Jazz Shoes

[Nanglo789]

We have been asked by the school to buy Jazz shoes for Drama lessons.

What is the best type - there are so many I am confused.

She is 2.5 at the moment, what size shall I buy for September, Size 3?

Thank you

You probably need to take her to a dancewear shop so she can try some on. The various makes can come up very different sizing to normal shoes.

The shop will want to know whether they need full-sole or split sole, so find that out first from the school, and if they have a preferred make or style.

Thank you Dodobookends, remembered that we have a dance chop on our high street. She said come into the store and they will do the fitting, also recommended waiting till end of August just in case her foot size increased over the holidays

if it's just for school drama (and not for actual dance classes) then go for the cheapest that fit. Full sole or split sole shouldn't make much difference. Split sole are better for dancing once you get beyond beginner level, and then you get into what fashionable and more expensive. Can you tell I have DDs who dance .

Shoe sizes don't correspond particularly well to dance shoe sizes, so ideally you need to try on.

Thank you, the school said split shoe is not necessary even though it's comfortable. The dance shop said £22 which i think is reasonable. I can see some cheaper ones on Amazon/ebay but wont be able to try it on, so will take her to the shop at the end of August.

A lot of dancewear shops are closed for a week - usually some time in the school summer holidays - for stocktaking or a break themselves, so it could be worth checking.

Dancewear shops are a dying breed (and very much still needed for their expertise in fitting dance shoes, especially for pointe) so we have always tried to buy from them rather than online.

It worked out much better for us, especially when dd's feet were still growing, or she needed a different style of leotard for a new grade.

Jazz shoes should fit very snugly, close to the foot. You shouldn't have growing room really or they slip about.

If it's just for drama go for full sole. When I worked for Stagecoach the age 4-9 year olds had full sole. From age 10 upwards those who had gained more experience in dance or who joined the dance troupe often chose split sole as they show the line of the foot nicer when dancing.

My son who is 13 & does drama & just a bit of movement has full sole. Dd who is training seriously in dance has arch hugging split soles.

You definitely need to go and try some on sometimes we order though her stageschool but often have to swap them . dance shops mean you can try on a few at once . Dd is currently on a size 6 jazz shoe but her school shoes are a 3 !?!