In this video you're gonna learn four crucial tips
to make sure that you buy the best pair of tap shoes for your age and experience level
and we're getting started right now
Welcome, the professor is in! My name is Rustin
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Whether you're buying your shoes for yourself or for someone else
there's some important things to keep in mind to make sure that you are buying the best pair of shoes
for your needs
For example, you might be wondering should I buy my shoes online or should I buy them at the store?
Make sure to stay tuned to hear the answer to that question and many more
coming up
Crucial tip number one is the brand.
There are many brands to choose from but the two that I highly recommend are
Capezio and Bloch and that's because they are
high-quality brands that have shoes that are built to last and you can find them
anywhere--whether it's online or in an actual store.
Two other quality brands of shoes I can recommend
that I've never personally owned, but I know lots of people have
are Leos and also Theatrical
Crucial tip number two--Price
The price of shoes varies depending on the age and also the experience level of
yourself, or the person you're buying for,
So here's some ballpark figures to get you started
so you know what to expect
If you're buying for kids you should expect to spend somewhere between
twenty dollars and forty dollars.
if you're buying a youth size to adult size then be prepared to spend somewhere
between fifty to seventy dollars.
If you're an advanced dancer and you're looking for some pro level shoes
then you're gonna be spending at least $120 but more likely $150 plus.
Now you may be wondering,
"Why would anybody want to pay at over a hundred and fifty dollars for a pair of tap shoes?"
Well, let me tell you they are completely worth it
and stay tuned to find out why.
Crucial tip number three is--Style.
For starters I'm gonna talk about kids pairs of shoes, and right here
I have a cute little pair of "Mary Janes" that we just got for my daughter Jovi.
She's about 18 months and obviously these are very big for her
They are a nice cheap pair of shoes and if you're just looking to get your daughter started,
Mary Jane's are great.
The style that you get for your infant, toddler, or even young boys, are Oxford's.
These are my son's toddler pair of oxford shoes
and these are the kind that I recommend you get for your daughter once she "ages out" of a Mary Jane.
For women looking into youth to adult sizes you can either get an Oxford or you can also get a heeled tap
which has the mary-jane strap, a 1.5" heel
and the only reason I would recommend getting heeled taps
is if you are in show business.
So if you're involved in theatre productions at school or in the community or at college
and you might be getting a pair of those so just talk to your teacher or your
company director and they'll tell you if they want you to have a pair of heel taps.
Since Oxford's are the most popular style of shoe you can find there are
tons of different names for them but they're gonna all sound and even look
very similarly to find a pair of shoes that matches your needs I posted some
links in the description box below so check those out and when you do click on
those links make sure to check the sizing charts because each brand and
even each individual shoe of the same brand can have different sizing in case
you're wondering what pairs of shoes I use I have two pairs of shoes and the
backup pair that I use are these and these are Sansha T-Swing they are a
France made shoe but they are sold here domestically through sites like Amazon
Discountdance.com. Just remember check the links in the description box for
those and you can find a pair. I highly recommend these because they are a solid
pair of shoes when I wear these shoes students usually compliment on how good
my sounds are and partially it is because of the shoes the main pair of
shoes that I use are these. These are Capezio K360s. They are a pro-grade
shoe and of course you pay for that pro-grade.
These cost me about $300 after all the bells and whistles were put on them, and in case
you're wondering what those bells and whistles are. It has a double build on
the sole meaning that they take two layers of leather and they add it to the
original layers so the base shoe is what you buy then you spend a little
a bit more money to get some build on it and then you have the taps installed
it's expensive but man have these lasted a long time I'm talking 10 years of
heavy use. Two other pairs of shoes that I haven't ever owned but I know plenty of
people that have are the Bloch's Jason Samuel Smith and also the Miller and
then Triple Threat and what's nice about those 2 pairs of shoes is that they come
with some build already on them and the taps already installed you pay a larger
price for a pro-level shoe but it's ready right out of the box you don't get
all the customization that you get with the K 360s but if you're just looking
for a nice advanced pair of shoes that you can put a lot of wear and tear on
then those are also a great choice
Crucial tip number four is---where to buy them
For first-time buyers I highly recommend that you buy your shoes first
at a store, and that's because you have access to many different styles and
sizes all at once and someone there on hand to talk to you to help you through
the purchasing process.
Some places to go check are: first the thrift store.
You'd be surprised I actually found both pairs of shoes for my toddler kids at the thrift stores.
They aren't brand new, but they're gonna work.
Another great place to check for kids size tap shoes is Payless Shoe Source.
They have at least a couple different brands and a variety of sizes, so you'll be able to find shoes for your
kids really quick there.
Another place to find a good pair of shoes is at your local dance store.
Look one up hopefully you've got at least one if not two maybe
if you're lucky three.
You'll have a variety of styles and of course
different sizes, so check your local dance stores
Of course another convenient place to buy your shoes
is doing it online whether it's Amazon, or discountenance.com.
There are a variety of other sites. I've posted a few in the description box below
They may be having deals and promotions
so just check them out and hopefully you have something that'll work out for you.
A good bonus tip for buying shoes online make sure you get two pairs.
Get shoes that you think will fit and then get the size above it or under it.
That way if one fits then you can send the other back free of charge as long as you
haven't gone out and danced in them them a whole bunch or run around the block.
Do you have a tip that you'd like to share? Post it in the comments below.
If you have any more questions about shoe purchases
make sure to post them in the comments below and I'm gonna get to as many as I can.
If you like this video click the like button, share it with someone you think would
find the information useful, and as always
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Thanks for watching and I'll see you next time!