Dance Essentials is written by Erin Born, who owns BORN Dance Academy in Lansing, Michigan.
- 30+Years dancing, from age eight
- 8Styles taught at her studio
- 2–adultAges in her classes
Erin started dancing at eight years old and has not stopped since. That is more than thirty years in studios, first as a student, then as a teacher, and now running her own school. BORN teaches ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, acro, contemporary, lyrical and musical theatre, to students from toddlers through adults.
Why this site exists
Every season, the same questions come up at the front desk. What shoes does she actually need? Why did the ones we ordered not fit? Is this leotard alright for class?
Most dancewear buying advice online is written by people who have never taught a class. The best-selling ballet shoe on Amazon, for instance, is leather, and plenty of studios require canvas. A parent following the search results ends up with the wrong shoe and a return to process.
These guides are the answers Erin already gives in person, written down.
On sizing
Dance shoes do not fit like street shoes, and that is where most of the frustration comes from. Every shoe guide here includes how that shoe runs. If there is a dance shop near you that does proper fittings, use it, especially for a first pair.
On recommendations. No brand pays for placement here, and no brand can buy a recommendation. Products are chosen because they meet a dress code and hold up in real classes.