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Musical theatre is the one class that asks for a heel. Character shoes are what a dancer wears to sing, act and dance in at the same time, and they are worth buying properly because they last for years.
What are character shoes?
A character shoe is a low-heeled leather shoe with a strap across the instep and a suede or leather sole. The heel is usually between one and a half and two and a half inches, and the sole is built to pivot rather than grip.
They are not street heels. A street heel has no give in the sole and no strap, and a dancer in one cannot turn safely.
Musical theatreCapezio
Jr. Footlight Character Shoe
- Meets BORN dress code
- $$$
Erin says The shoe a musical theatre dancer will keep for years. Buy the lower heel first. A dancer who is fighting the heel cannot act, and acting is the whole point of the class.
Sizing Character shoes run close to street size, closer than any other dance shoe. The heel height is the decision, not the length: a 1.5 inch heel suits a young dancer, and 2 inches is for someone already comfortable dancing in a heel.
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What heel height should a young dancer start in?
One and a half inches. It is high enough to change the posture and the walk, which is the point of the shoe, and low enough that a dancer can still act while wearing it.
Two inches and above is for a dancer already comfortable moving in a heel. Starting too high means a term spent watching their feet instead of performing.
Strap or T-strap?
A single strap is the standard and suits most routines. A T-strap holds the foot more securely and is worth the extra when choreography has real footwork in it.
Routines that need a strapCapezio
Jr. Footlight T-Strap Character Shoe
- Meets BORN dress code
- $$$
Erin says The T-strap version is worth the extra when a routine has real footwork. The strap stops the shoe sliding at exactly the moment a dancer needs to turn.
Sizing Sized like the standard Footlight. The T-strap holds the foot more securely, which matters in faster choreography.
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Do character shoes run small?
No. Character shoes fit closer to street size than any other dance shoe, which surprises parents who have just been through ballet sizing. Order the street size and check the brand chart.
They do need breaking in. Wear them around the house for a few evenings before the first class, because leather that has not moved yet will rub.
What else does a musical theatre dancer need?
A leotard or fitted top and shorts, tights for recital, and hair up. Some routines call for jazz shoes instead of character shoes, so wait for the class to tell you before buying a second pair.