We want to make it easy for you to ensure your child has the correct footwear – usually the most important equipment purchase you will make for dance training.
Please see below for the required brand, styles and colours for TAP and BALLET shoes for all levels.
As always, if you currently have dance shoes (or indoor-use-only runners for hip hop courses) that fit your child in brands/colours other than the below, with instructor permission, please continue to use them until your child outgrows them. All students must have shoes in the prescribed brand, (Bloch only for Ballet, Character and “Marry Jane” Tap shoes), styles and colours (see below) at least a few weeks prior to events such as performances, photos, or exams (to break them in).
HIP HOP SHOES:
For all Hip Hop courses, INDOOR USE ONLY all white indoor-use-only running shoes (not tennis shoes or high tops) are required. We highly recommend buying these well before they are needed because they can be hard to find in the spring! Payless shoe stores are usually the best source.
TAP SHOES:
Please ensure a good fit. Shoes that are too large impede learning tap and can be dangerous! (Shoes that are too small can hurt!)
Girls and Women:
Up to sizes 9.5: Bloch brand style 352 synthetic leather Marry Jane tap shoes in Tan.
Sizes 10 and up: Bloch brand style 302* leather Marry Jane tap shoes in Tan.
Both of these shoe styles are available at Dance Box.
Boys and Men:
Tap oxfords in “flat”finish leather (v.s “patent” or shiny) in black, any brand.
BALLET SHOES:
Please purchase these from a dance supplier to ensure a good fit! Ballet shoes should “fit like glove”.
Girls up to R.A.D. Grade III and Non-RAD Ballet Courses to Age 9:
Bloch brand, style 205 in ballet pink (Bloch‘s full sole, pleated toe, leather ballet slippers, with elastic straps).
Girls R.A.D. Grade IV and higher including Vocational levels, and Age 10 and up Non-RAD Ballet Courses:
Bloch brand, style 273 in ballet pink (Bloch‘s split sole, pleated toe, leather ballet slippers, with elastic straps).
Both of the above shoe styles are available at Dance Box.
Boys and Men at all levels of Ballet:
Any brand of full sole white leather pleated toe ballet shoes with elastic straps required. Beyond Royal Academy of Dancing Grade V, split soled white leather pleated toe ballet shoes with elastic straps permitted.
For information on CHARACTER Shoes, JAZZ shoes, etc. please see your Guidebook.
If your child outgrows dance shoes/all white indoor use runners, please consider donating them to our “Shoe Library“. Tap shoes in our prescribed styles can almost always be used by at least one more child after they have been outgrown. Or you can consider selling them at our annual early September Preloved Shoe and Dance Wear Sale.