Tips for Buying Dance Shoes and Dancewear/Dance Clothing List
Dear Students,
Buying dancewear can be a bit daunting so I have prepared the information below to guide you in your choices.
DANCEWEAR
You will need:
• Black leotard
• Black jazz dance pant
• Black character shoes for performance
• Black soft-soled jazz shoes for studio work
• Ladies: black knee length black chiffon ballet/rehearsal skirt. I recommend Capezio but any dancewear store should have several brands form which to choose.
• Ladies: athletic bras are optional (but recommended).
• Men: Dance belts (black or nude) are required
No bare legs or bare midriffs will be tolerated. All clothing worn in the studio must be form-fitting as well as stretchable to accommodate full range of motion. I do advise a warm-up pant and sweater for early morning stretching before classes. Hair must be secured off the face and no jewelry may be worn during dance classes. If you have expensive jewelry you may want to leave it at home in the States.
There are many options when purchasing dancewear. Please purchase solid colors. Patterned fabric in dancewear makes it difficult to see the true line of the body. Neckline and sleeve length are at the discretion of the individual dancer. Since we want to create a uniform look for presentations please purchase black. Tip: when buying tights buy the next size up. Online discount houses offer good value for your money if you buy reputable brands (Capezio, BalTog, Bloch, Danskin, Mirella, Minden, Marx, Stevens). Sizes can vary between brands and within styles of the same brand. Call the vendor for assistance when trying to decide on size. Most have toll-free numbers.
ADVICE ABOUT SIZING SHOES
If this is the first time you are buying dance shoes, the process can seem a bit confusing and complex. There are many different brands available and each brand has its own sizing chart. All brands use your street shoe size as a central reference point. Some brands will suggest you order your street shoe size, while others may suggest you size up or down from your street shoe size. Even within a given brand, sizing may be different for a style (hard-sole, split sole, neoprene, etc) and type (tap, ballet, jazz). There is no substitute for trying the shoe on and being fitted by a professional. Remember to try the shoe on with the type of sock you plan to wear with it, if you plan to wear a sock. Socks can affect the sizing of the shoe.
Sometimes it is not possible to go to a shoe store or there is no store in your area. There are many sites online from which to order. Ordering online can be less expensive especially if you share the shipping costs with others. Be sure to read the sizing description carefully. When in doubt about size, call the company and ask for help with sizing. Many, but not all, shoes come in full and half sizes as well as medium and wide widths. Prices vary widely. Since you will be using these shoes for a number of years it pays to invest in a quality shoe now. I have both tap and jazz shoes that are still perfectly serviceable for studio class that are over 15 years old. Do not buy shoes constructed from man-made materials; buy an all leather product (or canvas in the case of ballet slippers). The leather will stretch and mold to your foot for a customized fit. You should be able to get a good shoe in the $50.00 to $70.00 price range for general studio use. The high-end of the market can be as costly as a couple of hundred dollars. Unless you need a specially designed shoe, there is no need to purchase high-end. Reputable brands include Capezio and Bloch.
JAZZ SHOES:
1. There is a lot of variety in this area. Slip-ons, lace-ups, neoprenes, dance sneakers are all commonly worn in class. I recommend the following syles as a good place to start.
• Capezio’s CG02, CG05, CG15, and PP10.
• Bloch’s SO401L, SO431L, and SO499L.
2. Do not buy jazz shoes with buckles. Buckles will hurt your feet and restrict your use of movement vocabulary.
3. Flexibility of the shoe should be balanced with your particular foot’s need for stability and support.
Online sources:
www.discountdance.com
www.adadance.com
http://www.capeziodance.com/homepage.html
www.dancedistributors.com/
www.bloch.com.au/
http://www.dancewearsolutions.com/
Chris Niess,
Coordinator of Dance Studies IPAI
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