Total Dance Learning Library
Real guides for dancers, parents and teachers, written by the team that fits pointe shoes and kits out studios every week.
No jargon, no guesswork. Just the honest answers we give across the counter at our Clyde North store, gathered in one place.
Ballet & Pointe Live now
Everything around a dancer's first pointe shoes: knowing when they are ready, the fitting, and what to do once the shoes are home.
The checklist teachers actually use, and why age alone is never the answer.
Read the guide › The fittingWhat to bring, how long it takes, and how a professional fitting works, step by step.
Read the guide › Getting readyWhere they go, how to sew them securely, and the one rule you must not break.
Read the guide › First wearMould them to the foot without wrecking the support you paid for.
Read the guide ›Book a one on one pointe shoe fitting with our experienced team at Clyde North.
Book a Pointe FittingGetting Started Live now
New to dance? Start here, from choosing a class to a first outfit.
The simple checklist: leotard, tights, soft shoes and neat hair, and how to choose each.
Read the guide › Getting StartedIt is never too late. What to wear, what to expect, and how to walk in with confidence.
Read the guide › Getting StartedBallet, jazz, tap, lyrical and contemporary explained, so you can choose with confidence.
Read the guide ›Fit & Sizing Live now
Getting the size and fit right, so nothing rubs, slips or gets returned.
Why girth is everything, and how to get the size right the first time.
Read the guide › Fit & SizingDance briefs, crop tops and the awkward question, answered plainly.
Read the guide › Fit & SizingGetting the fit right, plus why dance shoe sizing is not your street size.
Read the guide › Fit & SizingWhich shoes your dancer needs for each style, and how they should fit.
Read the guide ›Exams & Uniforms Live now
What your dancer needs for exam day, by board and by grade.
Performance & Concert Live now
Concert and eisteddfod day sorted, from the perfect bun to a well packed bag.
A neat, secure bun that lasts a whole class or exam, step by step.
Read the guide › PerformanceThe complete packing checklist so nothing gets left behind on the big day.
Read the guide › PerformanceAn age appropriate, tasteful approach to concert and eisteddfod makeup.
Read the guide ›Care & Longevity Live now
Dancewear is an investment. A little care makes it last far longer.
The gentle routine that keeps colour, shape and stretch like new (and the one big mistake).
Read the guide › CareHow to spot a dead pair, how to make them last, and how to budget for pointe.
Read the guide ›More on the way
We keep adding guides, shelf by shelf, guided by the questions we hear in store. Coming next:
Ready to shop?
Jump straight to the ranges our guides talk about.
Everything we fit and recommend, in stock and ready to dispatch from Clyde North.