ballet shoes
Dancer's soft footwear
Ballet shoes are soft, lightweight footwear designed for ballet dancing, with thin leather or canvas uppers and flexible soles that allow dancers to feel the floor and point their feet.
They typically have an elastic strap across the instep.
Distinguished from pointe shoes, which have reinforced toe boxes for dancing on the tips of the toes.
Ballet's toe-standing position
- relevéRising onto ball-of-foot
- demi-pointeElevated heel, flat toes
- blockSolid mass, or impede
- platformRaised flat structure
gel pads · lambswool · spacers · toe pads · arch support · breaking in · darning · hardener
Tight one-piece garment
- tightsStretchy leg garment
- tutuShort projecting dance skirt
- leg warmersKnitted calf coverings
- unitardOne-piece fitted garment
bodice · camisole · rosin bag · dance belt
Glossy-surfaced woven cloth
- canvasHeavy woven cloth
- leatherTanned animal skin
- ribbonsNarrow fabric strips
- elasticsStretchable binding loops
toebox · shank · vamp · sole · drawstring · binding · pleats · shanks
Ballet knee-bending movement
- relevéRising onto ball-of-foot
- tenduExtended leg position
- arabesqueFlowing ornamental design
- pirouetteBallet turn on one foot
jeté · pas de deux · adagio · allegro · battement · chassé · glissade · attitude
Fixed studio rail
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- rehearsalPre-performance practice session
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
technique · posture · alignment · balance · control · flexibility · strength · conditioning
en pointe
Ballet's toe-standing position
- relevéRising onto ball-of-foot
- demi-pointeElevated heel, flat toes
- blockSolid mass, or impede
platform · gel pads · lambswool · spacers · toe pads · arch support · breaking in · darning · hardener · rosin
leotard
Tight one-piece garment
- tightsStretchy leg garment
- tutuShort projecting dance skirt
- leg warmersKnitted calf coverings
unitard · bodice · camisole · rosin bag · dance belt
satin
Glossy-surfaced woven cloth
elastics · toebox · shank · vamp · sole · drawstring · binding · pleats · shanks · insole
plié
Ballet knee-bending movement
pirouette · jeté · pas de deux · adagio · allegro · battement · chassé · glissade · attitude · sauté
barre
Fixed studio rail
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- rehearsalPre-performance practice session
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
dedication · technique · posture · alignment · balance · control · flexibility · strength · conditioning · warm-up
elegance
Refined, graceful quality
lightness · ethereal · delicacy · finesse · sylphlike · lithe · supple · refined · effortless · seamless
stage
Raised performance platform
- premiereFirst public performance
- curtain callPost-show audience acknowledgment
- applauseCollective hand-clapping approval
spotlight · soloist · principal · variation · costume · recital · gala · repertoire · Giselle · Swan Lake
- dancewearleotard, tights, tutu, dance belt, leg warmers
- footwearboot, sandal, boots, pumps, sandals
- performing artsacting, dance, music, drama, theater
- ballettutus, tutu, barre, arabesque, pirouette
- indoor footwearslippers, house slippers, bedroom slippers, fuzzy slippers, memory foam slippers
- stage suppliesmicrophone, stage makeup, stage lights, drape, prop
ballet shoessteel-toed boots
Footwear with metal toe protection
work boots · combat boots · hiking boots · construction boots · ski boots
ballet shoescombat boots
Rugged military footwear
steel-toed boots · motorcycle boots · cowboy boots · army boots