A child’s first pair of dance shoes should be secure, comfortable and easy to dance in — so they can enjoy class instead of thinking about their feet. Here’s what we look for when we fit young dancers at our Ottawa and Montréal showrooms.
What kids’ dance shoes need
Look for a secure strap that holds the foot, a flexible suede sole for safe grip-with-slide, and a low, stable heel. Lightweight and comfortable matters more than any particular look at this age.
Sizing for growing feet
It’s tempting to buy big “to grow into,” but a loose dance shoe slides and trips. Aim for snug-but-comfortable — the foot should fill the shoe without the toes curling. Check our fit & sizing guide, and re-check the fit each season as feet grow.
Ballroom or Latin for kids
Younger dancers usually start in a low-heeled shoe for whichever style their class focuses on. If they do both, a versatile lower Latin or practice shoe is a sensible first choice.
If your child has wider feet
Kids’ feet are often wider — several of our children’s styles come in a wide fit, gathered with the rest in wide-fit dance shoes so nothing pinches.
Shop kids’ shoes and get fitted
Browse children’s dance shoes & dancewear, or book a fitting in Ottawa or Montréal — fitting a growing dancer in person is the surest way to get it right.
Frequently asked questions
What size dance shoes should I buy for a child?
Snug but comfortable, not big “to grow into” — a loose shoe slides and trips. Re-check the fit each season as feet grow.
What are the best first dance shoes for kids?
A secure strap, a flexible suede sole and a low, stable heel — lightweight and comfortable matters most at this age.
Do kids’ dance shoes come in wide fits?
Yes — several of our children’s styles are wide fit, gathered in the wide-fit collection.
Written by Olga and the Wedance fitting team. Olga has fitted dancers for several years and coaches Anna, who fits at our Montréal showroom. We fit dancers face-to-face at our Ottawa and Montréal showrooms — so this guide reflects real fittings, not a spec sheet.
