Custom Made Dance Shoes?

[pygmalion]

I know there are a bunch of shoe topics active right now, but I have to ask. Just now, when I was checking the yellow pages for listings about shoe repair, I realized that there is an honest to goodness cobbler within walking distance of my house. Not just a shoe repair shop -- a place that custom makes shoes. :banana: There are definitely some made-just-for-Jenn red leather pumps and some chocolate brown penny loafers in my near future for every day wear. LOL.

My question is about dance shoes, though. Any thoughts on the wisdom (or lack thereof) of getting a regualr cobbler who presumably knows nothing about dance shoes to make dance shoes? Should I supply him with a sample, so he can copy the balance, etc? Or should I hold out for a dance shoe cobbler?

[tasche]

Wouldn't a cobbler have to rip one of your shoes apart to truely know how its constructed?

[Chris Stratton]

I don't know for sure, but I wonder if the (high) heels used for dance shoes are different from those that would be available to a small street-shoe maker. Beyond the obvious issue of sole material, the other big thing would be a clear understanding of how much shank stiffness you wanted. Dissection of a worn out dance shoe is almost certianly a prerequisite - the last thing you want is street shoe dressed up to look like a dance shoe.

[pygmalion]

Exactly where my apprehension is coming from. Maybe I'll make an appointment and go talk with him. Or, better yet, first I'll get him to make me some street shoes, just to see how good he really is. Then, after he's proven himself, I can sacrifice an old, stinky pair of beat-up dance shoes, and see what happens.

Incidentally, I googled custom ballroom dance shoes, and came up with a couple places claiming to make custome made shoes, that really weren't. They were standard shoes in size, etc, where you buy any combination of fabrics, etc. That's not quite what I'm looking for. I'm looking for shoes made especially for my feet. I know you can get ballet shoes made that way (thanks tasche) but how about ballroom shoes?

[Chris Stratton]

Incidentally, I googled custom ballroom dance shoes, and came up with a couple places claiming to make custome made shoes, that really weren't. They were standard shoes in size, etc, where you buy any combination of fabrics, etc. That's not quite what I'm looking for. I'm looking for shoes made especially for my feet. I know you can get ballet shoes made that way (thanks tasche) but how about ballroom shoes?

I've been told the leading ballroom shoe outfits do custom fits at a premium that is considered entirely reasonable if you need them. Haven't look into it myself though, and the person who was telling me about it ended up being offered quasi-customs: a shoe made as custom for someone else that happened to fit his needs as well. I believe this all took place at Blackpool or some other major competition where manufacturers are well respresented.

[tasche]

The question is do you really NEED custom made shoes. Most ballet dancers dont but some have them made anyways. I ahve a slightly wide foot but with a narrow heel so neither normal or wide widths are just right.

If you got a last made for your foot you could jsut send it along to any sample shoe maker and they could make you a shoe to your specs but shoes are such complicated creatures once you get past the basic mechanics of construction.

Custom ballet shoe makers know so much about feet it would blow your mind so I would imagine a custom ballroom shoe maker would need to as well at least to a certain extent. However I would guess that it would probably be profitable if a custom shoemaker started making dance shoes considering how expensive some of the english shoes are.

I've though about taking the shoe deisgn/making course I took a couple of years ago again with the focus on dance but I'm too lazy

[pygmalion]

Not lazy. Focused. :wink: :D

[Sabor]

i'd go with a dance-shoe cobbler.. better safe than sorry.. its important for the feet to be well fitted, after all this is where your comfort starts they say.

[pygmalion]

Exactly the conclusion I've come to. I think I am going to go see this guy for some regular street shoes, though, at least to check the prices. 8)

[peachexploration]

i'd go with a dance-shoe cobbler.. better safe than sorry.. its important for the feet to be well fitted, after all this is where your comfort starts they say.

Right Sabor. This is what I do. And right, better safe than sorry.

[Pacion]

He could even perhaps put some nice pink heels on them too? :wink: :lol:

[pygmalion]

I really hope not. :lol: :lol:

[etchuck]

I'd want to find out how experienced your cobbler is with things like custom-making dance shoes. If he's not that experienced with dance shoes (but then again, who is), then I'd ask what sort of shoes this person has some familiarity. I'd want to know what he has done before and try to see if you could adapt his familiar designs to things you may want.

But I'm glad I have my 9-year old shoe's soles back into danceable condition. Practice shoes, hurrah.