Dance Class for 3 Year Old

[RobinFabulous]

Where my daughter (4 years old) dances they do not let them in the class with the payless shoes. The instructor said they are very poor quality and that the split sole makes them inferior. We bought my DD's shoes at a dance shop for only $17. They are very good quality and the store fitted her to make sure they were the right size. Tap shoes are also not that expensive at a dance store. I would recommend finding a dance shop and checking them out, you may be surprised that they are much more affordable than you think.

I agree, just depends where you go. The boutique here was $30, the dance place $18

 

[toobie75]

This is just my opinion as a mom of 2 dance fanatics.

Before you make any purchase I would double check with the rec center to see if they require a certain kind/brand of shoes. Our dance studio is very specific on what they want the girls to wear.

If they aren't particular on brand/type, I would still go ahead and purchase a new pair of quality ballet shoes. They are only maybe $5 more at the dance shop and they will last much much longer and be much more comfortable. The store will also personally fit her shoes to her feet. Both my girls wear a size 10 in street shoes but when we went to get fiited for ballet shoes one ended up with an 11 and the other ended up in an 11-1/2. It's totally dependent on how the shoe is made and how their feet are made. Once properly fitted, leather ballet shoes will conform/grow with you foot a bit. She may be in that pair longer than you think. You really do get what you pay for in dance shoes. The last thing you want is to get a cheaper pair and they end up hurting her feet and she equates her feet hurting with dance. Once she grows out of her 1st pair then you can go to eBay or online shops and buy that brand/style in a half size up for a few bucks cheaper than the brick and mortor store.

Also, when we started we were getting the tights at Walmart and Target for $4 a pair and having to replace them at least every 2 months because of holes, runs, fuzzies, and wear. For their recital their first year they had to have a certain color of capezio tights which were $12/pair. I was not at all happy having to pay that much for tights. But, they've worn those same exact tights ever since (for over a year now) with not a single run, hole, nick, or otherwise and they fit just as good today as they did when we bought them. I will never go back to the cheap tights again because in the end, we ended up paying twice as much and they were half as nice. If you still decide to go that route, the Target tights fit much better, are softer, and don't run as easily as the Walmart tights.

Good luck! I'm sure she'll have a blast.

 

[ktlm]

This is just my opinion as a mom of 2 dance fanatics.

Before you make any purchase I would double check with the rec center to see if they require a certain kind/brand of shoes. Our dance studio is very specific on what they want the girls to wear.

:

Same here. They tell us what brand; what style; and what color. No options. My DD started last year when she was 2 1/2. She loves it.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Same here. They tell us what brand; what style; and what color. No options. My DD started last year when she was 2 1/2. She loves it.

Our studio does the same. But I agree about the tights. They are expensive but they last all year- no problem.

 

[baz212]

I would also say, do not get the cheap shoes. They are not good for the kids' feet and the school may make you buy new ones for performances that match the other kids' shoes. It is not much more to buy good shoes and can sometimes be cheaper once you know the size. Also the dance shoes will most likely be a different size from her street shoe. I took dance from age 7 through college and always purchased through my studio. It was usually about the same price as cheap payless shoes because they were able to buy in bulk.
My DS5 has been dancing for 2 years now and his ballet shoes only cost me $12 a pair from the studio. Because he's a boy and needs jazz tap shoes they cost $40, but the little girl's u-shell taps are only $20. Trust me when I say that the cheap black girl's tap shoes are not comfortable. I ended up with blisters on the back of my heels my first year of tap in those shoes at 7.

 

[cristbaby]

Just a quick word about tights. The capezio hold and stretch style #14c are the best tights out there. They usually run about $12 but they will last all year long. They are well worth the money because they will conform to the legs and not stretch out at the knees. My daughter owns a dance studio and that is what she requires he students to wear. Good luck to your daughter op.