Ballet has stolen the hearts of children and adults alike since the 15th century. Besides being a timeless art form with a rich cultural history, ballet is also just a wonderful way to encourage your little one's self-expression and creativity. While dancing requires little equipment, there are a few must-haves for ballet dancing. One such item? The proper shoes. Ballet shoes tend to receive a lot of wear and tear, so it's important to select a durable, quality-made ballet shoe. We've done some research and come up with our favorite ballet shoes for girls that rise above the rest in quality, materials, and durability. STELLE Girls Ballet Practice Shoes Best of Both WorldsA beautiful blend of durability and comfort provides everything you need in a ballet shoe for girls. Best OverallFind on Amazon These darling ballet shoes are made of a breathable PU upper and a soft, durable leather sole. A crisscross strap ensures that they’ll stay on during practice, and the tiny elastic bow will make your child want to wear them just to make a fashion statement. And at this price point, you can pick up multiple pairs for home practice, recitals, or just lounging around. The stitching on these is top-notch, so you don’t have to worry about them falling apart. Practice after practice, these excellent ballet shoes will hold their value. Pros: Multiple color options available Incredibly lightweight and flexible Ideal for gymnastics, ballet, and other events Anti-skid leather sole Cons: For narrower feet, these shoes are a bit wide STELLE Girls Canvas Ballet Slipper Pointe and FlexHigh-quality canvas material for the best in flexibility, comfort, and breathability. Most FlexibleFind on Amazon Everything you love about the STELLE ballet shoe, but with a durable, lightweight canvas upper. Canvas is a natural fabric that’s highly flexible, breathable, and washable. As such, these shoes are incredibly comfortable for your girl’s developing feet muscles and ballet technique. A high-quality, double-stitched leather foot bed offers extra support and protection. Pros: Breathable, washable premium canvas Four color options available Recommended by professional ballet dancers and instructors Excellent toe and heel support Cons: Make sure to order one size up Ruqiji Leather Ballet Shoes Colorful CraftsmanshipWith a variety of color choices available, it'll be hard to choose just one.Best Color VarietyFind on Amazon Featuring a premium leather sole that covers the entire footbed, these supremely comfortable leather ballet shoes come in a variety of beautiful colors. With durable, adjustable cross straps over the foot, these shoes let your little one can dance and prance to her heart’s content without worry of losing her slippers. Plus, the bonus heel protector means she can practice as much as she wants with less risk of painful blisters. Pros: A wide range of color choices Delicate yet durable design Full leather footbed makes these ideal for a variety of dance or movement Heel protector to prevent blisters Cons: You’ll have to go up a size or two Capezio Daisy 205 Ballet Shoe For Your Tiny DancerToddler's need a quality shoe, too. This ballet shoe is an excellent choice for younger feet. Best for ToddlersFind on Amazon These ballet shoes from Capezio are the perfect little ballet shoes for your tiny dancer. These 100% leather shoes have a delicate cotton flower lining detail for comfort. Further details include hammered pleats and a bar-tacked elastic drawstring, which helps keep her ballet shoes feel secure and supportive during any dance or hard landing. Pros: 100% quality leather Includes an ID tag Sized to fit using street shoe sizes Drawstring helps ensure a good fit Cons: The knot on the drawstring can come undone, so make sure it’s tied to prevent accidents Bloch Dance Girl’s Belle Full-Sole Leather Ballet Shoe High-Quality ComfortSoft, supple leather that forms to your dancer's feet for comfort and safety.Best LeatherFind on Amazon While there are a few fabrics used for ballet shoes, leather is considered the most durable. Unfortunately, it’s not always the most flexible choice. As a result, it sometimes bunches up uncomfortably on your feet. Although these shoes from Bloch Dance are made of leather, they don’t have these issues. Butter-soft yet durable, these ballet shoes perfectly mold to your little one’s feet, keeping them dancing without any bunching issues. With a wide strap and no bow, these are comfortable, dance-teacher-approved ballet shoes for your budding ballerina. Pros: Sock-liner inside of slipper for comfort Design of shoe helps to build foot muscles Flexible fabric and design Durable seams Cons: These shoes fit narrow feet best Frequently Asked Questions How do you measure for a proper fitting ballet shoe? It’s fairly easy to DIY measure at home for a good fit. Have your little one stand on a blank piece of paper and mark at their heel and the tip of their longest toe. Measure this distance, preferably using centimeters, and find the corresponding size measurement. You may need to size up or down, depending on the brand, so it’s a good idea to check each brand’s sizing chart. What should I look for in ballet shoes for girls? Although ballet shoes might look alike from the surface, they are definitely not all the same. While individual instructors might require specific features, most recommend no dangling bows (which can cause tripping) and shoes that fit almost like a second skin. Other important features include an anti-skid bottom, breathability, and quality craftsmanship. There are also various types of soles. There are options for full-sole shoes as well as just patches over the heel and ball. Check with your child’s instructor on which type of shoe is recommended. What is the best material for ballet shoes? Typically, the best ballet shoes are made from either leather or canvas. Leather is a bit more durable and provides a bit of extra resistance, strengthening the foot, ankle, and calf muscles, all of which are vital in dancing. However, leather can bunch up if it’s not high-quality. It’s also not the most breathable. Canvas is breathable, washable, and typically more affordable, so it’s the preferred choice of many ballerinas and teachers. The right choice depends on the preferences of your child and the requirements of their teacher.