buying dance gear!
What do I wear to class??
What type of shoes do I need?
Great questions. First things first, there is no dress code at Rio Dance Studio! Wear something you can move in, that feels authentic to you. (Phew!)
FOOTWEAR: Generally, socks or bare feet work great for most classes. We have tap shoes you can borrow for tap classes, and we permit clean* cowboy boots for line dancing, clean* sneakers for hip hop. (more on CLEAN below!)
CLOTHING: When you enroll for a class, the confirmation email will include any suggested clothing / dancewear, if applicable. Consider if the class may include stretching or inversions (folding over, upside down) of any kind and be sure to dress accordingly. Layers are also suggested depending on weather and your temperature preferences!
Know that in every class you are going to meet a variety of dancers, wearing a variety of styles of clothing - and we LOVE it that way.
If you decide you are ready to invest in your own pair of tap shoes, ballet slippers, or designated dance shoe - here are some suggestions!
Tap Shoes:
Quick tips:
Do not get any split sole or “flex” options - these do not match the style of tap taught at Rio!
Heels or no heels - totally up to you! Heels are feminine, so fun, and preferred for tap dancers who focus on musical theatre. Most of our dancers wear the more flat lace-up options.
Most tap shoes sizes do not match street shoe sizing. When purchasing, we recommend you use the brand-specific size chart. Usually it’s easiest to buy a few sizes and plan to return the ones that don’t fit.
Price: With tap shoes, you really get what you pay for. The comfort, sound and durability of the shoe will be reflected in the price! That being said, you can be very successful with a pair of inexpensive tap shoes.
Budget [less than $75]:
So Danca; Temple Tap Shoe [Heel]
Medium [$75 - $200]:
Bloch; Respect Leather Tap Shoe
Capezio; Manhattan Xtreme Tap Shoe [Heel]
Investment [more than $200]:
La Duca; Roxie 2.5” Heel Tap Shoe [Heel]
So Danca; Customizable Trinity Tap Shoe
Ballet Shoes:
Leather or canvas, and color all depend on your preference. Ballet slippers can be interchangeable with socks as needed! (Pointe shoe recommendations should be made by a professional, in person. Please talk to your teacher if you are hoping to progress en pointe.)
Jazz / Contemporary:
Any jazz or contemporary shoe can be interchangeable with barefeet / socks as needed! Your shoe in these classes is mostly dictated by preference.
Discount Dance Lyrical + Modern shoes
Hip Hop:
The sneakers listed below are specific for dance, but a clean* sneaker is also great!
Heels:
We recommend choosing a heel with ankle support, pumps are not ideal.
At the end of the day, dance is about expression. This can extend into your fashion choices as much or as little as you would like! As long as you are safe, we want each dancer to feel free to dress how they want.
*What do mean by “clean”?
No matter what class you are taking, street shoes are not allowed on the dance floor. This means, if you wore it in the parking lot - you can’t wear it on the dance floor. Ideally, you have specific dance shoes that you bring to the studio and change into each week before class. Thank you for loving our floor as much as we do!
