Ballet shoe, with a box with an open end and a closed end, an upper section and a small lower box and a shank, which can be removed from the box, with a male element that is inserted into the small box. The small box has flat walls and a flat bottom, and a flexible upper partition designed to rest on the male element of the shank under the user's weight. The shank core is then retained by the user whilst in use, and free to be removed when not.

Ballet shoe, with a box with an open end and a closed end, an upper section and a small lower box and a shank, which can be removed from the box, with a male element that is inserted into the small box. The small box has flat walls and a flat bottom, and a flexible upper partition designed to rest on the male element of the shank under the user's weight. The shank core is then retained by the user whilst in use, and free to be removed when not.

Disclosed are systems, kits and methods for smart footwear for dance performances, as well as computer-implemented methods to train performers using the smart footwear. An example method for improving a dance technique or a dance performance by a performer, comprises receiving, using a radio frequency (RF) transceiver on a wireless device, a signal from an RF transmitter on a pointe shoe, determining, based on the signal, an activation status of each of a plurality of pressure sensors on the pointe shoe, and providing, based on the activation status, an indication of an accuracy or efficacy of the performer standing en pointe during the dance technique or dance performance.

Disclosed are systems, kits and methods for smart footwear for dance performances, as well as computer-implemented methods to train performers using the smart footwear. An example method for improving a dance technique or a dance performance by a performer, comprises receiving, using a radio frequency (RF) transceiver on a wireless device, a signal from an RF transmitter on a pointe shoe, determining, based on the signal, an activation status of each of a plurality of pressure sensors on the pointe shoe, and providing, based on the activation status, an indication of an accuracy or efficacy of the performer standing en pointe during the dance technique or dance performance.

A shoe has a main body, an ankle strap, plantar bridge, and a toe loop connected to the main body. The main body wraps around the dorsal instep area of the foot and the plantar bridge wraps around the plantar midfoot area of the foot, without covering the ball, the plantar metatarsals, the heel, or the toes. The ankle strap is attached at its ends to the main body and extends around the back of the foot above the heel for constraining the main body from forwarding movement. The toe loop surrounds one of the toes and connects with the main body from above the foot, for constraining the main body from rearward movement.

A shoe has a main body, an ankle strap, plantar bridge, and a toe loop connected to the main body. The main body wraps around the dorsal instep area of the foot and the plantar bridge wraps around the plantar midfoot area of the foot, without covering the ball, the plantar metatarsals, the heel, or the toes. The ankle strap is attached at its ends to the main body and extends around the back of the foot above the heel for constraining the main body from forwarding movement. The toe loop surrounds one of the toes and connects with the main body from above the foot, for constraining the main body from rearward movement.

Aspects herein are directed to a sock and methods for forming the sock on a circular knitting machine. The sock in accordance with aspects herein having a plurality of toe-anchor knit courses that form a toe anchor that divides a toe-end opening of the sock into a first toe-end opening and a second toe-end opening by extending across the toe-end opening from a dorsal portion of the toe-end opening to a plantar portion of the toe-end opening. The toe-anchor knit courses are integrally knit with the sock body.

An article of footwear that produces an audio component for a performance includes a rigid heel assembly that attaches to the article of footwear. The rigid heel assembly has a cavity with an open end. The cavity houses an audio transmission assembly that includes a transmitter. A microphone converts the audio component of the performance into a digital audio signal and is operatively connected to the audio transmission assembly which wirelessly transmits the digital audio signal of the audio of the performance.

An article of footwear that produces an audio component for a performance includes a rigid heel assembly that attaches to the article of footwear. The rigid heel assembly has a cavity with an open end. The cavity houses an audio transmission assembly that includes a transmitter. A microphone converts the audio component of the performance into a digital audio signal and is operatively connected to the audio transmission assembly which wirelessly transmits the digital audio signal of the audio of the performance.

Footwear and sole structures include structures and properties, e.g., to support urban dance and urban dance moves. Such dance styles include various dance moves and movements that require contact between side edges of the wearer’s shoes and the dance floor surface (e.g., made from concrete, asphalt, wood, etc.). Such dance styles also require transition of the body’s center of mass along the edge(s) of the foot. Footwear and sole structures in accordance with this technology provide structures and properties to support to support such dance styles and moves, including one or more of: selected materials and/or selected material properties in various areas to promote sliding or gliding along various surfaces and/or other desired interactions with various surfaces; selected sizing and/or dimensional features of components in various areas; various flexion promoting structures and/or characteristics; etc.