When it comes to dance, a dancer is on their feet for hours. When it comes to tap dancing, a dancers performance come largely from the use of their feet. From quick choreographed movements to the music the dancer creates with tapping their shoe. Knowing which brand of tap shoes are the best for you will ensure great performance and make sure that your foot is not injured.
8 Tap Shoe Brands
1.Miller & Ben Tap Shoes
In the 1980’s Avi Miller began to create tap shoes in New York City. Some ten years later, Ofer Ben joined him and thus began their journey of Miller & Ben Tap Shoes. This brand has around 10 different models to offer and around 50 different colors to choose from.
Miller & Ben Tap Shoes are for professionals or for those who are serious about tap dancing. This is because the high price point of the shoe. Price varies from $350 and up depending on if you decide to get custom shoes.
However, a high price point comes with all the perks. These high end, unisex tap shoes are all leather. The heel is leather combined with compressed wood. These tap shoes ensure durability and dependability when dancing away.
Pros
- Durable
- Top tier heel sound
- Style variety
- All leather
- Professional
Cons
- High price point
- Custom shoes can take up to 4 months to receive
- Not for beginners
2.Capezio
At the young age of 17, Salvatore Capezio started repairing shoes and soon created them. Capezio was established in 1887 and is one of the older brands of tap shoes out there. They have a well-established website that features their various types of tap shoes that come at a more affordable price.
Ranging from their $40 Tic Tac Toe Tap Shoe to their $160 Roxy Tap Shoe these tap shoes can be used for beginners to professionals. The more inexpensive tap shoes like the Tic Tac Toe Tap Shoe are $40 because they are made of PU leather. PU leather is fake leather and may not match up to real leather, but it still makes for a great tap shoe.
Pros
- Cheaper options
- Easy to use website
- Durable shoes
Cons
- Heels don’t produce top sound
3.Bloch
Bloch is another of the older and more affordable tap shoe brands. Jacob Bloch crafted the first ever pair of Bloch ballet shoes in 1932 and would go on to make all type of dance shoes including tap shoes.
These tap shoes are slightly more expensive than the Capezio tap shoes. From their slip-on tap shoes that start just above $50 to their laced tap shoes that start around $75. What is different about Bloch is that with these prices they are still made of real leather as opposed to PU leather.
Real leather is optimal for tap shoes which makes this brand stand out. Bloch allows for a cheaper alternative that is still leather. They also do carry shoes that range up to $200+ for those who are more invested in the sport. Bloch is one of the most used tap shoes brands out there.
Pros
- Cheap and expensive options
- Well established website
- Flexible shoe
Cons
- A little more expensive for beginners
4.Só Dança
Só Dança is a tap shoe brand that started in Brazil and established itself in the United States in 1997. They have established themselves in 11 countries. Their online website features more than tap shoes. They have all types of dance shoes along with accessories and leggings. They offer vegan options for those who do not want leather tap shoes.
This brand is does have some affordable tap shoes but most range above $200 and go into the $300 range. The cheaper tap shoes they produce such as their women tap shoes that are around $40 do have great style but run small and are synthetic instead of leather. The cheaper shoes are still sturdy and are great for beginners.
Pros
- In multiple countries
- Cheap and expensive options
- Sturdy
- Vegan options
Cons
- Runs small
5.Linodes
This brand of tap shoe offers the one of the absolute cheapest options for someone who is getting into tap dancing. Linodes offer a unisex slip-on tap shoe for $30. With being cheap does come with lower quality. Everything from the topline to the heel is synthetic or made with PU leather.
Since it is not leather and is slip on, they are one of the most flexible tap shoes as well. Linodes tap shoes are more comfortable too since it is synthetic and PU leather. These are best for those who are not sure if they really want to get into tap dance since they are a small investment.
Pros
- Extremely cheap
- For beginners
- Flexible
- Easier on feet because of flexibility
Cons
- You get what you pay for
- Only synthetic
- Basic style
- Not for professionals or those serious with the sport
6.Theatricals
This brand is similar to Linodes in price and style. The tap shoes they produce are made with PU leather and have a basic style. These shoes may not be as stylish or durable as a pair from Bloch, but they are cheap and get the job done.
Their durability and performance will be like Linodes. Yet are preferred over them when getting tap shoes for beginners. They also offer a slip-on shoe that allows for maximum flexibility as well. This brand can be found easily though Amazon.
Pros
- Extremely cheap
- For beginners
- Flexible
- Easy to get a pair
- Easier on feet because of flexibility
Cons
- You get what you pay for
- Only synthetic
- Basic style
- No established website
7.Casimiro Handmade Dance Shoes
Located in Spain, Casimiro Hand Made Dance Shoes offer a wide variety of models. Each pair is hand made. They offer tap shoes for beginners, intermediate, and professionals. Along with tap shoes they sell accessories and multiple other types of dance shoes.
These shoes offer durability and what appears to be some of the better styled tap shoes. However, this brand is priced in euros and only offer a small amount of different tap shoes with a simple style. These shoes may also be harder to get since it is not based in the United States.
Pros
- More durable
- Good sound
- nice style tap shoes
Cons
- Higher priced shoes
- Shipping could take longer
- May not ship everywhere
- Small amount of tap shoes
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8.La Duca Tap Shoes
This higher end tap shoe brand was established in the early 2000s by Phil LaDuca. Located in New York City, these tap shoes are for men and women. What is different about La Duca is that this brand has boots along with the normal tap shoes.
These shoes fit snug and are one of the most durable tap shoe brands. The shoes they produce are leather and do not allow for much flexibility. They range from $250 all the way to about $400. If you are a professional these may be worth the investment. Unfortunately, there are no refund with this brand and if you were to buy the wrong size or not end up enjoying the fit, you are stuck with them.
Pros
- Extremely durable
- High Quality
- Professional
Cons
- Not for beginners
- Big Investment
- All sales are final, no refunds
How To Choose Tap Shoes?
The tap shoe can be broken down by the heel, the pattern, the toe box, and the topline. Each of these components are what bring a tap shoe together. These components should be considered when looking at tap shoe brands. Durability and price are also important when looking into tap shoe brands.
The Heel
This lies at the back of the shoe and creates sound. It can be plastic or leather. Depending on the material of the heel, different sounds can be made.
The Pattern
The pattern is what someone will look at when they are considering how their foot fits in the shoe. More stitching means that the shoe will be tighter and less flexible. Less stitching means more flexibility. The pattern also accompanies style and how a tap shoe looks.
The Toe Box
This is where the toes go. This part of the shoe is to help protect the toes when dancers need to work on their tippy toes. Knowing which toe box works best for you will keep from possible pain later.
The Topline
This is the part of the shoes that meets the ankles. Tap shoes either have a higher topline or a lower topline. The difference is having a low top or a high top shoe. A low top will be less restricting around the ankle area while a high top will be more restricting. The topline should be considered for flexibility of the ankle area.
Conclusion
Understanding the anatomy of the tap shoe, your budget and whether you are a beginner or expert will help you understand which brand fits you most. Along with understanding which brand is the best for you will make sure for your best performance. Like most brands people decide on, tap shoe brands too incorporate personal preference and situation.
