Inexpensive place to buy dance shoes?

[minnie1012]

Hi My daughter is taking a dance class for the first time (she's 7 1/2). I don't want to have to buy the shoes from the place and was happy to find shoes today at payless but they aren't split sole. I just read the website and they need to be split sole. Do any other stores like Payless sell ballet and jazz shoes? Actually I think the jazz may be ok but the ballet are not.

Thanks!

 

[mjantz]

Payless is really the only chain place I know that sells shoes. However, this is one place I would not scrimp & buy a reputable brand from a known company (Capezio, Bloch, etc). My DD11 now needs ballet, pointe, character & jazz. They're not cheap but I've found when I try & scrimp they don't last as long & I end up spending more. I do save a lot on her leotards by finding them on eBay or thrift stores.
Sorry I can't be of more help but I've learned this is an area to spend, not scrimp.

 

[eksb327]

Try Discount Dance Supply- really good prices on decent products and always are running some things on clearance. I've been happy with my purchases there (think Bloch, Capezio, Danskin, etc.) and shipping is quick. From what I understand, Payless does carry some shoes as well, though I'm not sure of the quality, either.

 

[AZMermaid]

I would second discount dance supply. Ballet shoes tend to run 1-2 sizes small (so if she wears a 11, get a 12.5 or 13) and I would go up a half size or so in the jazz shoe (so like an 11.5). Just if you are going to order online, don't go to the store and try them on. Dance stores are locally owned and make money from selling, not letting people try on dancewear. Not that you would do that, but my mom had a dancewear store that was known throughout the state for being the best place to buy shoes for the last 15 years and slowly she went out of business trying to compete with online retailers who have little overhead. Think Amazon vs Mom and Pop Bookstore. So, I would encourage you to pay the extra $10 and support local businesses, but if you truly can't, discount dance supply has a lot of choices.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

My daughter is starting her 6th year of dance, and I shop from the following online stores frequently...

All About Dance
Discount Dance Supply
Just For Kix

Dance shoes are a little funny in sizing (some you order bigger, some smaller, some same as street shoe), so call customer service if you need help.

 

[debrapagliasotti]

Forgot about Dancewear Solutions...

 

[westonkamom]

At that age they don't tend to get much wear out of their shoes...especially tap. Does her dance school sell/trade used shoes? Also, don't know if there's one local, but Once Upon A Child sells them as well. The one by us has bins of them for $4.50-$8.50 depending on brand/wear.

 

[Debbiebee68]

Cheap is expensive. If you buy a pair of cheap shoes, you will spend more money because it is almost a guarantee that you will have to buy them twice.
My daughters dance school won't even allow them.

 

[czycropper]

Another vote for Discount Dance. I have to also agree that cheap ends up being expensive. My DD has been dancing for 10 years and she started with Sansha's leather when she was 2.5/3 years old and now wears the canvas. Jazz has always been Capezio.

Also, I see that you're in Central NJ - Capezio has an outlet store in Lawrenceville/Princeton, no sure how far you're from there but it may be worth the drive. I get my DD jazz shoes there and then go to Forrestral Village and get her pointe shoes at Gisele's.

 

[luvdisney00]

Dancin' on the Moon located in East Brunswick and Manalapan is not cheap, but usually has a coupon floating around in those shopping fliers that come in the mail. I have 3 daughters who all dance on the competitive level so I know how expensive dance shoes can be, but I wouldn't recommend buying online for the first shoes. Go to a reputable store and get her fitted and then if you want to you can buy replacement shoes online when and if she needs them. Dance shoes need to fit properly and it will be expensive if you order the wrong size and have to return them.

 

[czycropper]

luvDisney00 - where do your DDs dance? A friend of mine used to dance with Center Stage but now has switched to PDT.

My DD will be going to both PDT and Serova's this year, mainly because she still likes doing the couple of competitions that Serova's does but at the same time wants to go to a semi-professional school, she wants her cake & eat it too!

 

[ceecee]

Our studio has used shoes for sale $2 some are free, you might want to ask at registration if they do that as well.

 

[mjkacmom]

Another vote for Discount Dance. I have to also agree that cheap ends up being expensive. My DD has been dancing for 10 years and she started with Sansha's leather when she was 2.5/3 years old and now wears the canvas. Jazz has always been Capezio.

Also, I see that you're in Central NJ - Capezio has an outlet store in Lawrenceville/Princeton, no sure how far you're from there but it may be worth the drive. I get my DD jazz shoes there and then go to Forrestral Village and get her pointe shoes at Gisele's.

There is also a Capezio outlet in Wayne. Honestly, I've found that our last studio didn't mark up the price much, and you really want her fitted.

 

[luvdisney00]

luvDisney00 - where do your DDs dance? A friend of mine used to dance with Center Stage but now has switched to PDT.

