Buying girls tap shoes isn’t the same as buying regular shoes. There are several factors you must consider, or you could easily be flushing your money down the drain. This is why I always suggest to parents that they need to have a better understanding of what to look for, and what you absolutely must avoid, when buying tap shoes for girls.

You will always want to go with a name brand tap shoe, and avoid lesser-known brands. There is almost always a big difference in quality between brands such as Balera, Capezio and Bloch, versus other brands.

Probably the most important factor to consider is the heel. You will want a sturdy heel that is both durable and produces a deep, rich sound. The sound produced by these shoes comes in three different types: duotone, teletone and supertone. The heel of each type of tap shoe has various amounts of adjustable screws, which produce their own unique sound. I suggest starting with a teletone shoe at first, then as your daughter progresses, trying the other types.

Comfort is always a big consideration for tap dance shoes and your daughter will have a choice between split soles or full soles. A split sole is very flexible while a full sole is stiffer. The type of tap dance shoe your daughter should choose will ultimately depend on her dancing style.

The style of shoe each dancer uses is also a personal preference, so I suggest having your daughter try a pair of canvas Mary Janes first, which are usually the most comfortable. She can then try on leather and plastic tap shoes to see which she prefers.

Finally take note that most girl tap shoes run small, so you will want to ensure that you get the proper size to prevent blisters.