Discover Merlet DIVA: Top-Quality French Pointe Shoes | Dance World

Shoe Size & Fit Advice

International shoe sizes can vary slightly between brands and models. Use your measured foot length as the best starting point, then compare it with the individual brand's size recommendation. Where a product page gives model-specific sizing advice, that guidance should always take priority over a general conversion chart.

Adult Shoes

International Adult Shoe Size Conversion

A general reference for comparing EU, UK and US adult shoe sizes. Foot length is shown to make cross-brand comparison easier.

Foot Length cm	EU	UK	US Women	US Men
21.5	35 / 35.5	2.5 – 3	4.5 – 5	3 – 3.5
22.0	36	3 – 3.5	5 – 5.5	3.5 – 4
22.5	36.5 / 37	3.5 – 4	5.5 – 6	4 – 4.5
23.0	37 / 37.5	4 – 4.5	6 – 6.5	4.5 – 5
23.5	38	4.5 – 5	6.5 – 7	5 – 5.5
24.0	38.5	5 – 5.5	7 – 7.5	5.5 – 6
24.5	39 / 39.5	5.5 – 6	7.5 – 8	6 – 6.5
25.0	40	6 – 6.5	8 – 8.5	6.5 – 7
25.5	40.5	6.5 – 7	8.5 – 9	7 – 7.5
26.0	41 / 41.5	7 – 7.5	9 – 9.5	7.5 – 8
26.5	42	7.5 – 8	9.5 – 10	8 – 8.5
27.0	42 / 42.5	8 – 8.5	10 – 10.5	8.5 – 9
27.5	43	8.5 – 9	10.5 – 11	9 – 9.5
28.0	44	9 – 9.5	11 – 11.5	9.5 – 10
28.5	44.5	9.5 – 10	11.5 – 12	10 – 10.5
29.0	45	10 – 10.5	12 – 12.5	10.5 – 11
29.5	46	10.5 – 11	12.5 – 13	11 – 11.5

Children's Shoes

International Kids' Shoe Size Conversion

Children's shoe sizing changes from child to youth sizing as feet grow. Measure the child's foot rather than converting from an existing school or trainer size wherever possible.

Foot Length cm	EU	UK Kids	US Kids / Youth
14.0	24	7	7.5
14.5	25	7.5	8
15.0	25.5 – 26	8 – 8.5	8.5 – 9
15.5	26.5	9	9.5
16.0	27 – 27.5	9.5	10
16.5	28	10	10.5
17.0	28.5	10.5	11
17.5	29 – 30	11 – 11.5	11.5 – 12
18.0	30.5	12	12.5
18.5	31	12.5	13
19.0	32 – 32.5	13 – 13.5	13.5 / 1Y
19.5	33	1	1.5Y
20.0	33.5	1.5	2Y
20.5	34 / 34.5	2	2.5Y
21.0	35	2.5	3Y
21.5	35.5	3	3.5Y
22.0	36	3.5	4Y
22.5	37	4	4.5Y
23.0	37.5	4.5	5Y
23.5	38	5	5.5Y
24.0	38.5	5.5	6Y
24.5	39	6	6.5Y
25.0	40	6.5	7Y

Dance World Tip

Never choose a dance shoe from conversion alone. Ballet, jazz, ballroom and character shoes can fit very differently depending on the last, upper material, width and intended level of compression. Use this table to understand international equivalents, then follow the fit advice for the individual shoe.

Dance World Measuring Guide

How to Measure Your Feet for Dance Shoes

Measure both feet while standing, preferably later in the day. Use the longer foot when comparing your measurement with a shoe size chart.

Foot Length

Key Measurement

Stand with your heel lightly against a wall and place your foot flat on a sheet of paper. Mark the end of your longest toe and measure the distance from the wall to the mark.

Measure in centimetres for the most accurate comparison with international shoe charts.

Measure Both Feet

Repeat the measurement on the other foot. It is very common for one foot to be slightly longer than the other, so always use the larger measurement when choosing your starting size.

Foot Width

Measure across or around the widest part of the forefoot. Width can be just as important as length in dance shoes, particularly in fitted ballet, jazz and ballroom styles.

Measure While Standing

Take measurements with your full weight on your feet. Standing allows the foot to spread naturally and gives a more realistic measurement than measuring while sitting.

Check the Dance Fit

A correctly fitted dance shoe should feel secure without restricting the toes or causing pressure. Different dance disciplines require different amounts of growing room, compression and heel security, so always follow the model-specific Dance World Fit Advice.

