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childrens tap shoes as folklorico shoes?

Hola,

Que opinan? I found white pleather children's tap shoes w/o taps @ dannsyswharehouse for $10. I was so excited until I found out they were not mary jane style strap closure they are regular bow tie!! :( We can add elastic instead of ribbon tie. Do you think this shoe is a good option for my girls? I can't find folklorico or character shoes in sizes 12-2 for under $20! (They look like the picture but w/o taps)

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Permalink Reply by Sara S RN on June 22, 2009 at 10:10pm: Some of my students use these same shoes form Danny's and they seem to be fine for little girls. I have also had students use the "Mary jane" type shoes from Payless and they were fine too. One girl had tap shoes with the taps but they were very slippery and they made way too much noise, so we took the taps off and now her shoes are ok. If the girls really like dancing and seem like they will stay with it for a while then maybe the parents will want to invest in some real folklorico shoes when they need a new pair. But not all families can afford to buy several pairs of expensive dance shoes every year when the girls feet are growing fast. And, with new dancers, they may decided in a few months that they don't like dancing. I feel bad if the parents sent a lot of money up front and then their child quits. We "buy back" used shoes in good condition, practice skits and blouses from our student who move on and re-sell them (for a big discount) to students who need new skirts , etc.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by zenedith espinoza on June 22, 2009 at 10:23pm: What mary jane type shoes from payless? Do they have a ribbon or strap and buckle? I've only seen the black patent leather ribbon tye shoes there?

I have searched everywhere and can't even find regular dress shoes "mary jane" style like @ reg. stores!

Today I found some character shoes online for $20+... What do ou think about character shoes? I read here or somewhere about adding clavos to character shoes. Have you tried that?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ballet Folklorico Esperanza on June 22, 2009 at 10:23pm: You could also change the ribbon to match the costumes. Whatever works until you can afford to buy folklorico shoes will do the job. Also, if you find that the shoes are slippery on the flooring you are teaching on..spray hairspray on the soles of the shoes.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by zenedith espinoza on June 22, 2009 at 10:29pm: I was totally convinced that it would be ok for the first pair/beginner and until maybe the next purchase when the girls that really like it will know and parents will want to invest in folklorico shoes. But someone got in my head when they stated that a real folklorico shoe gives the girls a solid foundation in folklor education...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ballet Folklorico Esperanza on June 22, 2009 at 10:54pm: I found the kids almost fell on their faces the first time they put on those heels even though they are not that high. It's alot for a little one to comprehend all at once...moving feet, skirts and smiling at the same time.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sara S RN on June 23, 2009 at 2:51pm: Yes it is ok for beginners to use character shoes. If it were me, I would have them buy the $20.00 character shoes over the tap shoes. That’s what most of my girls use and believe me, they can zapateado just fine in them! A 1-1 ½ in heel seems to be the best for folklorico in order to properly execute the steps. For little girls who are growing and whose parents’ don’t know how committed they are to dancing, these shoes are fine to start out with. If you add the nails to the $20.00 character shoes, you will probably reach the price of a cheaper folklorico shoe in which case it would be better to spend the extra money. My student’s families don’t have a lot of extra $ to spend and when you add in the cost of a practice skirt it can get expensive, so I really try to be mindful of how much everything costs. I do find that dance shoes (as opposed to street shoes) are really better because so many street shoes have a rubbery sole and it can be hard to dance in them. For our boys, I have them buy dress black dress shoes with a smooth sole and that seems to be fine for them. Of course, for more serious and committed dancers, I do recommend the folklorico shoes.

Don’t worry so much about these details! Most of my kids start the school year dancing in tennis shoes. It takes us about a month to get the new dancers shoes and skirts or for them to replace outgrown shoes.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Miguelito's Dancing Shoes on July 1, 2009 at 8:13am: We have a syntactic shoe (style 1800) that is at 20% OFF though our website (www.miguelitousa.com). The regular price for this style is $33.00 with your discount they will come out to $26.40 plus shipping of $12.00. This estimate is based on a pair for shoes only.

Our featured style 1710 Folklorico in leather with nails is at 25% OFF starting June 25, 2009 till July 25, 2009.

Sizes 8.5 to 2 reg. 39.50 now 29.63
Sizes 2.5 to 13 reg. 47.00 now 35.25

Call or write to us at
Miguelito's Dancing Shoes & Supplies, Inc.
(210) 349-2573
info@miguelitousa.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by zenedith espinoza on July 1, 2009 at 7:36pm: Hi, thanks for the info. But I purchased 3 pairs of folklorico shoes "miguelitos" in San Jose last weekend but 2 were too big and the other was too small! I didn't have the girls with me to try on at the time. Your website states they are running a 1/2 size smaller than US street size. But others have stated up to 1 to 1 1/2 sizes too small... I have to exchange them all and take the girls with me. If I had ordered them, I'd have to ship back, etc. My question is, what is the actual difference from US sizes? Is it 1/2, 1, or 1 1/2 sizes different. I had recommended your site to my class and told them to hold off until confirmed with you. Otherwise, I will have them purchase in person in San Jose...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by D. Hernandez on July 1, 2009 at 7:51pm: I know Im jumping in late here but my girls wear character shoes all the way up until they are 12, we do this because our studio I have only has tile and the regular folklorico shoes are slippery for them. I do have character shoes for sale and they run small. I actually do what Sara does with her kids, I buy back shoes, skirts and tops and give discount to new students. Congrats on starting a new class I have been teaching 4yr olds to adults for 6 years now...... its an adventure! lol if you need any help give me a holler!

Desiree; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by zenedith espinoza on July 1, 2009 at 8:46pm: Do you have shoes that will fit a size 1 girl (street size)?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by D. Hernandez on July 1, 2009 at 8:57pm: uhhh i wouldnt know if they would fit a size one. I have like real folklorico shoes in a size 1; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by zenedith espinoza on July 1, 2009 at 9:56pm: Oh. Ok. I have had bad luck with sizes b/c each brand runs different. What brand (s) do you have? That way I know what size to buy... For example, Miguelitos run real small and Josefina seem pretty accurate.; ▶ Reply to This