ballet/ tap dance shoes

[Snow mom]

DD is starting dance in June and I have to get her "pink ALL leather ballet shoes" and "black patent leather MaryJane style tap shoes, with Velcro closures". I honestly have no idea what I'm doing and wonder if I need to get her professionally fitted or if I can find what I need online. Poking around I noticed that ballet shoes seem to have a different sizing (don't fit the same) than street shoes. Do tap shoes also run different than street shoes? Is sizing for ballet and/or tap shoes consistent across brands? Any brands you would recommend or avoid? DD wears a 10 currently if anyone happens to know what size dance shoes their DD wore at that size.

[KrisM]

I'd look at a thrift store or consignment shop. I've gotten them there for cheap over the years.

[nrp]

I just go to my local dance shop. I prefer the Bloch (sp?) ballet shoes to some other I've tried (e.g. Payless). Sizing is kind of weird, so I would probably seek out a B&M for the first fitting. Or order from somewhere that has free returns and order two or three sizes.

[wendibird22]

YMMV but my local Target sells ballet shoes in the kids clothing section along with the leotards and tights.

[katydid1971]

YMMV but my local Target sells ballet shoes in the kids clothing section along with the leotards and tights.

IME the ballet shoes sold at target aren't really for dance, more for house slippers. I agree to go to a B&M dance store if you have one near you otherwise order from Endless and zappos. You want the ballet shoes to fit rather snug. If you have to order via the internet it might be a good idea to take the shoes to the dance school and ask the teacher if they fit correctly. I would order a few sizes in each shoe then send back what doesn't work (they both have great return policies).
These would be a good choice for the tap shoes:
http://www.endless.com/s/ref=topnav_sk__gw/192-9551249-8284601/192-9551249-8284601?type=&showDesigner=&node=__241745011&keywo rds=%20tap%20shoes#__ie%3DUTF8%26cAsin%3DB005FOE36 I%26fromPage%3Dsearch%26sr%3D1-57%26qid%3D1336350029189%26asinTitle%3DSansha~~20T ee-Sofiette~~20Tap~~20Shoe~~20~~28Toddler~~2FLittle~~ 20Kid~~2FBig~~20Kid~~29%26contextTitle%3Dsearch~~2 0results%26clientPageSize%3D100%26node%3D__2417450 11%26sort%3Drelevance-fs-rank%26keywords%3Dtap%2Bshoes%26asin%3DB005FODIVY% 26ref%3Dsr_1_57%26pageCode%3Dd
A ballet shoe like this is nice:
http://www.endless.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8/188-6048594-5301032/?onsale=&showDesigner=&keywords=ballet+shoes&x=0&y =0&sprefix=ballet+s#__ie%3DUTF8%26cAsin%3DB0012N1J FO%26fromPage%3Dsearch%26sr%3D1-1%26qid%3D1336350505266%26asinTitle%3DCapezio~~20D aisy~~20205~~20Ballet~~20Shoe~~20~~28Toddler~~2FLi ttle~~20Kid~~29%26contextTitle%3Dsearch~~20results %26clientPageSize%3D100%26node%3D241760011%26sort% 3Drelevance-fs-rank%26keywords%3Dballet%2Bshoes%26nodes%3D2417600 11%26rnid%3D241760011%26asin%3DB002G9UFNK%26ref%3D sr_1_1%26pageCode%3Dd

[Kindra178]

We were really happy with these last year (times three kids with three very different feet):

http://www.zappos.com/capezio-kids-t...er-youth-black

It took awhile for us to get the sizing right, so a place with free shipping and returns is key.

[mom2binsd]

http://www.amazon.com/Capezio-Little.../dp/B002G9UFO4

These are Capezio tap shoes with velcro closure. I think you should try on shoes at a dance store locally, if they seem really expensive order online the same style.

Ballet and tap shoes fit differently. Sizing across brands and type of shoe is NOT consistent, even with different styles of shoes.

My DD wears a size 2 street shoe, her Capezio tap shoes are a size 3, and her Bloch jazz shoes a size 1.

Kind of a pain they want the patent, they show the scuff marks way more than the matte leather.

Avoid the cheap one's at Payless,Target, Kmart.

Our dance studio store has pretty competitive prices so you might be surprised when you go to an actual store (and I like supporting our local studio store, I know the owner and know she is not making much of profit on the items.)

[nfowife]

If you have friends whose kids do dance, ask if you can buy their outgrown shoes! At that age they go through them fast and the shoes aren't cheap. I buy a few sizes ahead at consigment sales for tap because it never fails that one day out of the blue (right as we are going to dance) DD will say her shoes feel too small. This way I can just whip out the next size and we are good to go. I've never seen velcro tap shoes so they are probably something you will have to purchase new. We use the regular tie top tap shoes (mary jane style) and put elastic through the holes so they slip on and off.
For ballet I've been satisfied with the payless ABT shoes. As they get older and more serious about it I think better quality is the way to go (and their feet slow down a bit too). But at the younger ages I think less expensive is perfectly fine!

[brittone2]

DD wore Leo's ballet shoes this year because we could buy them locally and have them fitted. I was going to do Bloch but we don't have any retailers super close by, and I didn't want to have to buy/return via mail.

I don't remember what brand her tap shoes are but they do not have velcro, they have elastic through grommets.

[AnnieW625]

Love Bloch tights, and Capezio dance shoes. We get these:
http://www.discountdance.com/dancewe...&SID=337988671 . I would get her sized first though. Zappos keeps the same shoes, but they are quite a bit more, but at least they have free returns.