[KBecks]

OK, I'm going to go for a Damn Yankees community theater audition next summer. The choreographer is great and the dancing will be intense. I want a new pair of character shoes for the audition (and to wear in the show - which I plan to be in )

What color? Tan or black? Does it make a difference? I have a pair of cheapy tan character shoes I wore in another musical but I want a higher heel and I don't love the ones I have, I didn't have much time to shop and I didn't have much selection locally in my size (women's 11). I am leaning toward tan because it blends with the leg and I could possibly spray them to another color?

I'm going to shop early and hopefully find something great on the internet.

Also, I'm going to need to wear something I can move very freely in. Should I look for a dance skirt or gauchos? I auditioned with this choreographer before and she had some of her university students who wore that type of dance clothes. I may have a few minutes to change into athletic or dance wear. And I probably wouldn't want to wear the dance wear for the song if I can avoid it.

[sunshinekate]

I would get tan, but that's just my personal preference.

And next summer?! Lol you're preparing suuuuuuuuuper early.

[LesWickedPhantom]

I'm actually more into the black character shoes... probably because I get away with wearing them for dress shoes too, but still... I have a friend who refused to buy black shoes for a show we were in together, and when the rest of us looked at the big group pictures from the production afterward, we realized how ridiculous she looked because EVERYONE was wearing black. just my two cents though...

[ConverseSneaker]

In theatre, the stage is usually painted black and black shoes look more natural on the stage. In dance, the floors are not black and tan shoes seem to be the preference.

Since you already have tan, I say get black this time. As for dance clothes, if you must wear a skirt, make sure you have spandex shorts underneath! I prefer gauchos, but I say it's entirely up to you and what you feel most comfortable in.

[KBecks]

Excellent, thanks for the info. I'll go for black.

In reality, I would be most comfortable wearing pants to the audition and exercise pants for the dance audition but a skirt would be more appropriate for the musical. Maybe I could do cute tailored bermuda shorts since the audition will be in summer. Anyway, just trying to get some thoughts together, I'm a planner and if I waited to think about this until too close to the audition I would panic.

[Bianca.]

Honestly, for me.. if I have a choice.. the answer is always tan.

It just makes the line of the leg THAT much more appealing.


...and get 3inch.

If you have any aspiration of doing this professionally, learn to dance in 3+ inch heels.. now.

[pish123c]

I've always found tan to be the standard color people get. Unless, of course, the black matches your outfit for the show better. For example, in Beauty and the Beast our Mrs. Potts wore tan ones because her costume was a similar color, and Belle wore black because it went better with her blue dress.

[belloftheball]

If you can afford it, I'd say get a pair of each. Personally, I like black. If you've already got a tan pair, I'd say black, as well.

[Celeste_SM]

I'm actually really surprised that people are saying black is standard. I would reccomend tan. However, if you plan on doing a lot of community theater, owning black and tan both is a good idea.

[broadwayxdoll]

ive actually been ondering this for quite a while now. im ready to get my first pair of character shoes for mayzie. weve always been required to wear black jazz shoes or ballet slippers. but im so excited to get them.


and whats the standard price range? is $92 a little much? just wondering, i have no idea

[belloftheball]

[broadwayxdoll]

http://www.dancewearsolutions.com/default.asp?STYLENUMBER=CH01&CATEGORY=Shoes&Subcategory=Character


ive been drooling over these ever since bianca posted it

[opheliarose]

92 is a bit pricey, especially since you're just starting out. I think my Capezio t-straps were around 50. You can get plain mary-jane style ones significantly cheaper.

If you're looking for a good, general use stage shoe, I would avoid anything with wierd straps and inserts. I prefer the T-strap over the Mary jane, but it's personal preference.

There's a good chance they'll tell you what to buy if you're cast, so I wouldn't invest alot of money this far out unless you need the shoes for other purposes.

Since you wear an 11, I would recommend black because it will make your feet look smaller. (Or get the darker Suntan color over the lighter nude shade)

[broadwayxdoll]

urghhhh. i really want those. i think theyre beautiful. but i think i can get whatever i want. i asked the costumer about character shoes in general and she said go for it. and i like the t-strap too. ive been looking up other ones and any that are cheaper i dont like. and im a 10, not 11. but i still have boats for feet anyway

[ConverseSneaker]

I'm pretty sure mine were about $35, but I think there might have been a discount in there....

[Chevstriss]

drool drool drool

http://www.laducashoes.com/store/shoes/women/angelique3inchHS.htm

[wicked_diva]

I have a question about sizing. I personally love the Manhattans, but they only go up to an 11. My feet fit 11s and 12s depending on the shoe. I have the Capezio Jr Footlights, which say to order up 1/2 a size (though most people say up 1 size) and those are a 12W and still just barely fit. The Manhattans say fit street shoe size, though. Should I chance getting an 11W? I don't want to have to go through all the sending back and forth for wrong sizes...

[Chevstriss]

[wicked_diva]

[opheliarose]

I find Capezio character shoes to run pretty true to size. I've never sized up for them. (Ballet slippers are another story all together)

[wicked_diva]

The 11W came today, and they were too small. I'd rather exchange them with the same company (allaboutdance.com) than try elsewhere. How are Blochs? I was looking at the Bloch chord with either a 2" or 3" heel, but don't know which one to get.

Do they run true to size? Are they comfortable? Should I get 2" or 3"? (I have to do the splits in these, but not much other dancing.) Any advice? The only other Bloch shoes I've gotten are my split-sole tap shoes.

[vanillabean]

T-straps make my feet look weird and I never understood the fascination with them.

I recently invested in a pair of Bloch 3" non-T-strap nude shoes. THEY ARE SO AMAZINGLY COMFORTABLE!! All natural upper, so soft inside...
I shelled out over $100 bucks but that is mostly because the dance store in my old city was the only dance store so they could get away with huge markups.

I also own a pair of 2.5" blacks. They are.... Alfred something-or-others. I paid $60 bucks and will now wear my nude ones over them as much as I can, because they are so much more comfortable.