Custom Shoe Sizing
Fitting Suggestions:
Most of our shoes generally run true to size. This means that the size of your regular street shoes should be an accurate determiner of your dance shoe size. However, dance shoes are often worn slightly tighter than you would wear your regular street shoes. Therefore, many dancers like to order a half-size down from their regular size because the material of the dance shoe will typically stretch with wearing, and a snug fitting shoe offers more control on the dance floor. This holds particularly true for open toe Latin shoes which usually stretch more than the closed toe Standard shoes. (Note: We usually do NOT recommend ordering down 1/2 size in either the Fantasy shoes, or the Glide Closed-Toe styles.)
Dance shoes should fit snugly (but without hurting) so you can maintain proper balance on the dance floor. This means that all parts of the shoes should be covered by your feet. If your feet move easily inside the shoes, you cannot properly control your balance or your dance posture.
In closed-toe styles (ladies and men's), the toes should be as close to the end of the shoes as is possible without actually rubbing.
In sandals, the toes should completely cover the soles of the shoes and it is preferable if the toes actually "hang over the edges" of the shoes just a bit (up to 1/4 inch).
When the shoes begin to stretch enough to allow your feet to slip inside them, invest in a pair of foam inner soles and use them. The more your feet can move inside dance shoes, the faster the shoes will stretch, become misshapen and wear out.
The sizing method described below should give you a close approximation of your shoe size, in a GLIDE DANCE SHOE (also can be used fairly accurately for Fantasy and Classics)*. The measurements you get will be similar to what you could achieve using a Brannock Device. *(Magic dance shoes run wider; add approximately 2/5" to each WIDTH measurement below, to estimate size of Magic shoes.)
(You may also use the printable foot size chart if this is easier. However, this chart is recommended ONLY for the Fantasy shoes, and please follow the instructions carefully to obtain the correct size.)
Measuring Instructions Using Pencil & Paper
Please feel free to contact us if you any concerns or questions, or need help with sizing. If you are in the Columbus, Ohio area and would like to schedule a fitting please contact us to arrange an appointment.
To measure your shoe size you will need:
- A piece of paper larger than your foot
- A pencil
- Tape
- A ruler
- Sit down and place your foot firmly on the piece of paper (note: this must be on a hard, flat surface -- no carpet of any kind!). You may want to tape the paper to the floor so it doesn’t slide around.
- Bend your leg so that your shin is slightly in front of your ankle. Keeping the pencil as perpendicular to the floor as possible trace an outline of your entire foot.
- Use the ruler to measure your foot width and length
- To measure the length take the distance between the two longest points of your foot tracing. Reduce this measurement by 1/5 of an inch to account for the slight space between your foot and the pencil and write down your number
- To measure width take the distance between the two points at the widest part of your tracing/foot. Reduce this measurement by 1/5 of an inch as well
- Repeat these steps for your other foot and use the larger of the two measurements.
- Use the charts below to convert your measurements into US sizes.*
*PLEASE NOTE: Conversions are only approximate and are provided for your convenience. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of your measurements.
**Magic dance shoes run wider; add approximately 2/5" to each WIDTH measurement below, to estimate size of Magic shoes, and an additional 1/5" for Magic XXX- or XXXX widths.)
