Quick answer
How do I order dance shoes online for the first time
When you have the shoe name and style but aren't sure how to find the right size, which website to order from, or what to do if the shoes don't fit when they arrive.
Quick read
Measure the foot first (write it down), then use the brand's own size chart for the specific product: not your child's street shoe size, not a generic chart. Order from the brand's website or a dance-specific retailer (Discount Dance, DancewearCorner) where exchange policies are standard. Test fit on a hard floor, not carpet. If the size is wrong, start the exchange within 24-48 hours so the replacement size is still in stock.
Gear for this situation
What to do
- Measure the foot before visiting any website. Use a ruler on a hard floor: have your child stand, heel to a wall, and measure in centimeters or inches to the tip of the longest toe. Write the number down. 'She wears a size 2' is not a measurement: it's a guess that may be months out of date, and dance shoes don't follow street shoe sizing for any style.
- Find the brand's size chart for the specific product you're ordering. Dance shoe brands publish size charts that map foot length to shoe size: and these are not the same across brands or even across models within the same brand. Go to the brand's website (Capezio, Bloch, So Danca) and find the chart for the specific product. Ignore a general brand-wide chart if there's a product-specific one on the product page.
- Order from the brand's website or a dance-specific retailer. Capezio direct, Bloch direct, Discount Dance, and DancewearCorner all carry authentic shoes, list exchange policies, and provide product-specific sizing notes. Amazon Marketplace and eBay can carry the same brand names, but marketplace sellers may use different manufacturing runs, and their return and exchange policies are set by the seller, not the brand. For a first-time fit, order from a source where you know the exchange process.
- Confirm the retailer has an exchange policy (not just returns) before finalizing. For a first-time fit in any dance shoe style, you need to exchange for a different size if the first pair doesn't fit: not return for a refund and reorder at current price. Exchange policies let you swap sizes without paying again. Read the retailer's exchange policy before placing the order. Don't order from a final-sale or heavily discounted listing unless you're confident about the size.
- When the shoes arrive: test the fit on a hard floor, not carpet. Dance shoes are designed for smooth studio surfaces. Testing on carpet compresses the sole and makes a too-large shoe feel like it fits. Have the dancer stand on a hard floor, do a relevé (rising onto the ball of the foot), and walk across the room. The heel should not slip on relevé. Toes should be near the front with about a fingernail width of space: not a thumb width, not crammed against the toe box.
- If the size is wrong, start the exchange within 24-48 hours. Most dance retailers give 30 days to exchange, but sizes sell out. The day you get the shoes and realize they're wrong is the day to start the exchange request: not a week later. Keep the tags on and don't wear the shoes outdoors until you've confirmed the fit, because worn-outdoors shoes are typically non-returnable.
Common mistakes
- Don't use street shoe size as the starting point. Dance shoes are sized differently by style: ballet slippers run 1-2 full sizes smaller, jazz shoes run about half a size smaller, character shoes run close to street size but vary by brand. The only reliable input is a foot measurement matched to the product's size chart.
- Don't order from a marketplace listing for a first-time fit. Amazon Marketplace, eBay, and third-party sellers on brand websites sometimes have different inventory, different lasts, or inconsistent sizing compared to the same product ordered direct. For a first-time fit where you need an exchange guarantee, order from the brand directly or from Discount Dance or DancewearCorner.
- Don't remove tags or wear the shoes outside before confirming the fit. The exchange policy at almost every dance retailer requires shoes to be unworn on outdoor surfaces and with tags attached. Keep the original packaging too: exchanges often require the original box. Test on an indoor floor, decide on fit, then wear outside only after you're keeping them.
- Don't buy two sizes to try both. This seems like a shortcut but creates a situation where you're paying return shipping on the size you send back, and many dance retailers only offer exchanges, not refunds on shoes. Order the size the chart says, and if it's wrong, exchange once.