Ballet shoes belong to dance shoes, also called ballet slipper. They are lightweight shoes designed specifically for ballet dancing. They may be made from soft leather, canvas, or satin, and have flexible, thin soles. Women always wear pink shoes and men often wear white or black shoes. Tan colored slippers—which are unobtrusive and thus give the appearance of dancing barefoot—are worn in modern ballets by both men and women.

    All ballet dancers wear soft ballet slippers for the main part of the ballet class. More advanced female dancers may change into pointe shoes for centre work and performance. Ballet shoes must fit very closely to the foot, for safety and to retain maximum flexibility.

    Ballet shoes mainly have a leather sole which does not reach all the way to the edges of the shoe. A modern development is the split sole, for even greater flexibility. They are usually made from soft leather, canvas or satin.
    Canvas shoes are less expensive but wear faster than average leather ballet shoes. Canvas shoes are also more popular than leather and satin shoes among both male and female dancers, usually starting around the intermediate levels or tween years. Leather shoes are long-lasting. High grain leather shoes are typically used by young dancers in their beginning years. Satin shoes are worn only for performance as they wear out very quickly.

    Shoes are secured with the use of Elastic - either with a single band across the arch of the foot, or with two bands that cross in an “X” shape at the top of the arch. In the case of double band shoes, some ballet slipper manufacturers will attach one end of each band to the shoe as part of the production process, and leave it to the purchaser to attach the free ends of the bands for optimal fit. Other shoes use ribbons, which are sewn to either side of the shoe and tied in a knot to one side of the ankle after being crossed over at the front of the foot. The knot is then tucked underneath the ribbon like Pointe shoes.