Shoe Fittings

Took myself to the ballet shop on Sunday and told the nice shop man I needed a new pair of soft ballet shoes.  He has me take off my socks and shoes and asks if I want full sole or split sole.  My recently ruined pair were split sole, but my all important internet research tells me beginners really ought to have full sole, better contact with the floor, helps develop foot muscles, etc etc.  So I got for full sole.  He takes a look at my feet and wanders off, grabs one pair of shoes, hands them to me.

The first thing I notice is they're so small!  I've got small feet (UK 4, US 6) but goodness me, these are wee!  While my other ones weighed in at a UK5, these were a child like UK 3.5.  I slip the shoes on and they fit, my toes are where they're supposed to be, just a light adjustment of the drawstrings and I'm ready.

I'm trying to look like I know what I'm doing, by flexing my foot and tell the shop owner I'm very happy with these.

So I walk out with a new pair of Bloch full sole, soft ballet slippers with the added bonus of already having the elastics sewn on, as already demonstrated, my sewing skills are shite.

A minty-licious disaster!

Whew, sorry about the break!  Real Life got in the way there!  But that's boring, away we go!

So last time we talked, I had lovingly sewed my shoes back together with dental floss and was feeling very proud and peaceful.

The next day, walked into my Dance Base class ready to be the dancing queen . . .and I was!  Well sorta, but I was definitely doing better, you know, with my shoes tied now.

Anyway, I'm doing barre work like there's no tomorrow, my port de bra* was rocking, I had my serious, but pretty, ballet face on, my feet and looking great when I tendu*, generally loving it.

Then we move into the center and things are still going well.

That is until we reach the turns.

That loose feeling is back.

I have come undone.

I'm not sure if the "Goddamnit" I uttered in my head was out loud, but now I'm standing at the back of the class, desperately trying to find the drawstrings that have slipped back into the depths of my slipper while I'm missing out on much needed practice on pirouettes.

And my mind was made up, these are not going to do the trick, I require a new pair of shoes.

* Side note:  I can't spell or speak French.  So until I absorb the correct spellings, I will just spell as I hear.  Do not judge me!