OT: Tap Shoes

[maciec]

I Have a Tap Shoes Question
Hi! My daughter is going to be starting tap in a few weeks and I have a dilema regarding the tap shoes (which I might add, I know nothing about). I tried a 3 & and 3.5 on her and the 3 was too small and the other was too big. I would buy the big ones and have her just wear socks, but when recital time comes, they won't fit with tights. She normally wears a size 1, but for some reason ballet slippers and tap shoes are cut so small.

Any advice on what to do would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

(I also posted this on the Community Board forum because I didn't know where I would get the responses)

 

[soontobewed07]

I Have a Tap Shoes Question
Hi! My daughter is going to be starting tap in a few weeks and I have a dilema regarding the tap shoes (which I might add, I know nothing about). I tried a 3 & and 3.5 on her and the 3 was too small and the other was too big. I would buy the big ones and have her just wear socks, but when recital time comes, they won't fit with tights. She normally wears a size 1, but for some reason ballet slippers and tap shoes are cut so small.

Any advice on what to do would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

(I also posted this on the Community Board forum because I didn't know where I would get the responses)

I danced for over 13 years I would go with the 3.5 by the time the recital comes she will probably be in them also check with the dance school some require new shoes just for that day. Crazy I know,but they may require them to be sprayed a different color to match the costume. Payless also sells them and it may save a little $$$ Most dance places sell elastics that wrap in place of the ribbon. Good luck and if you need anything feel free to PM me

 

[GurGie]

Is there another place in town that sells a different brand? There can be quite a difference between a 3 in one brand and a 3 in another.

HTH!

 

[pixiepower1971]

I would try a different brand. They are all different. If you can't find a different brand, I would buy the larger size, have her wear socks and also stuff the toes with lambs wool(looks like a very strong version of cotton balls), they sell it in dance stores.

I second getting rid of the ribbon on the shoes and getting elastic tap ties for them. Again, any dance store will have them.

 

[maciec]

Thanks for the input! I think that I am going to end up with the bigger size and do as suggested with the lambs wool. Wish me luck!

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

Where did you buy her tap shoes. I know that the locals dance stores sell shoe inserts that are removeable the adhere to the back of the around the ankle area I had to do this w/ my dd's first pair of taps but now I don't. They grow out of them really fast.

 

[kylieh]

DD wears Bloch - at least in Australia they cost a little more, but they have great resale. She changes in to them just before class. Socks for weekly lessons then she had tights for the concert. I pay around AU$55, and can normally sell for AU$35. They are polished after each lesson to help keep any scratches on the leather under control.

 

[Schmeck]

Before you buy tap shoes, did you ask the dance instructor which brand/style/color to get? The better dance studios have specific requirements. If the dance studio doesn't care what they have on their feet, I'd look for another studio.

We only buy dance shoes from dance stores - their 'shoe person' fits my daughter for the right width and size for all of her shoes. (tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop and pointe) She's been dancing for 7 years now, and I've never bought shoes off the rack and tried to find the right fit myself. Dancers have to take special care of their feet, and that means weraing the correct shoes. Poor fitting shoes can make a little one quit dancing before she figures out if she even likes it or not.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Before you buy tap shoes, did you ask the dance instructor which brand/style/color to get? The better dance studios have specific requirements. If the dance studio doesn't care what they have on their feet, I'd look for another studio.

We only buy dance shoes from dance stores - their 'shoe person' fits my daughter for the right width and size for all of her shoes. (tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop and pointe) She's been dancing for 7 years now, and I've never bought shoes off the rack and tried to find the right fit myself. Dancers have to take special care of their feet, and that means weraing the correct shoes. Poor fitting shoes can make a little one quit dancing before she figures out if she even likes it or not.

While I agree with you for a serious, older dancer, my DD did just fine with Payless ballet and tap shoes at the ages of 3, 4, and 5. Dancing is her favorite thing!

 

[My2Cinderellas]

the studio my DD's attend requires you to buy the shoes there. This way they approve the quality, and then all the shoes match for the recital.

dance shoe sizes have nothing to do with street shoe sizing, so don't get hung up on a number. we always buy shoes a bit big, especially when they were young, and start with socks. by recital time in spring the shoes fit.

 

[maciec]

My studio has no problems with me going to a dance supply store (which I found by the way much to my suprise) since the shoes they have don't fit her right. Since she is only 7 and still growing I don't want to go with the smaller one because guaranteed she'll be out of them by recital time in June. I don't want her to have blisters on her feet either wearing the bigger ones.

Thank you for all of your suggestions and advice!

 

[Schmeck]

While I agree with you for a serious, older dancer, my DD did just fine with Payless ballet and tap shoes at the ages of 3, 4, and 5. Dancing is her favorite thing!

Those Payless tap shoes sound like crap though - the taps are cheap and tinny. Our dance studio would never let a kid tap in the recital in cheap shoes.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Those Payless tap shoes sound like crap though - the taps are cheap and tinny. Our dance studio would never let a kid tap in the recital in cheap shoes.

What happens if the child's family can't afford the expensive shoes?

The average parent can't tell and/or could care less about how the taps sound. Most parents and guest are excited about watching the kids perform in the recital.


Once the kids are on the stage and the music starts, you can't hear the shoes that well. At least I can't.

Each year before the recital my sister purchases my niece's tap and ballet shoes from Pay Less.

In the fall, she purchases the shoes from a dance supply store. However, the darn things never fit by the end of June.

 

[cancer_survivor_06]

Our dance studio

Those are the key words to your continued arguement the OP is not out to find out the best shoes on the market she was offered suggestions in regards to the fact that her one size shoe was snug and the other was way to big. Other dance schools may not be as up tight as yours at our studio you can wear what ever taps and ballets you would like as long as for the revue you have the correct colors as far as ballets it doesn't matter what shoe you use until you get into point and that is a different story. As for tap there are a wide variety of ways the OP can go she can get taps at payless, walmart, online, brand new at a dancewear store or even used at the same dance store. The dance stores here offer a program where if you bring in you old shoes they will give you like 5-10 dollars for the shoes and it is applied to the purchase of the new shows I have traded in shoes that were practically brand new. My dd has also used the walmart brand taps and I can honest say that in class her cheap shoes sounded much better than the expensive bloch taps.