Tips to Consider When Buying Dance Shoes

You need dance shoes, you know the type of shoe you need but do you know what to consider when you enter the store to try those shoes on? Here are some tips that will help you get the right shoe and the right fit for the shoe ....

1. First and foremost, it is very important to bring the person who needs the dance shoes with you. Dance shoe sizing is very different from street shoe sizing. To avoid numerous trips back to the store to get the right size, we can best serve you if the dancer is present.

2. Be sure to bring the right socks, stockings, and insoles with you, namely, whatever socks or stockings or insoles you like to wear while dancing. It makes an amazing difference in the fit for carefully-shaped dance shoes.

3. Don't rush - you want shoes that are extremely comfortable, or you'll hate dancing forever. This may take several pairs/styles. Allow for time to get just the right shoe.

4. Walk around in them. Do some dance steps. Sometimes you won't notice a pinch or rub or a bad crease - or the way the shoe falls off at a crucial moment -- until you start moving around. Do various moves that simulate the extremes of what you expect your feet to go through.

5. Try multiple sizes and multiple brands. Dance shoe manufacturers all cut their shoes differently. And their sizes vary a lot from what you'd expect. Try on lots and lots of shoes.

6. Ask for information and advice. Unlike regular shoe stores, dance retailers actually know about shoes and dancers' needs. But in the end, trust your feet.

7. Buy snug or buy loose? Choose dance shoes that fit perfectly or are a little snug - the leather will yield a bit quite soon. But only a little bit. You want to be comfortable from the first step you take, so don't overdo the snugness. Also, the heel should not slip at all, the toe should not pinch at all, and where the leather creases near your toes, there should be no discomfort at all.

You're probably asking, "Couldn't I buy over the internet?" You really, REALL Y should try dance shoes on before you buy them. Buying over the internet can be tricky - those "universal size charts" are not always accurate given the different manufacturers and the different foot types.

Save time and money ... Mary Ann's Dance and More is here to help you find the right shoe and the right fit for that shoe!

(Part of our "Studio of the Month" flyer - June 2011)