Character Shoe Help/Recommendations Needed

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 2:02am

I am buying my first pair of character shoes and am looking for recommendations. I need a pair of black ones, without a t-strap.

I've read the previous threads on the topic and think that I would like a 2.5 or 2 inch heel. Although I have never danced in character shoes, I wear heels A LOT so am not that worried about the heel height. That said, the only pair of 2.5 that I've been able to find are the Capezio Manhattan shoes, which someone said are painful. Does anyone have any other suggestions or should I go with a 2-inch with the sodancas even though they are slightly shorter? I would like to spend no more than $80, if possible.

[SamanthaisFierce]

Posted: 11/14/08 at 7:39pm

Ok here's my advice. You will be wearing character shoes in 90% of your shows.

LA DUCA. They're expensive, but they last, they're wonderful, they support your ankles. They're the only character shoes that are worth it

BUT.

Capezio sells a LaDuca style shoe that I think is around 80. So look into those.

And my dance teacher said...Broadway is 3 inches. hahahahah So I recommend AT LEAST 2 1/2.

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 12:09am

Ok. I more do theater as a hobby so I don't know if I need to invest in a pair of LaDucas(although I hear that they are the most amazing things you will ever put on your feet). It is for a theater group I am in at school and while I definitely want to go into theater, I want to be a producer, not an actor. I do act at school but, sadly, I think my theatrical career will be over in 4 years.

If I have never danced in character shoes, will I have difficulty if I go right to 3 inches? I'm good at walking heels and LOVE them, I'm just afraid about dancing in them.

[SamanthaisFierce]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 12:00pm

Well, not necessarily. The Capezio ones that look like LaDucas, have a ballet bottom and a split sole with elastic so that the shoe basically forms to your foot as you dance. But 2 inches still looks nice.

The Capezio brand are called Broadway Flex and I think they're $80-85, but my roommate just told me Amazon sells them cheaper.

http://www.amazon.com/Broadway-Flex-Character-Shoe-658/dp/B000MRM2FM

GET TAN!

[SamanthaisFierce]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 12:00pm

Well, not necessarily. The Capezio ones that look like LaDucas, have a ballet bottom and a split sole with elastic so that the shoe basically forms to your foot as you dance. But 2 inches still looks nice.

The Capezio brand are called Broadway Flex and I think they're $80-85, but my roommate just told me Amazon sells them cheaper.

http://www.amazon.com/Broadway-Flex-Character-Shoe-658/dp/B000MRM2FM

GET TAN!

[jaesdare]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 1:07pm

Although La Duca's are incredibly amazing, as well as the fake Capezio ones; I would not recommend getting a split sole character shoe unless you are a trained enough dancer that you have strong arches and ankles, because they don't provide much support and could be hazardous to you.
A hard or soft sole, 3-inch would be ideal. And if you're good at walking in heels already, you should be all set to dance in them!
If you don't think you can do the split soles, these are really great: http://www.amazon.com/T-Strap-Tap-Character-Shoe-C700/dp/B0002RRS8I/ref=pd_sbs_shoe_3
Thanks for that link Samanthaisfierce, it's great!

Updated On: 11/16/08 at 01:07 PM

[Juliash]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 3:03pm

My tap shoes are Capezio's and they are fantastic enough that I bought another pair without taps for everything else :).

[SamanthaisFierce]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 6:28pm

Yeah, this is true. If you're substantially trained in dance, LaDucas or "Broadway Flex by Capezio" are the way to go. But if you're just using them for non dancing roles or very small dancing roles, Capezio Manhattans are the way to go.

[oohshizz146]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 6:29pm

I have Capezio Manhattans, which have a 2.5 inch heel. I LOVE them, they are extremely comfortable. I highly reccommend them, and they are very easy to dance/run/jump/ whatever in (unless its like HARDCORE dancing, i wouldnt know. im not a "dancer" dancer)
=)

[SamanthaisFierce]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 6:45pm

Yeah I used to have Capezio Manhattans, and I my taps are still Manhattans, but...dancing in them for hours at a time does not work. Like, for me, I had my old Capezio heels when we were putting together our Freshman Revue, (BoCo) and I was in the Chorus Line Montage, and so we did this amazing new take on the "Gimme the Ball" dance, but rehearsals were hours at a time...my feet were goners. I ordered LaDucas and got them a week before the show, after a 5 hour rehearsal my feet didn't hurt at all. (That was the most infomercial thing I've ever written hahahah)

So just be careful of that. Be sure to take them off every once and a while, since they don't form to the shape of your foot. But Manhattans look real pretty on stage..not as pretty as LaDucas ;] but they're nice.

[Juliash]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 8:50pm

Yeah Manhattans are what I have.

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 9:20pm

So it seems like the 2 options would be

the manhattan - http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7152767/color/3

or the theatrical footlight - http://zeta.zappos.com/product/7135709/color/3

It seems as though I should ge the manhattan even though the theatrical footlight is a higher shoe. Is that right?

[SamanthaisFierce]

Posted: 11/16/08 at 10:32pm

I'd say the Manhattans because the ankle strap is more secure. If you look, the strap isn't just sewed on, it blends in from the shoe. It'll just keep your ankle more stable.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 11/17/08 at 8:37am

http://www.capeziostore.com/New_Yorker-p18164.html

The most comfortable pair of character shoes I've ever worn. I am in love with them, and they weren't expensive at all. I think they were around $68.