Why are children's ballet shoes still designed like miniature versions of adult shoes?

As a ballet teacher, I watched countless little dancers struggle with the same frustrations class after class. Drawstrings came untied. Tight elastic straps dug into tiny feet. Shoes slipped off, distracted young dancers, and turned what should have been an exciting first ballet experience into one filled with constant interruptions.

The more I watched, the more I realized something important: ballet had evolved—but children's ballet shoes hadn't.

I believed kids deserved better.

So I set out to create a ballet shoe designed specifically for the way children move, learn, and play. One that's easier for little hands to put on, more comfortable for growing feet, and thoughtfully made to help children feel confident from the very first plié.

That vision became Slipps.

Every detail—from our patented heart sole to our signature adjustable closure and playful colors—was created with one goal in mind: to remove the little frustrations so children can focus on the joy of dancing.

Because ballet isn't just about perfect technique. It's about confidence. Imagination. Belonging. It's the excitement of putting on your very first pair of ballet shoes and feeling like a real ballerina.

At Slipps, we're building more than beautiful products. We're building a brand that celebrates childhood, encourages creativity, supports dance communities, and helps make ballet feel a little more welcoming for every family, whether dancing at home or at your local studio.

Our hope is simple: that every child remembers their first ballet class not because their shoes got in the way—but because they felt free to dance.

Because the moment they feel like a real ballerina begins with the shoes.

- Cole Leroux