Ballet originated in France during the 15th century. Ballet was loved by many and soon schools were established.  Traditionally, the ballerinas would wear heeled slippers for performances.  However, these shoes were difficult to move in so the performers removed the heels and created flat bottomed dance slippers.  Dancers continuously searched for improved footwear to enhance their dancing, a practice that is still continued today. 

   

    Dancers have explored many different types of shoes.  In 1832, an aspiring French ballerina, Marie Taglioni, danced a popular romantic ballet La Sylphide in a new style; she danced it en pointe (on her toes), rather than in flat bottomed slippers. Her specialized shoes were designed with leather soles, and the toe area was sewn to better hold the form of the shoe.  These shoes allowed Marie to appear as if she was floating across the stage, and with these shoes, a new style of ballet was born.

    The new shoes were ideal for French ballerinas due to their light and elegant style of ballet. However, the Italians required a harder shoe for their rigorous style of dance. Italian dancers borrowed the ideas of Marie Taglioni and added a sturdy platform at the front of the shoe with many layers of fabric to create a thick sole. This granted the dancers the ability to spend longer periods of time en pointe.

   

    Ballerinas and dancers have always explore innovative solutions to imprve footwear and other aspects of dance.  Because of all of the hard work of past generations of dancers we are now able to perform and celebrate this beautiful art form all over the world.