For a dancer, a lot of emphasis is placed on the legs and feet. As such, most of the skill work and practice is focused on the legs and feet. Considering they go through a great deal of pressure, taking care of them is super important – and I don’t only refer to nice, relaxing massages, and soothing soaks and baths.
Given that dancing is physically demanding, especially if we consider a complex dance like ballet, you need all the warmth you can get to keep your legs and feet toasty so you can boost performance, while at the same time preventing muscle stiffness and injuries. This is exactly what you get from comfortable warm-up booties designed for optimal warmth and support.
Unless you want your feet to feel like blocks of ice, or risk sustaining a serious injury related to cold feet that could not only put your dancing to a halt but also affect your quality of life, you should make these booties part of your dance essentials whenever you’re going to classes to practice or do rehearsals.
What Do Dance Warm-Up Boots Do?
Well, there’s more to these crucial pieces of ballet gear than merely keeping the feet warm. As mentioned, they offer utmost support too, which is helpful for the protection of your ankles, and this comes from the quality warm-up booties soles.
This is true for the adult designs as much as for those meant for little dancers. No matter whether you’re doing the most strenuous jumps or turns, implementing the toughest of techniques, this incredible foot and ankle support can come in handy with boosting your blood circulation, improving flexibility while reducing muscle fatigue, and enhancing performance, so you can practice even longer than before.
Besides keeping feet cosy, and joints and muscles relaxed, these special shoes are layers that can additionally prove to be of help with protecting your precious equipment from wear and tear, as well as from dirt, dust, and debris. This is true for the pointe shoes as much as for the tights, so yes, you can wear the booties over your regular dance essentials.
A word of advice, though, should you choose to wear them over your ballet shoes, be sure to opt for one size bigger than your regular size to make enough room for a comfortable fit that provides you with enough wiggle room. This is what Bloch recommends for their beautiful models, which are among the most popular on the market for their exceptional design, choice of durable material (e.g. lightweight nylon exterior, warm polyester filling, and grip soles), and great craftsmanship.
Don’t be surprised if, after all the benefits you start experiencing, you start wearing your favourite ballet warming boots outside the ballet school. They can easily become your warmers during cold days when you want to feel super toasty as you spend your days at home under the blanket, watching shows, and drinking warm cocoa.
How to Find the Perfect Warm-Up Boots?
As soon as you start with the shopping, you see just how many options there are in the market. To make the choice easier, it’s best to consider some basics, like design, size, quality, and style.
In terms of design, you should keep your musts in mind because this would help you select the options that most suit you. By musts I mean the height of the boot you’re after, as there are different heights, created for different needs. The lower ones are great for foot and ankle warmth, whereas the taller ones are great for lower calf warmth too.
When it comes to size, usually the dance warm-up booties are true to size, so your usual size is the ideal pick. But, as mentioned, if you plan on wearing them with your pointe shoes, then it’s best you size up. When in doubt, it’s advisable to try them on or check the measurements when shopping online. Also in terms of design, you have some handy features like toggles and velcro straps that make it easy to put on and adjust the booties to get that perfect fit.
There are also differences in the soles, mainly due to indoor and outdoor use and distinction. Booties meant for both indoor and outdoor wear come with sturdy rubber soles, whereas the indoor-only design comes with softer soles that aren’t meant for the streets. This is something to think about from the perspective of care, maintenance, and durability. As outstanding brands like Bloch come with their own instructions, it shouldn’t be difficult to keep them spotless and prolong their lifespan.
Lastly, your consideration should also include style, as there are different booties when we think of colour as much as material. Some ultra-stylish options can be found in denim, and others can be found in cool patterns, so it’s up to you to decide which one is more to your taste.
