Dance stuff for 4 year old DD - whare is the best place to buy it?

Sparkly. I think someone I know just got into Redroofs. Will keep you updated.

My DD did her RAD Primary this year in marine blue but for grade 1 this has now changed to pink.

Yes, RAD offer a variety of colour options pink or lilac for primary

Pink, lilac, mulberry, lavender or navy for Grades 1-3

The above plus several more colours for grades 4-5

Mine do RAD too. I really think most schools choose their own colours.

The schools official supplier visits every Monday do she fits the girls for pointe when they are ready. We then get sent a bill though some of the students have an MDS award which covers all their shoes & uniform.

and yes OP, don't be put off, dance doesn't cost any more than any other sport :)

Mine do RAD, so pink till end of primary, lilac for grade 1 and 2 and navy there after. I currently have one in all three colours.

Our ballet uniform is baby blue up to grade 1, red at grade 2, navy at grade 5 and vocational classes they can wear navy/black or the rad strappy royal blue. Advanced can wear any colour. I think the teachers choose the colours within reason.

Our dance school has a shop at the studios which is run by a lady who also has a shop in the nearest "big" town. She fits nearly all our pointe shoes once the head teacher says they can have them. They have to go to her main shop the first time, and after that she will bring them over to the studio shop as and when. She had two children who danced, the older one is now working (currently on cruise ships) and the youngest just going off to dance college.

My dd has been begging asking for her pointe shoes since Christmas, but she has had to wait because she just looks so young. She is very strong (does 7 ballet classes a week and 3 body conditioning classes plus everything else!!).

Op don't be put off. Most dance schools have second hand. And ours don't insist on uniform until they are sure they are going to keep coming. Yes, it can get expensive, but the amount they get out of it trust me its worth it!!!

Eight - I generally find ballet slippers come up small for sizing, and I just buy one size bigger than the last pair they had. However it doesn't work for character shoes and tap shoes. I get those in their normal size.

I have bought tap shoes on ebay for my girls - never had a problem yet. I have also sold a lot of our dance shoes online too, once me or the kids were finished with them or they were starting to look a bit tired.

I get our tights from dance direct as the dance school sells them for a fiver, and I get convertibles from the website for a fiver too - but they are thicker, and obviously convertible.

Sparkly and Pictures - that is so exciting about your DDs and their upcoming school/auditions! Where are you getting their pointe shoes from? Our teacher takes the older students who need pointe shoes out together on a shopping trip, or has the guy from the shop come into the class in order to fit them. It has turned into a big tradition and a right of passage. DD1 is counting the days and she has years to go yet

Dd started at her school but a BBO teacher came in. They wore pink skirted leotards. Then she moved to a proper dance school that was RAD with lavender for Grades 1-2 & Navy ruched for Grade 3.

Red is unusual. It might be non syllabus as it doesn't sound like RAD or ISTD

I'VE got navy & lavender leotards spare.

OP. What style/colours exam board uniform does your dd need?

They arnt split sole canvas by any chance?

We've been told most children go en pointe sometime in the spring term. Definatly not looking forward to that bill.

I'm not sure if ths helps you, or anyone else on this thread but I ordered some ballet shoes from dance direct for DD and they were too small, as I'd ordered a whole bunch of leotards tights and other ballet shoes from there I didn't bother sending them back.

They are size 3, but would suit size 1 and 2 as well as they come up quite small. They have pre-stitched elastics (my worst job having a ballet-loving dd is sewing those blooming elastics). I'm happy to send them to anyone who has need for them for free :)

I buy from dance direct on line. I find the prices okay and rthey deliver swiftly.

Plus dd1 is about to go on pointe... That'll give me next to no change out of £100... Ballet is definitely not for the faint hearted!!!

It can be expensive but its so worth it!

That said, dd has had a growth spurt and none of her festival costumes fit anymore so all need replacing. May need to remortgage the house! Lol

Dd has decided to audition for Redroofs full time theatre school and dance is her life. It's worth spending the money on her dance wear because she is rarely out of it! She goes through about 4 pairs of ballet tights a month (capezios, usually convertibles). Definitely shop around op, cos dance direct and other places do make it a lot cheaper.

And I have four of them that dance. Dd1, 10, Ds1, 7, Ds2, 5 and Dd2, 4.

Second hand tap shoes are fine. Luckily at our dance school they wear unisex ones so ds1 is in dd1s old ones!

Dd has had 2nd hand tap shoes until now. As long as they fit. It's not like ballet shoes that's led to your feet.

Sparkly and my dd are probably the extreme. Dd decided to give up her place at an independent grammar school to go to full time dance school!

£7.99 was capezio non convertible. Can't remember the convertible price it's worth paying extra for capezio as they last twice as long

However I do have access to trade prices on some stuff so I can get them cheaper.

That is for convertibles tho!