Confused Dance Mum

[Twinkiemummaz]

Dance mum help needed! Looking for recommendations for ballet (not point) and jazz shoes, there are so many to choose from and I have no idea where to start. Which brands / styles / fabrics are preferred by dancers and teachers??? All opinions greatly received thanks

Do you have a dance shop near you? Our local ones have all the uniform requirements for all the local dance schools.

Ballet will probably be leather ballet shoes. We got ours fitted as we would any other shoes as sometimes need insoles for tap shoes.

The dance teacher should be able to advise. We were told proper leather ballet shoes not cheap supermarket ones.

Does the dance school have an online uniform shop? I look in ours and then buy the same thing elsewhere (often cheaper and quicker)

Also worth checking if they have 2nd hand stuff. Ours has a box of everything people had in after it's to small. They charge a small fee per item. Much cheaper than buying new.

Check with the school before you check with the wider internet so you don’t end up buying something your DC can’t actually wear in class. Some teachers are really specific in what they want. Others will just say go use whatever you want.

Ballet shoes can either have one elastic across the top (like a Mary Jane style shoe) or two that cross-cross. Jazz shoes come either in elasticated slip ons or laces that tie, so I would check those things and colour at a minimum. Then if you can get to a shop to try on for the first pair, you can order online after that by sizing up, at least until there is a big step up in progress or a change in foot shape as they grow.

Vinted also worth a look if your studio doesn’t have a secondhand sale box. There is nothing more annoying than buying new shoes then your child having a growth spurt, so those barely worn shoes often end up on Vinted as a bargain.

Our dance school sells they're own stuff because the teacher is very specific about what shoes / leotards are to be used.
My bro in law bought a pair of tap shoes off the internet - They lay in a cupboard unused till my sis sold them on because the teacher said they weren't the right ones.

@Twinkiemummaz I agree with others, you need to ask advice from the dance school about what to buy, and where from. There are a variety of leotards in different makes, styles and colours, and depending on which examining body the school is registered with, the requirements will differ. Dance teachers also have a particular style of dance shoe they prefer.

Please also note that dance shoe sizing is way off 'normal' school shoe size, so they will need to be properly fitted by a trained dance shoe fitter in a dancewear shop, or by the dance teacher if they sell their own.

Whatever you do, make sure you try them on because the sizing bears no relation to regular shoe sizes. They should be relatively snug but of course with a child you also want some growing room. Best to get the teacher's or a professional fitter's advice. I think DD wore capezio daisy ballet shoes when she was little. They also do a version in black. They come in different widths which is also helpful for a good fit. Hope your DC enjoys their class!

As others have said, your dance school should be able to advise. When dd was younger she wore Roch Valley or Bloch full sole black leather ballet shoes. She now wears Capezio split sole pink canvas ballet shoes.