Well fitted ballet footwear can mean the difference between comfort on the stage and potential injury. Ballet shoes must fit snugly. If there's any room at the front of the foot, the dancer will want to curl her toes during the pointe. Poor technique can throw off rhythm and potentially lead to problems with performance.

The dancer should try ballet slippers on both feet. Sometimes, dancers need different sized shoes for their feet, as again, the right fit is absolutely critical to both performance and safety. It is important to learn of these eccentricities now as opposed to on the stage. Ballet slippers don't have typical laces; they have what are known as drawstrings. You need to crisscross these drawstrings and then pull them taut. Ballet shoes should fit snugly, but they shouldn't 'suffocate' the feet.

During fittings, the ballet dancer should point her feet. If her heels start to slip off, she needs to move to the next size down. Conversely, if there's not enough room in the shoe, and the toes are curled when the foot is flat, she may need to go up a size. Some modern ballet shoes are made with specialty materials which conform to unique foot sizes--be forewarned, however, that these specialty shoes cost a lot of money.

Especially for young dancers, you may need to replace her ballet slippers often. Reevaluate the fit every six to eight months. If you're going to err on getting shoes slightly too big or too small, err on the big side. It's easier for dancers to grow into their shoes. Finally, work with the ballet instructor to correct any postural problems that coincide with fitting.