An article of footwear is configured to enclose and comfortably engage a forefoot of a user. The article includes a sole having a forefoot portion and a rearfoot portion, a closed-toe, open-heel upper configured to substantially prevent lateral and forward movement of the forefoot with respect to the forefoot portion, the upper with a lower perimeter attached to a forefoot perimeter of the forefoot portion and defining an interior configured to receive the forefoot of the user, and a stanchion extending upwardly through the interior, the stanchion with a bottom attached to the forefoot portion of the sole and a top attached to the upper, wherein the stanchion is configured to extend between and engage adjacent toes of the user to substantially prevent movement of the forefoot with respect to the forefoot portion of the sole. A method of using the footwear with toe bar is also disclosed.