My DD will be going to both PDT and Serova's this year, mainly because she still likes doing the couple of competitions that Serova's does but at the same time wants to go to a semi-professional school, she wants her cake & eat it too!

We are at Old Bridge School of Dance. My DDs have friends at Center Stage and PDT but never heard of Serovas, where is that? I can't imagine trying to manage 2 studios, 1 is enough LOL. But I do see her point, competition is a lot of fun for them.

Glad to see that I'm not the only one trying to juggle the expense of competitive dance AND an addiction to Disney. I keep thinking we could do a couple of weeks at the Grand Floridian if we didn't have all those dance bills.....

 

[czycropper]

Yeah, then add fall cheer rec competition into the mix for both of my DD- I'm becoming a logistics expert

Serova's is a small studio in Somerville...it's been around for over 40 years and with the current owner for over 25 years. We only do two regional comps and the first one with only solo, duo and trio dancers and the 2nd one the group dances are added. It's not a competition focused studio.

What comps do you do this year? We did NDS & Backstage.

Does Dancin' on the Moon sell Grisko pointe shoes? Just found out that Giselle's closed and I really don't want to go into NYC to get her new pointe shoes but I may have to

 

[Charitycase20]

Hi My daughter is taking a dance class for the first time (she's 7 1/2). I don't want to have to buy the shoes from the place and was happy to find shoes today at payless but they aren't split sole. I just read the website and they need to be split sole. Do any other stores like Payless sell ballet and jazz shoes? Actually I think the jazz may be ok but the ballet are not.

Thanks!

Is there any particular reason you don't want to purchase her shoes from the studio? I find that even ours is very reasonable and it saves me the craziness of fitting and trying to return if they need be a different size. Definitely worth the couple more $$!!

And I second a PP about Discount Dance Supply, Dancewear Solutions, and All about dance...

 

[neatokimmo]

Hi My daughter is taking a dance class for the first time (she's 7 1/2). I don't want to have to buy the shoes from the place and was happy to find shoes today at payless but they aren't split sole. I just read the website and they need to be split sole. Do any other stores like Payless sell ballet and jazz shoes? Actually I think the jazz may be ok but the ballet are not.

Thanks!

Since she is just starting, she is mostly going to be doing stretches and bar work for ballet. She might skip.....she's not going to do any "real" dancing. If she can do the split sole canvas shoes, they are about $8 on ebay. I bought DDs first pair from the school for the sizing ($18) then bought the same shoe in the next 6 sizes up from a dance company in CA on Ebay.

I can't help with Jazz, I refuse to add another activity! lol

 

[luvdisney00]

Yeah, then add fall cheer rec competition into the mix for both of my DD- I'm becoming a logistics expert

Serova's is a small studio in Somerville...it's been around for over 40 years and with the current owner for over 25 years. We only do two regional comps and the first one with only solo, duo and trio dancers and the 2nd one the group dances are added. It's not a competition focused studio.

What comps do you do this year? We did NDS & Backstage.

Does Dancin' on the Moon sell Grisko pointe shoes? Just found out that Giselle's closed and I really don't want to go into NYC to get her new pointe shoes but I may have to

Yes, both of my teen DDs wear Grisko 2007 but I am at the point that I just buy them online now. They have been wearing them for a while and if they are tight I go up a 1/2 size, if not I re-order the same ones. KAS in Eatontown carries them as well.

We are a small studio also and I love that. We have been there for 10 years and the director and the team are like family. We did On Pointe, Legacy and Showstoppers this past year. I only know for sure we are doing Starbound AC this year, the others have yet to be determined. We usually do 3 regionals each year and Nationals every other year. We also do at least 1 or 2 conventions like JUMP or the Pulse. I really do love the studio, it's just a BIG commitment of both time and money.

 

[Jaime4004]

Since she is just starting, she is mostly going to be doing stretches and bar work for ballet. She might skip.....she's not going to do any "real" dancing. If she can do the split sole canvas shoes, they are about $8 on ebay. I bought DDs first pair from the school for the sizing ($18) then bought the same shoe in the next 6 sizes up from a dance company in CA on Ebay.

I can't help with Jazz, I refuse to add another activity! lol

I have bought the split sole canvas shoes from ebay, for about the same $8 price for the past few years. They lasted fine throughout the year, in good enough condition that I sold them on ebay each year after.

 

[minnie1012]

Is there any particular reason you don't want to purchase her shoes from the studio? I find that even ours is very reasonable and it saves me the craziness of fitting and trying to return if they need be a different size. Definitely worth the couple more $$!!

And I second a PP about Discount Dance Supply, Dancewear Solutions, and All about dance...

I thought they would be very expensive and being this is her first time taking a class I wasn't sure how things were going to go with the class!

Thanks everyone, I think for her first pair I will go to the dance studio and get them there so they fit properly. : )