Sansha unisex-adult Pro 1 Leather Ballet Slipper Review
The Sansha Pro 1 ballet slipper is designed specifically for dancers who prioritize comfort and functionality. This unisex ballet slipper stands out with its lightweight leather upper, which is not only durable but also lined with soft cotton, ensuring your feet stay comfortable and breathable during long practice sessions or performances. The elastic straps provide a secure fit, allowing you to focus solely on your dance without worrying about footwear issues.
What makes these slippers particularly noteworthy is their unique design, pioneered by Franck Raoul-Duval in 1982. His innovation of the split-sole ballet slipper has allowed dancers worldwide to experience a glove-like fit that enhances their movements. Today, Sansha continues to be a trusted name among dancers, offering an extensive range of shoes suitable for various dance styles.
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Features
- Available in Black, with a sizing option for women to select one size up from their street shoe
- Men's sizing matches street shoe sizes
- Hand-stitched front sole construction for durability
- No external stitching for a sleek appearance
- Pre-curved front sole for enhanced flexibility
- Soft cotton lining ensures maximum comfort
- Pre-sewn elastic for quick and easy adjustments
Pros
- Exceptional comfort due to soft lining and lightweight materials
- Durable construction with hand-stitched soles
- Great flexibility owing to the pre-curved sole design
- Sleek look with no external stitching
- Trusted brand with a strong history in the dance community
Cons
- Women may need to adjust sizing as they should order one size up
- Leather requires proper care to maintain its quality
- Some users may find the price point higher compared to other brands
Comparison With Other Similar Products
| Product | Material | Sole Type | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sansha Pro 1 Leather Ballet Slipper | 100% Leather | Suede | Split-sole design, Hand-stitched |
| Bloch Dansoft Ballet Shoes | Canvas | Leather | Pre-sewn elastic, Lightweight |
| Capezio Daisy Ballet Slippers | Leather | Suede | Comfortable cotton lining, Soft leather |
Detailed Review
When considering the Sansha Pro 1 Leather Ballet Slipper, it's essential to evaluate various factors such as comfort, performance, durability, and aesthetics. These slippers excel in the realm of comfort thanks to their soft cotton lining and leather upper, making them perfect for extended use. As you slip your feet into these slippers, you'll immediately notice the glove-like fit that hugs your foot securely, allowing for precision in every movement.
Performance-wise, the split-sole design offers exceptional flexibility, vital for executing intricate dance steps. Dancers appreciate how the pre-curved shape aligns with the natural arch of the foot, enhancing their ability to perform effortlessly. However, it’s worth noting that sizing can be tricky for women, as they are advised to order a size up, which might not suit everyone.
In terms of durability, the hand-stitched construction promises longevity, a significant factor for dancers who train regularly. The absence of external stitching not only adds to the aesthetic appeal but also minimizes potential points of wear. That said, it’s crucial to care for the leather properly to keep these slippers looking pristine.
Overall, the Sansha Pro 1 is a solid choice for both novice and experienced dancers looking for a reliable pair of ballet slippers. While the price tag may be slightly higher than some alternatives, the investment is justified given the quality and performance delivered.
