Tap Shoes - Five Tips From Teachers & Free Shipping
Students, especially new tap students, have lots of questions when it comes to buying tap shoes. Let's jump right into it with what is the most popular question.
Where to buy tap shoes?
You have two choices. You can head down to your local dance supply store. Not everyone is lucky enough to buy tap shoes locally. But that's ok because often times they are an expensive option for tap shoes anyway. You can also shop online.
http://www.zappos.com
There are so many choices of tap shoes on-line that the options seem mind boggling. Just remember to stick to the basics and follow the simple advice below so you can walk or tap dance away with a perfect pair of shoes.
The Type Of Tap Shoes You Need
Start with a pair of firm sole tap shoes and not split soles. They will be more comfortable for most tap dancers, especially beginners. They will give your feet more support and spread your weight evenly across your foot instead of focusing it on the heels and balls of your feet.
Tap Shoes To Avoid
There are tap shoes that break easily and can't be repaired. The quality of these shoes is so inferior that they will often break with just a single semester of tap dancing in them.
Don't buy shoes with taps that are riveted on. If a rivet is not fastened perfectly they become susceptible to breaking. A broken rivet on a tap shoe can't be repaired at most shoe shops and the shoes are now garbage.
Another Style Of Shoes To Avoid
Don't buy tap shoes with hollow plastic heels either. The plastic is usually very thin and don't give the tap that is either screwed on or riveted on a good mounting base. If a tap pops off of a pair of hollow heeled tap shoe it can't be repaired and the shoes are trash.
So remember to avoid:
- Tap shoes with hollow heels
- Plastic heeled shoes
- Shoes with taps that are riveted on
- A combination of rivets and hollow plastic heels
Heels Or Flat Tap Shoes
The choice of heels or flat tap shoes is entirely up to you. It's a personal choice for most dancers. I do recommend however that new dancers start with flats. I wouldn't recommend zumba shoes with heels for the the reason. The heels, while looking beautiful, are harder to dance in and much harder to learn to dance in. Learn the basics in flats and then graduate to a pair of heels when you are ready.
How Much Should You Spend?
You shouldn't have to spend too much on a pair of tap shoes. Thirty dollars is about the entry point for a cheap pair of tap shoes. Eighty dollar tap shoes are top of the line taps for most dancers. An eighty dollar (On-line prices. Retail stores may cost more.) pair of tap shoes can last you ten years or more when taken care of properly.
A good pair of tap shoes is an investment. Having a well broken in but well maintained pair of tap shoes will make you a better dancer by keeping your feet more comfortable.
