I’m Seth.

If you’re reading this, you likely have a young dancer in your life who’s been bitten by the ballet bug. I’ve been there. I started dancing at the age of four—along with my twin brother—when we followed our big sisters into dance class. It quickly became my whole world… and it still is, just in a different way.

I never set out to reinvent the ballet shoe—I simply wanted to keep dancing. While performing with the New York City Ballet, I suffered an injury that forced me to slip makeshift padding inside my shoes for extra support. It worked well enough to keep me onstage, but it opened my eyes: ballet shoes hadn’t changed in over a century, and dancers everywhere were improvising fixes to meet the physical demands of their art.

That realization is how ORZA was born—not just to solve my own problem, but to create a shoe that supports every dancer, everywhere, through class, rehearsal, and performance. ORZA ballet shoes are thoughtfully engineered for your young dancer.

Your dancer’s body faces tremendous demands from daily class, rehearsal, and performance. As Marika Molnar, PT, LAc—New York City Ballet’s lead Physical Therapist—explains:

“We have to remember that students are in their growing phase and can be tight and weak during adolescence. They often have balance difficulties and tend to push themselves to their limits, often culminating in ankle and knee sprains. We see Achilles and patellofemoral tendon problems, heel pain, and Osgood-Schlatter disease in younger male dancers. If not treated correctly and in a timely manner, these injuries can carry over into their adult dancing lives, causing problems throughout their professional careers.”

So how can parents best support their young dancer’s most important tool—their growing body—and help them stay healthy while pursuing their passion?

At ORZA, we believe a key part of that success is wearing supportive ballet shoes.

I recommend dance students try the ORZA Pro 2.0. This model offers the streamlined fit and aesthetic that young dancers expect from their ballet shoes today. Our shoes are built with structured canvas (we’re not fans of stretch canvas, which many slippers are made from today). Your dancer may find them a bit firm at first—they have a short break-in period and will soften and mold beautifully to their feet after a few classes.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions! My wife, Sarah Orza—a former principal ballerina and my partner in all things ORZA—is always happy to provide fit guidance and help you find your dancer’s perfect size.

We can’t wait to dance with your young dancer!