| 摘要 |
The inventive subject matter is generally directed to dance shoes that include a distal portion for receiving at least a portion of a forefoot of a wearer. The distal portion includes a rigid structure for supporting the foot, such as a toe box for an en pointe dance shoe. A proximal portion extends from the distal portion and it is configured for receiving the midfoot and rearfoot portions of the foot. The shoe is constructed so as to conform to the shape of the foot through a range of foot flexations that vary the distance of the toes to the heel, particularly the flexations that occur when dancing en pointe. According to certain embodiments of the inventive subject matter, this is achieved in whole or part by configuring the proximal portion to be elastically, longitudinally extendible relative to the distal portion and/or configuring the shoe's foot-receiving compartment with a shape that generally mimics the foot in a shape corresponding to plantar flexation, for example, a shape mimicking a foot en pointe. |
