Did you know that some tap dancers refer to themselves as musicians and their tap shoes as musical instruments? And so, just as a violinist would want the best quality sound from their violin, it’s important to choose the correct tap shoes. The quality of the plates can make a big difference to the sound. Some shoes come with plates riveted in place that can’t be adjusted, while others can be fine tuned with a screwdriver to either the dancer’s preference or the flooring the dancer is performing on. Tap shoes should have both a toe plate and a heel plate fitted so that the dancer can use different parts of the foot to create different qualities of sounds. 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. 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!

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? A good fitting pair of shoes is essential for tap. Shoes that are too small can be uncomfortable to wear – you can normally tell if they are too small as, like outdoor shoes, the toes have reached the end of the shoe. 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. 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.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. 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. 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 More difficult to perform certain steps, particularly if the steps belong to the rhythm or funk/urban tap styles 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

Choosing the right tap shoes can be confusing with so many choices available. Read ahead for some helpful advice and tips. How many screws? –By now most tap dancers and shoe companies have agreed on the three screw tap, now the standard for taps. However, there are taps available that could have as many as five, six, or even eight screw holes, or as few as one. More screws equals a better attached tap, and less screws means, well, less screws to deal with. Our range of tap shoes for girls and boys are included within this section. Our children's shoes for tap dancing provide the perfect support for growing feet and development whilst dancing. Please use the menu to browse our selection of kids tap shoes for girls and boys. In some cases, tap shoes may feel slippery because the dance floor is slippery. If you think that the dance floor you are dancing on could be the reason your tap shoes feel slippery, it’s important to speak to your instructor or a studio representative. Dirty, dusty, wet or waxy floors can feel slippery to dance on. Try Rosin spray

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. Split-sole shoes are much lighter than whole-sole shoes – although it should be mentioned that some dancers prefer weightier shoes, especially for rhythm tap. Tap-shoe plates are one of the most important features of a tap shoe; they are what make the difference between a regular shoe and a tap shoe.

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? 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. Pre-fixed toe and heel plates: These tap-shoe plates are ideal for beginners, as they create a good sound, are secure and don’t require any fine tuning. They are ready fitted on the tap shoes. You have to play around. There are so many tap-to-shoe variations that it is absolutely possible to be physically and harmonically satisfied with your tap shoes. Like a Fingerprint…

What Size Tap Shoe Should I Buy?

The anatomy and materials that make up a tap shoe are designed to provide the perfect tap sound while accommodating the tap dancer. Although there are many different variations of the tap shoe, common tap shoe components are listed below. Heel Split-sole tap shoes are not recommended for beginners because of the strength of foot required. For more advanced dancers, however, they are a more flexible shoe and give greater control over the plates, allowing for intricate footwork. 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:

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, as stated in Vallis-Hill’s Tap Dancing America, wore “split-soled clog shoes, an American adaptation of the solid wooden clogs from the Lancashire and Lakeland regions of England.” The shoes had an attached half-sole made of wood that was “left loose, allowing for greater flexibility and tonality.” That extra something… Soundboard –A soundboard is a thin, fiberboard that helps keep the metal attached to the sole. When the taps get loose the threads on the screws will catch and become retained in the fiberboard. There is a slight tonal shift produced by having your taps pressed against the fiberboard, but in my experience it is not very dramatic. W hy is it called a soundboard if it doesn’t really affect the sound? I guess “supplementary affixation pad” just didn’t sell as well. From the anatomy of tap shoes to choosing the most comfortable size, here is our guide to tap shoes. What is a Tap Shoe Made of? If I don’t have enough metal on the lateral side (outer edge) of the front of my shoe, my pinky toes get really sore after practicing wings. Also, small taps make those satisfying notes you get from striking the taps against each other more elusive. Wide or narrow, long or short, the dimensions of your foot will affect the type of tap you buy and where you place it.Listed below are additional tips to make your existing tap shoes feel less slippery. Break the shoes out safely 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