Tap Dancing Shoes

TAP DANCING SHOES

Tap the Night Away

Tap dancing is an old age art that we tend to associate with such prominent figures as Fred Astaire, Shirley Temple, And Sammy Davis, Jr. And now tap dancing has made a comeback. If you’re a tap dancer or you have an idea what the dance is all about, then you would know that to make a good performance, be it for your own personal pleasure or professionally you need three things: music, nimble feet and a really good pair of tap shoes. Now the last can be a bit tough; tap dancing shoes come in a variety of styles and materials. So how do you buy the right ones for you? Find out with these tips and suggestions on how to shop for them. Then you can join the fun.

Let us start with the kind of tap dancing shoes you’re going to buy. If your budget is rather tight you may have to opt for a low priced pair of shoes. These would be just like one of those comfortable pairs that are leather soled with suede upper. You can turn them into tap dancing shoes by either taking them to a shoe shop or you can buy and add the taps yourself. This can be done by nailing or screwing the taps onto the leather soles of both shoes.

If you want to buy an actual pair of tap dancing shoes, you can easily choose between a light suede type and heavier leather (or faux leather) upper. The heaviest tap dancing shoes are either double or triple thick. Also most styles come with shock absorbing heel pads for added protection and comfort for your dancing feet. Heels may be made of leather, plastic, or rubber.

Now that we have gotten that out of the way, let’s go to specifics:

1. Tap dancing shoes are usually worn in the same size as the dancer’s regular shoes. The style of tap dancing shoes needed almost always depend on the character and style of the music. Choose tap dancing shoes that match the kind of music or song that you are going to dance to.

2. One unique quality of tap dancing shoes is their durability compared to other types of dance shoes. Look for tap dancing shoes that are sturdy on the heel because that is where it gets the most wear.

3. You (or the parents, if they are going to buy the shoes for young dancers) must resist the urge to buy tap dancing shoes in a larger size than the actual shoe size needed. While it is true that kids grow quickly and this may mean buying several pairs of tap dancing shoes within a short period of time, proper fit is essential to prevent injury.

4. The most popular colors for tap dancing shoes are black and tan. Sometimes teachers and choreographers may choose to spray paint tap dancing shoes in vibrant colors to match the costumes. This is only effective and efficient if dancers are performing in one act. However, if they are dancing in multiple dance numbers, it may be budget-friendly to just stick to one color that will coordinate with all their costumes. Tan tap dancing shoes have a subtle cosmetic advantage as well. When you wear tan tap dancing shoes with neutral-colored dance tights it will give the illusion of longer legs, which is always good for performing onstage. Tap dancing shoes can be purchased in one-inch or two-inch heel heights. Shorter dancers may wear higher heels.

5. When you think you found the comfortable tap dancing shoes that fit perfectly, don’t forget to dance a few step in them, too. Tap dancing shoes that may feel good while you are walking may not feel as good when you are tapping your way across the dance floor.

One last important thing – and this can never be said enough: Tap dancing shoes are, in a very broad sense, just like any other shoes. It is imperative that you are comfortable when wearing them; after all, if you’re comfortable in them, chances are, you’ll also give a better performance, and enjoy yourself as well. Have fun and happy tapping!