SHOES

[bobo]

I have noticed that a lot of people taking ballet class have too small shoes.

 

Actually it is my impression that many shops are very bad to help costumers to choose the right size. It seems that they suggest shoes which are as small as posssible and as narrow as possible.

 

I agree that shoes supposed to be tight, but they have to make it possible to keep toes flat.

 

Standing in releve the shoes should be width enough that the toes have properly contact with the floor. Otherwise is it impossible to have a good balance

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Edited August 26, 2010 by Momof3darlings

[Mel Johnson]

I've been there - it's not a nice place to be. Most shoe stores which carry ballet shoes as a sideline frequently don't have a good idea on how dance shoes fit as opposed to street shoes. And those who do get further flummoxed when they have to fit a boy! And you're right - they often try to sell you shoes which are too narrow.

[Rubber Legs]

I have come across some dance shops that try to sell ballet shoes that are to small here in the UK.One dance shop gave me some good advice a few years ago which was to wear ballet shoes which are two larger than my normal street shoes.This advice works fine for me in the UK shoe sizes.Hence my normal shoe size is 9 and size 11 ballet shoes fits me.

Paul.

[MJ]

my sizes are all over the place:

 

Bloch 9.0d

Sansha 16n

Capezio men 9.5

Capezio unisex 13

Grishko 43

fuzi 42m

 

I recommend trying a pair or two in a dance shop, and then you can order online or over the phone.

[BarreTalk]

I recommend trying a pair or two in a dance shop, and then you can order online or over the phone.

 

Just remember that if everyone buys their stuff online, local stores suffer and eventually go out of business.

 

I used to own a running store and got absolutely livid when "customers" came in, wasted 45 minutes of my time and expertise getting fitted for running shoes, then asked if I would match the price of some mail-order joint. Sometimes the next time I would see them was when they wanted to exchange their shoes for a different size or return them because of a defect. Guess what the answer was?

[Pondfly]

Well my local stores are in Chicago, which has a 10% sales tax. Other than Leo's they are overpriced. Add to that I have to drive and park which is about $20-30 or take the train and the round trip is $8.

I save them for my more emergent purchases if I need them. Driving to Leo's is simple as they are 20 min from my house and parking is free. Online I can get a larger selection, better prices, delivery within a couple days and no sales tax.

[Rubber Legs]

I recommend trying a pair or two in a dance shop, and then you can order online or over the phone.

 

Just remember that if everyone buys their stuff online, local stores suffer and eventually go out of business.

 

I used to own a running store and got absolutely livid when "customers" came in, wasted 45 minutes of my time and expertise getting fitted for running shoes, then asked if I would match the price of some mail-order joint. Sometimes the next time I would see them was when they wanted to exchange their shoes for a different size or return them because of a defect. Guess what the answer was?

 

I always buy my shoes from my local dance shop these days to ensure I get the correct fit.

[olddude]

...

I always buy my shoes from my local dance shop these days to ensure I get the correct fit.

So do I. Also dance belts, after a bad experience some years ago with size variations ...

 

For shoes, my local store does not in fact carry anything in my size, and I've bought the same shoes for a few years now and they have been very reliable. But I still order through the local store, just in case I get a bad fit.

 

Other things, i.e. tights and shorts or leotards, I buy online because the local stores have never had anything useful. I have a good relationship with the one online store where I shop - us guys are rare enough that they sometimes even recognize me when I call.

[Chronus24]

I got a great thing going with a "local store", except that I do all my business with them online. It happened cause in Pittsburgh, there are TWO "Tightspot Dancewear" shops, tho they are TOTALLY unrelated to one another. Long story short, I ordered my shoes on one "Tightspot Dancewear" site, only to arrive at the WRONG store and me to face confused service people...fortunately, the store I had ordered from was kind enough to mail me my shoes (as said store I ordered from was a good ways away from me, at least "public transportation"-wise). And I've ordered from them ever since! I just send them an email for whatever shoes I need, and they get it to me ASAP, and WITH an "online discount"! And this is still true now that I have moved back to Dallas (no price change)! And they always let me know right away if there is any problem or backorder on the shoes I need (seems to be often with Grishko, tho they make such a good product!).

 

Ergo, let me just HIGHLY recommend the service, courtesy, and superior care ALWAYS given to me by:

TightSpot Dance Wear

2524 Brownsville Rd.

Pittsburgh, PA 15210

412-885-6440

http://www.dancesales.com/

[AIC04]

Sad but true story why I buy in person now.

I didnt realize some dance slippers are sized differently then others. I had ordered a very nice pair of Romeo's online 12w my size only for them to not fit. So i now go to Prima a dance store here n shop there.