A protective foot cover for use in dance, exercise, or athletic applications using strategically placed thicker protective pieces in ball and toe areas of the foot in connection with an elastic material in the sole structure to allow the foot to move freely and provide less of a barrier between the foot and floor such that a dancer can better sense the floor upon which they dance. The foot cover incorporates strategically placed protective patches that provide support, protection, and comfort to the ball and toe portions of the foot. The patches are spaced from one another so that the footwear is able to move more naturally with the expansion of the foot as pressure is applied to the foot. The foot cover may be used alone, whereby the toe and heel portions of the foot are exposed, or in combination with a dance shoe providing a stretchable sole running from the arch portion to the toe portion of the foot.