Soul Dance

This blog excerpt was taken from our store: Leather-Moccasins. To read the entire article please click here.

When I was a child, I took ballet lessons with a local teacher in my hometown.

I was no dance prodigy, but I loved to move to the music, pointing my toes, learning the five positions, and listening to Miss Edwina call out, “Plié... sauté!” while I hopped and jumped in my little leotards.

The ballet shoes were my favourite... soft and simple with a tiny string bow. They made me feel like I could jeté my way into the sky like a butterfly. When Miss Edwina asked the class to imagine we were swans or flower girls, I took it very seriously, flitting around on tiptoe, keeping time to the tinkling piano. My love of dancing continued long after my ballet lessons did. It evolved to become a form of socializing, a creative expression, a way to let off steam.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve internalized the spirit of dancing, and it manifests itself in other creative ways. But the soul continues to dance, and the little girl I used to be once upon a time is still in there, twirling in her tutu.

I can still have the shoes, though! Ballet moccasins by Bastien are the grown-up version of my beloved ballerina flats. They’re a minimalist moccasin, with a simple, understated elegance... soft, leather soles, hand-sewn seams, and yes, a little bow.

These are indoor slippers known as “barefoot shoes” because they fit like a second skin. Made in Canada by an Indigenous-owned company, Bastien, ballet moccasins are crafted by hand with supple moose hide and outer stitching details. The suede interior is smooth and gentle against bare skin, and the leather takes on the shape of your foot over time, creating a completely personalized fit. The sole is double-leather, with no insole, for a natural feel underfoot.
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