on in a cross. Bloch tells buyers to start well below their street size, so measuring first matters. Feedback on the kids' version is still thin.

The Capezio Canvas Juliet is a split-sole canvas shoe with a diamond-shaped gusset under the arch, a Capezio design meant to help the shoe follow the foot as it points. The elastics are pre-attached in a cross, and the drawstring is stitched down so it can't pull out. Capezio suggests starting about a half size up. It runs narrow on some feet, and comfort is hit or miss, so try it at home on carpet before the first class.

Studios that ask for a specific color will like that the Theatricals Beginner Leather comes in pink or black. It's a plain, traditional slipper with a full suede sole, a leather upper and a cotton lining, plus an elastic strap that's already attached. The maker says to order a size smaller than street shoes, the opposite of what several other makers advise. The cotton drawstring is the old-style kind that has to be tied and tucked away.

If a child will outgrow a pair in a few months, the Ruqiji Ballet Slipper keeps the cost low while still offering a full sole and, the seller lists, a leather upper. Crossed elastics come sewn on, and a small bow sits at the toe. Feet that are wide, long-toed or high in the arch should go a size up. Ruqiji is a little-known maker, and nothing beyond the seller backs up the leather claim.

For recitals, birthday dress-up and pretend play, the Stelle Satin Ballet Shoe adds long satin ribbons that wrap the ankle the way a grown-up dancer's would. Under the shine sit a split suede sole, a cotton insole and elastic straps that do the real work of holding it on. Shiny satin isn't what most teachers want in class, so keep a plain pair for lessons. The ribbons tend to slip down and need retying.