How to Break Into Tap Shoes

How to break into tap shoes. 



The thrill of opening the box of a new pair of tap shoes is just unmatched. The urge to just wear them and dance to your heart's desires. 


But you can’t. Not yet at least. 


Different types of tap shoes have longer or shorter breaking in periods. For example, the Jason Samuel Smith tap shoes take way less time than the Miller & Bens. There is no set way and instructions to break into your tap shoes, but here are some suggestions I have. 


  1. Jumping on the balls of your feet. 

For this tip, you just need to jump slightly on the balls of your feet or your toes. This helps with breaking into the upper part of the shoe as well as getting a feel for them. This can be done repeatedly for as long as needed to feel comfortable. 


  1. Paddle combo (or any simple combo that includes just the toe, heel)

Simple tap combinations are one of the best ways to break into tap shoes. It allows for all the parts of the shoes to be put into use. You can do a simple paddle combo like this one:


3x  R: Paddle L: Paddle 

1x  L: Side Paddle R: Side Paddle


  1. A simple jump shuffle combination or just jump Shuffles. 

Jump shuffles are a great way to break into your shoes, and can be one of the first things you do.


What do avoid doing in brand new shoes:


There are some steps to avoid when breaking into new tap shoes. You have a higher risk of getting injured. Doing trick steps like wing-tips (doing wings on your toes) and shiggy-bops are an example of steps you should avoid


Follow for more content!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tap Shoe Recommendations Based By Levels - A Guide

As a beginner, intermediate, or advanced tapper, picking the right tap shoes can be difficult. Tap dancing is all about skill , and tap dancing + tap shoes = bring those skills to life. Follow this guide for an idea of what your next pair of tap shoes should look like! But before you buy, ask your studio if you are going to need any specific style of tap shoes, as some studios require a certain color and style.  Beginners —You don’t know whether you are going to commit to the dance, so don’t splurge on $200 tap shoes you might never wear! When you’re just starting to tap dance, it's more important to get the correct foot motions and sounds .  To get those steps down, I recommend an affordable full-sole tap shoe that supports your foot comfortably. With just starting tap, beginner (and sometimes advanced!) tappers struggle with balance. A heel that isn’t too tall and laces will help support your feet.  You can get any tap shoe like this at your local Walmart, Target, or e...
Read more

Health Benefits of Tap Dancing

Image
3/1/2025: Health Benefits of Tap Dancing Tap dancing isn't all about rhythm and having fun; there are also some health benefits. Here I found the most interesting and beneficial health benefits that tap dancing gives dancers. 1) Improved Balance and Coordination When I was in the second grade, we had a balancing competition- who would be the last one standing on one foot? Guess what, it was me. And I will forever thank my tap dancing classes for that. Balancing is a skill that is not talked about much but is certainly very important. Tap dancing is all about being able to balance and stabilize your feet quickly. Moves like single wings, toe-stands, and pickups help with building up that balance. I have never been one for hand-eye coordination, but when it comes to my feet, it's a whole other story. When your feet perform multiple steps at once, individually, or simultaneously, coordination needs to be developed for it to succeed. Your feet are always moving for the next step, ...
Read more

6 Things Every Tap Dancer Needs!

Image
  2/6/2025: 6 Things Every Tap Dancer Needs! 1) Extra Tap Screws Even if you have super glue, tape, or a screwdriver, an extra screw can fix the problem as well. Many times when dancing, a screw from your taps can fall off. Since they tend to be tiny, they usually get lost. Having extra screws can help replace them when lost and tightened the taps.  2) Super strong glue! You moments before your performance on stage and your $500 tap shoe breaks. Oh no. Super glue can be used to glue back on a loose tap if you don't have a screwdriver, loose leather, a lace hole, buckle, and more. Having super glue on you or in your dance bag can be extremely beneficial for emergencies, even in dance costumes.  3) Metronome  This one is something that is not needed but can be very helpful when practicing, especially if you are just starting off. Tap dancing is all about rhythm and sounds, so having a metronome can help keep your beats in check. They are extremely affordable and you ca...
Read more