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 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. 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 Tap shoes shouldn’t have extra space or too much growing room at the toe. It is important that tap shoes are the correct size because the toes to be over the toe plate. If shoes are too big, the shoe curls upwards, lifting the toe plate off the floor, meaning that the student is dancing on the sole of the shoe rather than the metal plate. With the tapping action, tap shoes that are too large can be a tripping hazard. Split Sole vs Whole Sole

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! 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.

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…

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. 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 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. Loose taps can drive you crazy, and I remember having to tighten my taps every five minutes when I was a kid. If only someone had showed me all of the options available for keeping the taps from falling off my shoes. No more!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? 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. Australia, Canada,Cyprus, Iceland, India, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Oman, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine,USA Please note that this service takes 48-72 hours to the Scottish Highlands & Islands, the Isle of Man, plus additional rural post code areas AB30, 32, 41-44, 51,99, DD8, 9, 10, DG7, 8, 9, FK3, 8, SN5 0, SN5 3 to SN5 8, SN6 6, YO25 4 to YO25 6, YO 25 8 & YO25 9and Northern Ireland.

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 shoesFull 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?

From premium materials to hand-made, artisanal construction, quality is in every shoe we create. Bloch leads the way as the ultimate dancewear destination. We strive to equip you or your child with the tools and confidence to dance courageously and beautifully. Choosing the right tap shoes can be confusing with so many choices available. Read ahead for some helpful advice and tips. 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. 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…

How to Clean Tap Shoes

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. 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. 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