How many pairs of dance shoes do I need? (plus how to store them)

When I am helping first-time dance moms pick out items for their little ones, I usually recommend getting two leotards and two pairs of tights.  When we get to the shoes, some of the parents assume they need two pairs of each kind of those, too.

How many pairs of dance shoes does a dancer need?  The simple answer is that it varies a lot with age, level, and style.  In this post I will explain the basics of who needs how many pairs of what kind for what purpose at what time, as well as how to store them.

For very young dancers and everyone new to dance,  only one pair of shoes for each style is needed.  If the little one is taking ballet, he or she only needs one pair of ballet shoes.  If the dancer is taking ballet, tap, and jazz, then he or she will need one pair of ballet shoes, one pair of tap shoes, and one pair of jazz shoes.

Some styles of dance, like Irish dance, require more than one kind of shoe (a hard shoe and a soft shoe) even though they are for only one style of dance. Dancers and parents will be advised of this when they sign up for class.

Every pair of shoes that a dancer regularly uses in class should be stored in an individual shoe bag inside the dancer's dance bag.  This helps the shoes be easy to find and keeps mates from getting lost.  Use mesh shoe bags or make bags from fabric scraps.  It's important that the bags are either see-through or that they all look different so the dancer can easily tell which bag holds which pair of shoes.

If there is a recital coming up, young dancers should have a new pair of shoes (especially if the old shoes are dirty or scuffed up).  It is best to come to the dance store for a fitting about a week before the show to make sure that the recital shoe is the right size for a growing foot.  Make sure the little one wears the recital shoe to one or two classes and dress rehearsal before the performance.  This makes sure the shoes are broken in so the child can feel comfortable and show his or her best technique.

Note: Ballroom dance is a very special case, as the types of shoes required vary a lot based on level and whether or not the dancer performs/competes.  Beginners need only a generic practice shoe, and advanced dancers need different shoes for practice and performance in standard and latin styles.  (Look for a whole post dedicated to ballroom shoes later).

Note: Modern/contemporary/lyrical dance is also a special case, as sometimes it requires one of a variety of footwear options, and sometimes dancers dance barefoot.  (Look for another post about modern dance footwear later.)

For older children and teens who compete or perform frequently, it's a good idea to have designated "class" and "performance" shoes in each style.  That way, there is always a relatively clean and new looking pair of shoes ready to go for each performance.  Keep the "class" shoes in their individual shoe bags in the dancer's dance bag.  Store the performance shoes in their original boxes in a closet.  When it's time to take them to a performance, either take them in the boxes or transfer them to different shoe bags.  (It can be a good idea to have a specific "performance" dance bag as well.  This makes sure the dancer doesn't have extraneous items at a performance and necessary performance items don't get lost at class).

Some competition teams require dancers to have multiple variations of the same shoe (like a black jazz shoe and a tan jazz shoe) ready for performance in order to match different costumes and dance themes.  In this case, the dancer needs to have both colors of jazz shoes ready in the "performance" stash.

For growing kids, keep an eye on the size of the performance shoes.  If the dancer needs a bigger size, the "class" pair and "performance" pairs all need to be replaced.

When a ballet dancer starts pointe, she will need to have her ballet technique shoes and pointe shoes in class.  Because pointe shoes must have an exact fit and wear out quickly, they may need to be replaced more often than the flat shoes.  For performance, it's important for a dancer to wear a broken in pair of pointe shoes that fits properly.  Schedule a pointe shoe fitting at the dancewear store a few weeks before the performance so the student can get the correct size and have time to break in and get used to the shoe before the big day.

Always store worn pointe shoes in a mesh bag so they can air out and dry (they get a little damp from sweat during class) before they are worn the next time.  If the dancer dances en pointe every day, it can be a good idea to have two pairs of shoes to alternate (especially if you live in a very humid climate) just to make sure they dry completely.  Store unused pointe shoes in the box or bag they came in.

Advanced and professional dancers who are done growing will want to build a collection of "performance" shoes to fit all possibilities within their dominant style, as well as maintain a few "class" options.  For example, a female ballet dancer ought to have a pair each of pink technique shoes, skin colored technique shoes, black technique shoes, white technique shoes, black character shoes (possibly tan character shoes too), and several pairs of pointe shoes for performance, as well as pink, white, or tan technique shoes and several pairs of pointe shoes for class.  These shoes are all replaced on a basis of need, since, thankfully, they don't all have to be replaced for growth.  All "performance" shoes should be stored in their original boxes and taken out only when needed.  This will help keep them organized.

Sometimes even more types of shoes will be required for a specific performance, like the company I dance with required some dancers to have purple flat shoes for a part in "The Wizard of Oz" a few years ago.  Advanced dancers should never throw out shoes unless they are unwearable.  Hold on to special performance shoes just in case they can be used again.  If a shoe has been dyed or altered (like putting glitter on it), write on the outside of the box what has been done to it (like "purple flat shoe" or "blinged out jazz shoe") so it can be easily found among the other "performance" shoes.

I know this guide is a little complicated, but all of this will become old hat as the dancer moves up in age and level.  If you have a question or want to share anything about your dance shoes, please leave a comment!