Jazz shoes and tap shoes look similar at first glance. Both are low-profile, snug-fitting, and made for studio floors. But they serve completely different purposes. Buying the wrong pair means your child will be uncomfortable, underprepared for class, or sent home to get the right one. This guide on jazz vs tap shoes for kids covers exactly what sets them apart, who needs what, and how to get the fit right the first time.
What Makes Jazz Shoes Different from Tap Shoes
Jazz shoes are built for flexibility and movement. The sole is split into two sections, one under the ball of the foot and one under the heel. That gap in the middle lets the foot bend freely through jumps, leaps, and floorwork. The upper is soft leather or stretch canvas, which moulds to the foot over time.
Jazz shoes have minimal heel. Most styles sit almost flat, which keeps the dancer grounded and balanced. The sole has a small amount of grip but is designed to allow controlled turns and slides on studio floors.
If your child is starting jazz, contemporary, musical theatre, or acrobatics, jazz shoes are what they need. Not sure which style of class suits your child? This breakdown of ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and contemporary classes for kids explains the differences clearly.
What Makes Tap Shoes Different
Tap shoes have metal plates, called taps, screwed into the sole at the toe and heel. Those taps are the whole point. When the dancer strikes the floor, the metal creates sound. The shoe itself needs to be firm enough to produce a clean, sharp tone.
The sole of a tap shoe is rigid compared to a jazz shoe. There is no split sole. The upper is usually leather, with a low block heel on most children's styles. Some beginner tap shoes have a small Cuban heel. That slight elevation helps with weight distribution during tap technique.
Tap shoes are only for tap class. They are not suitable for jazz, contemporary, or general studio use. The metal taps will scratch timber floors if worn outside the studio and can be a hazard in hallways.
How to Get the Fit Right for Both Styles
Fitting Jazz Shoes
Jazz shoes should fit snugly with no excess room at the toe. A baggy jazz shoe will wrinkle under the foot and affect turns. Most brands size jazz shoes close to street shoe size, but stretch canvas styles in particular can size down by half a size as they give with wear.
- Measure your child's foot length in centimetres before ordering online.
- Check the brand's specific size chart. Bloch, Capezio, and Energetiks all measure slightly differently.
- Leather jazz shoes have less give than canvas, so a precise fit matters more.
- A small amount of toe room is fine for growing children, but no more than half a size.
Fitting Tap Shoes
Tap shoes should fit like a well-fitted school shoe, snug across the width, with a thumb's width of space at the toe. Too much room and the foot will slide forward with each strike, which affects technique and causes blisters.
- Children's tap shoes often come in full sizes only. If your child is between sizes, size up and use a thin insole if needed.
- Check that the taps are tight before the first class. Screws can loosen during shipping.
- Wide-fit options are available in some brands. A narrow tap shoe will cause pain at the sides of the foot during footwork drills.
Can One Shoe Cover Both Classes
No. Jazz shoes and tap shoes cannot substitute for each other. A jazz shoe has no taps, so it produces no sound. A tap shoe has a rigid sole, so it limits the foot flexibility that jazz technique requires. If your child attends both tap and jazz classes, they need both pairs.
Some studios run combination classes for young beginners where one style is introduced at a time. Check with the teacher before purchasing both pairs at once if your child is just starting out. For more detail on which shoes suit which classes, the guide to jazz, tap and contemporary footwear covers the full picture.
Where to Buy Jazz and Tap Shoes in Australia
Getting the right shoe from a dance-specific retailer makes a real difference. General sports stores rarely carry the correct styles, and the fit standards are different. Dance shoes need to meet the requirements of the studio floor and the teacher's expectations.
Total Dance stocks jazz and tap shoes for children across a range of brands, widths, and sizes. You can find the full selection in our kids jazz and tap shoe range. If you are ordering online and unsure of sizing, the individual product pages include brand-specific size charts. For more guidance on purchasing dance footwear online, this article on buying jazz and tap shoes online in Australia walks through what to check before you add to cart.
Get the right shoe first. It saves a return trip and means your child walks into class ready to go.
