If there is one in your area, you could also try a children's consignment store, or even better one of those big consignment sales (mothers of multiples sale, etc). I often find my daughters tap and ballet shoes at those for like $3.

The Payless shoes are generally Ok. The nicer ones have more supple leather. Just don't buy the cloth type they sell at target/Walmart. Most studios don't allow them.

Anonymous wrote:I wish the dance studios would have a way for people to sell their used shoes and leotards. I have DD's tap shoes and ballet shoes from last year and had to buy her all new too. I would have happily have put her in someone elses old shoes for the 30 mins a week they wear them ( 60 min class, 30 mins of each dance style)
The leotards and other dance clothes get expensive too, and all go to waste.

One dance studio we had tried to do something like that but it never got off the ground. What seems more common is that sometimes studios will have an overabundance of different shoes on hand and they'll let the littlest kids borrow a pair of tap shoes for the class, just turn them back in when the class is over at the end of the year or to trade up a size. Otherwise, I've seen this stuff at kids consignment shops and at ThredUp online but it's so hit or miss, it would take a lot of luck to get the right size and style.

I wish the dance studios would have a way for people to sell their used shoes and leotards. I have DD's tap shoes and ballet shoes from last year and had to buy her all new too. I would have happily have put her in someone elses old shoes for the 30 mins a week they wear them ( 60 min class, 30 mins of each dance style)
The leotards and other dance clothes get expensive too, and all go to waste.

I had a hard time finding inexpensive tap shoes online, although jazz shoes were a little easier to locate online at Amazon, Discount Dance Supply or All About Dance. If Payless has tap shoes for under $30, it might be the way to go.

We ordered ours on Amazon (Bloch).

I have seen some at Target and TJ Maxx as well but can't speak for the quality. TJ Maxx had them in the kids section, not in the shoe section.

Are they decent? My kids are just trying out a 6 week class and I don't want to spend $$$$ if they won't continue. Any other places for reasonable dance shoes? We live near some dance supply stores and have purchased ballet shoes in the past but they are pricey.