Hi, I’m Seth — and if you’re reading this, you likely have a young dancer in your life who’s been bitten by the ballet bug. I understand that world completely. I started dancing at four years old, following my big sisters into class alongside my twin brother. It quickly became my whole life. In many ways, it still is.

I spent over two decades as a professional dancer at New York City Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. It was my own experience with injury — and the complete lack of support in the ballet shoes I wore every single day — that led me to create ORZA. Ballet shoes hadn’t changed in over a century. I decided to change that.

Why it matters for your young dancer

Young dancers are athletes. The demands placed on their bodies — especially during growth periods — are significant, and the ballet shoe has never been designed to help absorb any of it. Marika Molnar, PT, LAc, Physical Therapist to New York City Ballet, explains it best:

“Students are in their growing phase and can be tight and weak during adolescence. They tend to push themselves to their limits, culminating in ankle and knee sprains, Achilles and patellofemoral tendon problems, and heel pain. If not treated correctly and in a timely manner, these injuries can carry over into their adult dancing lives.”

— Marika Molnar, PT, LAc, Physical Therapist to New York City Ballet

As a parent, one of the most meaningful things you can do to support your young dancer is to make sure their most used tool — their ballet shoe — is actually working for them. The ORZA Pro® 2.0 is the only ballet shoe on the market built with patented shock absorption. There is simply no reason for a young dancer to be in any other shoe.

The shoe I recommend

For dance students, I recommend the ORZA Pro® 2.0. It has the streamlined fit and clean aesthetic young dancers expect, with patented shock absorption built right in. And because they’re built to last, the ORZA Pro® 2.0 holds up to three times longer than a traditional ballet shoe — making them one of the smartest investments you’ll make in your dancer’s training, and one of the most important.

Questions? We’re here.

My wife Sarah — a former principal ballerina and my partner in everything ORZA — is always happy to help with fit guidance and sizing. Don’t hesitate to reach out.

Your dancer’s body deserves the best — start here.

— Seth