Mid 18th century dancer Marie Camargo of the Paris OpÃ ra Ballet was the first to wear a non-heeled shoe , enabling her to perform leaps that would have been difficult , if not impossible , in the old shoes . Mid-18th century dancer Marie Camargo of the Paris OpÃ ra Ballet was the first to wear a non-heeled shoe , enabling her to perform leaps that would have been difficult , if not impossible , in the more conventional shoes of the age .