Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, BORN Dance Academy earns from qualifying purchases. Recommendations are Erin's own, and the price you pay is exactly the same.
Jazz shoes are the simplest dance shoe to buy and the easiest to buy a size too big.
Why are jazz shoes tan?
Most studios ask for a tan slip-on jazz shoe, and BORN is one of them. The slip-on has an elastic gore across the top instead of laces, so there is nothing for a child to fasten and nothing to come undone mid-class. Tan reads as an extension of the leg on stage, which is why it is the standard rather than black.
Jazz and hip hopVarious
Slip-On Leather Jazz Shoe
- Meets BORN dress code
- $
Erin says Tan slip-on, which is what jazz and hip hop classes here ask for. No laces to come undone mid-combination. Buy these snug, because the leather gives a little with wear.
Sizing Slip-on jazz shoes should feel snug, like a sock. They stretch with wear, so a roomy fit at purchase becomes a loose fit by recital.
Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab)Opens Amazon. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
How should jazz shoes fit?
A jazz shoe should fit like a sock: snug all the way round, with the toes flat. It will feel slightly tighter than you expect when it is right.
The reason to err on the snug side is that leather jazz shoes stretch with wear. A shoe that fits comfortably in the box is often loose within a month, and a loose jazz shoe slides at exactly the moment a dancer needs to turn. Buying room to grow does not work with this shoe.
Sizing tends to sit close to street size, closer than ballet slippers, but check the brand chart before ordering.
Do jazz dancers need black tennis shoes?
Jazz and hip hop classes sometimes call for black tennis shoes for recital on top of the regular jazz shoe. That requirement comes from the routine rather than the class, so wait until it is announced rather than buying a pair in advance.
What else does a jazz dancer need?
A leotard, dance top, fitted shorts or a dance skirt. No street clothes. Tights for recital but not for class.