While tap shoes should feel firm on the feet, it is important to recognise if the shoes are too tight. If the shoe is hurting the side of your feet, that is a good indicator that the shoe is too narrow. If toes are bending, curling or overlapping when the shoe is worn, that indicates the dancer needs to try a bigger size.

For example, BLOCH ballet shoes can be found on the feet of professionals across the globe. BLOCH provides superior materials and craftsmanship in dance shoes—perfect for beginners, students, teachers and professionals. Like all dance shoes, ballet shoes must fit accurately to serve the dancer properly. Ballet shoes should feel snug on the foot without compromising comfort. Full sole tap shoes have a continuous base material on the underside of the shoes. The full, hard soles ensure correct foot and ankle support for dancers. What is a split sole tap shoe? While it’s always best to be properly fitted by a professional, you can find more information on sizing and conversion charts on our BLOCH UK size guide.

Types of ballet shoes

Pointe shoes, often considered a type of ballet shoe, are worn by highly experienced dancers when performing pointe work. These shoes are very different from flexible ballet shoes as the box and the shank of the shoe allow dancers to go en pointe. Please visit the BLOCH Pointe Shoe Guide for more information on pointe shoes and choosing the right one for you. However, if you can feel the tap moving up and down when you move, it’s likely the tap needs tightening. You can do this easily with a twist or two, taking care not to over tighten as this can damage the hole holding the screw in place. At BLOCH, our ballet shoes come in four different widths, A, B, C and D, so you can adapt your footwear to your size. A is the narrowest fit, while D is the widest. Our size guidelines are based on a medium foot width, so if you have wider feet, we’d recommend sizing up by a half size. The topline of a tap shoe is the edge that runs along the opening of the shoe. Like the heel, the topline can vary depending on the style of the tap shoe and preference of the dancer. For example, a lower topline means the shoe will not come up as high, allowing for more ankle flexibility. A higher topline will keep the ankle more stable. Taps

Listed below are additional tips to make your existing tap shoes feel less slippery. Break the shoes out safely A full sole ballet shoe doesn’t allow for much flexibility since the base of the shoe is coated in one layer of material. However, this style shoe includes more resistance beneath the arch of the foot. If you are a beginner in ballet or looking for a ballet shoe that is sturdy, the full sole style is a favourable choice. All styles of tap shoes are specifically designed to meet the range of needs, material preferences, dance styles and foot sizes of different dancers. Tap shoe styles include the Mary Jane, Oxford, character heels and boots, which all feature different materials and shoe elements. Listed below are common tap shoe soles and fastenings, as well as information on what functionality you can expect with each shoe. Tap Shoe Soles What is a full sole tap shoe? Bloch tap shoes are perfectly designed and customised to provide for any age and proficiency level. With Kashmir lining and AAA-grade leather available, Bloch tap shoes are the go-to for tap dancing professionals and students alike, thanks to their quality, comfort and – most importantly – sound!

We recommend consulting your dance teacher regarding which ballet shoe is best for you or your child, as they can offer insight into the material and sole that is best suited for their dance level, as well as any colour preferences. Bloch’s BEST SELLING Warm Up Booties! In new tie dye print, Bloch’s booties offer a stylish and innovative way of keeping your feet warm, ready and prepared in between classes and rehearsals, a must-have for every dancer! Warm-up booties were designed by BLOCH Stars and former American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancers Irina Dvorovenko and Max Beloserkovsky. Mix and match your prints for a unique dance style! Supple leather combined with arch hugging neoprene midsection for the ultimate fit, form, and function

From the types of ballet shoes to choosing the right size for you, here is our buying guide to ballet shoes. From premium materials to hand-made, artisanal construction, quality is in every shoe we create. Bloch leads the way as the ultimate dancewear destination. We strive to equip you or your child with the tools and confidence to dance courageously and beautifully. The elastic strap or straps on a ballet shoe should hold the shoe onto your foot securely. It should not dig into the top of the foot or ankle uncomfortably, impact the foot’s circulation or prevent you from pointing and flexing. Tap shoes should stay pretty clean, especially as they’ll only be worn indoors. However, you might occasionally notice scruffs or marks, which will mean you want to clean your shoes.If the ballet shoe is hurting the side of your feet, that is a good indicator that the shoe is too narrow. If toes are bending, curling or overlapping when a ballet shoe is worn, that indicates the dancer needs to try a bigger size. If there is extra material in the shoe, especially near the toes, then the shoes may be too large. The size ballet shoe you will need varies greatly from brand, style, material and more. In addition, foot shape, width and length of toes can change how a ballet shoe fits each individual. Tap shoes should be durable without compromising comfort. For more information on sizing and conversion charts, visit our BLOCH size guide. How Can I Make my Tap Shoes Less Slippery? Slip on tap shoes typically have a split sole. A slip on fastening allows dancers to slide the shoe on without having to take the time to tie laces and adjust the shoe’s pressure on the foot. Lace up tap shoes As the innovation leader in ballet shoes for nearly a century, BLOCH understands the importance of a high-quality, durable and beautifully-crafted ballet shoe. This is why we still make all our pointe shoes by hand, and we continue the tradition of listening to dancers, understanding what they want and what they need.

BLOCH ballet shoes promise high performance, the perfect leg line and exceptional comfort for beginners to professionals. From simple ballet slippers to stunning tonal designs, our ballet shoes offer the ultimate in style and functionality. There is a diverse collection of ballet shoe styles in the dance world. All styles are specifically designed to meet a range of needs, material preferences, skill levels and foot sizes of different dancers. Ballet shoes are often offered in split sole or full sole options. If you intend to wear pointe shoes with your booties, we recommend that you take the next size up from your normal shoe size. Enhanced compression arch – supportive and designed to hug the dancer’s foot, the compression arch shows-off a dancer’s foot lineBloch has been the innovation leader in dance shoes for nearly a century. Our tap shoes can be found on the feet of professionals in the dance industry across the globe. Bloch provides a superior craft in dance shoes—perfect for students, teachers and masters. To reduce slipping, apply Bloch non-slip professional rosin spray to the soles of your shoe to increase traction against the floor. The product can be used on a variety of dance shoes, adding friction between the shoe and the floor and increasing the grip of the feet. Bloch rosin spray can also be used to secure ribbon and clothing. Ask an expert