How to Buy Irish Dance Shoes
Irish dancing shoes come in several forms. Ghillies are soft leather ballet-type shoes, and jig shoes have a hard sole for tapping. These shoes are used for "Irish step dancing," which is a combination of dance and tap. All Irish dancing shoes are made of soft leather that stretches, along with a hard-soled bottom for making hard tap noises. Unfortunately, if you do not live in the U.K., you are probably going to have to order your Irish dance shoes online, which means that you cannot try them on.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Look at a size chart to find your U.K. sizing. Irish dance shoes may only be listed in U.K. sizing.
-
2
Put on a pair of poodle socks before you go try on shoes. Find a store in your area that sells dance shoes. Find the correct type of shoe for the type of Irish dance that you do. Irish step dancing requires hard soles. If they do not have Irish dance shoes, try on a pair of jazz shoes, which are similar. Try doing some dance steps to see if they pinch or slide.
-
-
3
Make sure the return policy is acceptable. If the shoes do not fit, you should be able to exchange them.
-
4
Order the shoes if you are buying them online. Make sure the company accepts your form of currency if the shoes come from Ireland.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Treat the leather shoes with a special leather conditioner before you wear them.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit shoes image by Deborah Durbin from Fotolia.com
