There are a number of different styles of dance shoes. Each type of dance has a different style of shoe. The shoes come in a number of colors, widths and sizes to fit each individual dancer and to coordinate with virtually any costume or dance.
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When taking ballet, male dancers will wear canvas or leather slippers which typically come in white, black or nude colors. The female dancer will begin with soft ballet slippers which come in canvas or leather. To see an example click here.
The most common color for ballet slippers is pink, but black and white are also popular colors for dance students.
As the student progresses in her ballet training, the dancer will also need pointe shoes. In the beginning, the dancer will have only one or two options from each shoe maker (standard shank, platform, etc.) As the dancer progresses into a more advanced, professional dancer, the number of options increases greatly.
The selection of pointe shoes is a highly personalized choice. While most pointe shoes (also known as toe shoes) are similar in color & generally look alike, they are NOT all made alike. There are so many choices out there to optimize the dancer's full potential and meet the dancer's individual needs.
There are variations in shank, platform and box construction that will allow any ballet dancer to find a shoe that will work for them. The choice will depend on the width and shape of the foot, the strength and curve of the arch, and the dancer's personal preference.
In lyrical or contemporary style dances, the dancer will wear sandals or go barefoot. Tap dancers will wear shoes with metal taps on the ball and heel of the feet. Men's tap shoes are lace up style shoes, while women's tap shoes are typically heels. Girls tap shoes are the same height as the boys', but have a large bow that tie them up instead of the laces.
In ballroom dance, the men will wear lace up shoes or boots and the women will wear heels. In jazz, the shoes can be slip on or lace-up and can come in many variations (shoes, boots, or sneakers). In hip hop or street dance, the performers will typically wear dance sneakers or regular street shoes.
