Girls Hip Hop Dance Shoes

Girls Hip Hop Dance Shoes Standards

Many dance studios for disciplined arts like ballet or tap have specific requirements regarding uniforms and shoes. Hip hop, however, has rules of its own when it comes to what you wear to class. Loose fitting clothing is usually recommended. Where shoes are concerned, you can usually get by with sneakers or soft-soled dance shoes.

However, if you are choosing to wear sneakers, you will not be sporting the same Nikes you wear on the street to class. You will need new sneakers that will not scuff or smudge up the dance floor. For the most part, these are the only requirements you'll encounter with hip hop apparel standards.

The Blessing of Hip Hop Style

Ballet and tap have very rigid requirements for their apparel because both these types of dance are dependent upon the shoe. Ever tried tap dancing without taps on your shoes? The results are pretty weak. Moreover, ballet is equally crippled without the benefit of pointe shoes; and even juvenile ballet techniques are dependent upon the flat, flexible, and nearly non-existent soles of a regular ballet slipper.

However, hip hop dance techniques are not shoe dependent; they are more body dependent. One might argue that this lack of sole integration makes hip hop dancing slightly simpler in concept than either ballet or tap. But, regardless of the need for specialty shoes, hip hop dancing is still a disciplined art. Many of the teenagers who make it look amateur-friendly are really masking the difficulty of the maneuvers.

A Need for Flexible Soles

If you're going to effectively master hip hop dance techniques, it is always best to be equipped with quality footwear. Although there is no specified item labeled as "girls hip hop dance shoes" most hip hop shoes will consist of sneakers.

What will you be looking for in a dance friendly sneaker? First of all, look for shoes with flexible shoes. Running shoes are usually the best bet for flexibility, as most runners require flexible arch support. Basketball shoes are also a decent option when you're looking for a sneaker that masters both running and high leaps.

For the most part, little girls will not need shoes specifically for both running and basketball, and you'll be merely looking through sneakers designed for aesthetic purposes. However, older girls do have shoe options when it comes to different sports. So if you are shopping for a teenage girl as opposed to a small child, you will have an easier time discerning which sneaker is intended for what purpose.

When Purchasing Soft Soled Dance Shoes

What are soft soled dance shoes? These shoes almost look like orthopedic shoes while offering the same flexibility of non-pointe ballet shoes. Soft soled dance shoes are typically employed for jazz dancing, but they can also serve the purpose as a hip hop dance shoe. Some of the most recent styles of soft-soled dance shoes even mimic a sneaker, so now you can have the best of both worlds.

Final Considerations

Keep in mind that hip hop is renowned for its casual street style, and showing up to class looking like a studio professional is probably not going to gain you credibility in this field. Unless you are studying this type of dance as part of a college course or even for professional gain, you may be better off choosing sneakers as your standard uniform. Yet, if your little girl is requiring hip hop dance shoes for a class or for cheerleading, always inquire of the instructor as to what is expected.

Soft soled dance shoes can be purchased at any dance boutique, and many styles are available online. Varieties of girls' sneakers can also be found at department stores and athlete-oriented stores.