Using This Conversion Guide

This chart is designed as an international reference rather than a replacement for individual brand sizing. Bloch, Capezio, So Danca, IDS, PortDance, Diamant and other dance footwear brands may use their own conversion systems or fit differently from standard street shoes. Always use the individual product's Dance World Fit Advice where available.

Dance World Fit Note International shoe conversions are approximate and can vary between manufacturers, lasts and shoe styles. Foot length provides the most useful starting point, but the individual brand's size chart and model-specific Dance World fitting recommendation should always take priority.

Perfect For Professionally fitted intermediate and advanced dancers • class, rehearsal and performance • dancers requiring the DIVA shape with a hard-shank configuration

Description

Merlet DIVA Hard Shank Pointe Shoes are traditionally made in France for intermediate to advanced dancers. The DIVA combines a satin upper, leather sole and high vamp with Merlet’s stitch-and-turn construction for a smooth, seamless internal finish.

Its flexible large box and generous platform support secure work en pointe, while the hard shank provides a firmer resistance than the standard DIVA configuration. A microfiber tip and technical STM polycarbonate/Cryptonite arch construction complete this performance-focused model.

Merlet DIVA Hard Shank Pointe Shoes – Design & Performance

DIVA Hard Shank is a traditionally French-made pointe shoe with a flexible large box and large platform. Its high 7.2 cm vamp creates the DIVA’s distinctive profile, while the stitch-and-turn construction keeps the internal finish smooth and streamlined.

The hard shank configuration provides firmer resistance for dancers professionally fitted into this version of the DIVA. A cotton drawstring adjusts the satin upper at the top line, while the STM polycarbonate insole, Cryptonite arch, microfiber tip and leather sole complete the shoe’s technical construction.

Merlet DIVA Hard Shank Technical Profile

Construction Traditional French-made stitch-and-turn construction

Purpose Intermediate to advanced pointe work

Box Flexible large box

Platform Large platform

Vamp High vamp, approximately 7.2 cm

Shank Hard-shank configuration

Insole STM polycarbonate insole

Arch Cryptonite arch construction

Tip Microfiber tip

Drawstring Cotton drawstring

Materials Satin upper · cotton lining · leather sole

Merlet DIVA Hard Shank Pointe Shoe Construction

Merlet makes DIVA in France using its stitch-and-turn technique, which tucks the construction materials inside the shoe for a clean, seamless finish. This version retains the DIVA’s flexible large box, large platform, STM polycarbonate insole and Cryptonite arch construction, with the separate hard-shank configuration.

Pointe Shoe Fitting, Size & Reordering Tip: DIVA Hard Shank must be selected in person with a qualified fitter and your teacher’s guidance. Please take extra care when selecting online: the size selector shows the UK size followed by the Merlet shank size in brackets - for example, UK 2 is Shank 11. Do not select from UK size alone; confirm both your fitted size and width before ordering. Ribbons and elastics are sold separately.

Reviews (0)

About Our Pointe Shoe Collection

At Dance World Europe, we carefully select pointe shoes from the world's leading ballet brands, offering dancers a wide choice of models to suit different foot shapes, strengths and levels of experience. Every pointe shoe in our collection is chosen for its exceptional craftsmanship, support and performance, helping dancers train safely and perform with confidence.

Whether you're preparing for your first pair of pointe shoes or searching for your preferred professional model, our collection includes shoes designed to provide the ideal balance of support, flexibility and comfort. With a variety of box shapes, shank strengths and fitting options available, we help dancers find the shoe that best complements their individual technique and training needs.

As experienced dance specialists, we understand that every dancer's feet are unique. That's why we always recommend a professional pointe shoe fitting whenever possible, ensuring the safest and most comfortable fit to support your progression throughout your ballet journey.

Delivery & Returns

All orders are sent via GLS. A signature will be required upon receipt of your order. If there is no-one available to accept the package a calling card will be left behind for you so you can re-arrange delivery.

Free EU Standard Delivery on orders over 99€

Please visit our delivery page for further delivery information and our returns page for returns information.

Customer service can be contacted via email : orders@danceworld.ie

By phone - Ireland: 01 497 6129, UK and Rest of World: 00 353 1 497 6129

DIVA Hard Shank Pointe Shoes • Advanced Pointe Shoes

Size & Fit Advice

At a Glance

Materials & Construction

Care information