Detailed Rating
| Category | Score | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort | 9/10 | Superior comfort with soft lining and leather material |
| Performance | 9/10 | Excellent flexibility and support for intricate movements |
| Durability | 8/10 | Hand-stitched; needs regular care to maintain quality |
| Value for Money | 7/10 | Higher price point, but justifiable by quality |
User Reviews
We bought this for our dancer who has 11 wide Egyptian feet with high insteps.Plain and simple this is a great shoe!If we could get it as a street shoe my daughter would live exclusively in these Pro 1'sAs a parent I thought I'd write a review for others in a similar situation to ours. The local dance stores do not carry pink leather shoes in the sizes we need so we are extremely grateful for Amazon.Pro:The length is perfect for an 11 wide.Our dancer's high instep is very hard to fit and these do not cut into the foot.No ingrown toenail problems with the Pro 1IMHO better for Greek/Morton's or Giselle/Roman FeetCons:Your type of feet may affect the look of the pointed foot.IMHO not for extremely tapered Egyptian feet if you have one of the rare exacting techniques teachers.Our dancer's extremely tapered toes adversely affect the look of the Pro 1 shoe when pointing her toes. The leather in front of the tapered toes area bunches up and makes it hard for the teacher to see if the toes are pointed when doing tendus. We bought the Sansha Silhouette in the same size and it was a more flattering fit for our dancer's extremely tapered toes. With she tendus with the Silhouette there is a tiny bit of excess material but significantly less than the Pro 1. The Silhouette's are fine for the ballet classes at her dance studio. However our dancer just added private lessons with a highly sought after technique teacher across town who is less than pleased with the shoe so I am going to get Sansha's Silhouette 14W and pray it stretches enough to not hurt my dancers toes. These Pro 1 we will keep for her dance studio classes were the ballet teacher is less exacting about the shoes.
The only shoe i every found that fit was a J.B. Stetson in a 14 AAA with AAAAAA heal in 1969. When I tried custom cow boy boots Dixon in Wichita Falls Texas could almost do the job but the heel was still loose.These fit as well as any ever owned noting they ran small I ordered 20 wide and they are OK. I will order more to wear around the house when my toe heals up.I bought them so I could cut out a place for my big toe that has just had the nail removed and then bandage the toe and shoe together when I go out to keep stuff out of the wound. Most of the time the toe is open to the air so it heals faster.A 70 year old fat man get some odd looks in them too.GC.
Admittedly, this is my first pair of leather ballet shoes as an adult dancer. However, I sized up 3-4 sizes from my normal 12--13 womens street shoe per recommendations, and received a pair that will fit my "ogre feet". I require a large toe box and deal with neuropathy sensitivities...so during my 1-hour adult ballet class in a cold building, my toes hurt wearing these shoes. BUT!!!!, as a costumer and tailor by trade, the construction is secure. And these shoes were the envy of 3 other adult dancers in class tonight!
Very comfortable and back edge of elastics (cross over style) are already sewn in place.I haven't dinked star rating because it was my error....but make sure you look at the Sansha size chart recommendations. I ordered one size up from street shoes and they were much, much too small.I reordered 2 sizes up from street shoes and although my big toes are slightly pressed on, I feel they will be just right when worn a bit.I haven't done barre work or danced in these yet, but they are very comfy and I believe they will be awesome!
UPDATE: PLEASE make these PINK available in size (20 XW Women / 16 XW Mens). I need them for my recital. Please please make the pink available in 16 XW Mens.UPDATE: PLEASE make these PINK available in size (20 XW Women / 16 XW Mens). I need them for my recital. Please please make the pink available in 16 XW Mens.Shoes fit great. Problem is that the largest size is only available in black. Please make the very largest size (20 XW Women / 16 XW Mens) also available in pink. Thank you so much.
The product guideline states to order one’s true size, which I did, but the largest shoe is too small for me. I had to order three pairs to learn this. If you have a foot size smaller than US men’s 15 you should be fine.
Let me start off by saying I'm not a dancer but I recently had some surgery and needed some slippers, that would allow me to get back on my feet, as it were. So my wife urged me to try these and at first I balked at the idea but went along with her wishes. Well as it turned out, these slippers are simply fantastic! They take a few hours of wear to break in but after that, it doesn't get any better! These are made of good quality soft leather and I would think a real dancer would appreciate that; I know I have! Thanks Sansha!
These are the only ballet slippers I'll wear! I love them!! Normally I wear size 8 American street shoe and buy a 10 N in these, so knowing your size is important. The only negative is that I find the elasticized string a little thick and therefore bulky to tuck it in at the top, but they fit me so well and are always consistent in quality and size, that I won't wear any other slipper! :)