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 One of the biggest differences between tap shoe styles is heel height. Rhythm tap and funk/urban tap are more suited to a lower heel and a weightier shoe. For this reason, Oxford shoes are often the preferred choice. In Broadway/musical theatre tap, a higher heel is usually preferred. Tap dancing is energetic and technically demanding, so it’s important to choose a pair of tap dancing shoes that will provide both comfort and style during tap dance practice and performance. Choosing the right tap shoes can be confusing with so many choices available. Read ahead for some helpful advice and tips.

Australia, Canada,Cyprus, Iceland, India, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Oman, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine,USA Our selection of women’s and men’s tap shoes are all made by recognised leading brands such as Bloch and Capezio, so you can rest assured that they are all of the finest quality to enhance your tap dance performance. The type of audio produced by tap dancing shoes is very important when selecting a tap dance shoe. Our range has a wide variety of sounds to suit any tap dancer from beginner to Professional tap shoes.Bloch 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. Split sole tap shoes are similar to split sole jazz shoes – but with taps attached. Split sole tap shoes are flexible because the base, or underside, of the shoe does not have continuous material. Instead, there is a gap in material under the arch of the foot. Tap Shoe Fastening Slip on tap shoes The Capezio Return Policy does not apply to returned products that show signs of actual use (e.g. markings on the sole of a shoe, make-up/deodorant stains on a garment). Over time, you may notice the tap on your tap shoe loosening. This is often nothing to worry about – taps attached with screws are designed to loosen slightly over time, which helps create a clearer sound when you dance.

Most tap shoes come with plates ready fitted, but others will need plates attaching. Below is an explanation of the different types of tap-shoe plates: Non-attached toe plates and heel plates: Normally, tap shoes come with toe plates ready fitted but will require heel plates to be fitted. Sometimes, however, both need to be fitted. Heel plates can be bought as either a regular tap-shoe plate or a horse-shoe shape. The taps produced by today’s leading manufacturers are distinctive from one another. Most of the companies that produce tap shoes also produce the tap that comes with it, and each tap has a personality all its own.For more advanced dancers, the two main styles of shoes are Oxford shoes and stage shoes. Oxford shoes are often in a unisex design, meaning that they are usually the best style of tap shoe for boys and men. For example the Capezio Tic Tap Toe tap shoe. Which heel height is best for tap shoes? 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. Screws, who needs ’em? – Glue them on! That’s right, you can have the taps glued on with a good adhesive to insure that they stay in place. This will cause some tonal shift, perhaps more than the soundboard will, but if that doesn’t bother you, then just think of the peace of mind that comes with taps that will stay just how you like them… always Photo courtesy of Shinichi Matsumoto