Useful Links
Useful links:
This is the website for the organization with which I am pursuing my teaching certification.
Dance Shoes:
Click on “shop online” on the left side of the page.
Click on “Irish Dance shoes” near the top.
For soft shoes, click on “Pumps and Boy Reel” near the top.
For beginners, a Gazelle, Eclipse Pump, or Classic style would be ideal!
For more advanced dancers, a Grace, Elite, or Loop shoe would be perfect!
For boys or men, a Traditional Boys Reel shoe is what you need!
For hard shoes, click on “Jig Shoes” near the top.
For beginners, Rutherford or Fays Jig shoes with a Leinster tip and heel are the best.
For more advanced dancers and men, a Nova or Super Flexi jig shoe with either a Concorde
or Liberty tip and heel is best.
The sizing is tricky as the majority of Irish Dance shoes are in UK/IRE sizing. Once a size is
converted, you should subtract a whole number for the proper fit. Beginners do NOT need to
do this! The shoes will be relatively tight but they stretch out quickly, hence needing the smaller
size. If there are too many aches and pains, applying water and stretching them works wonders!
Socks for shows and competitions:
Click on “shop online” on the left side of the page.
Click on “Accessories” near the top.
Click on “Socks”
As long as they are white I don’t mind which ones you purchase. If the dancer is part of a
team/group though, then uniformity is the key!
Sock glue is listed and on this page and is WONDERFUL! Please purchase if you are buying socks!
Buckles for hard shoes:
Click on “shop online” on the left side of the page.
Click on “Accessories” near the top.
Click on “Buckles”.
Buckles are NOT required! If you like them then you are free to purchase them! In competition, silver
with black lining are the only ones allowed. Again, if the dancer is part of a team/group though, then
uniformity is the key!
Tape:
Click on “Accessories” on the left hand side.
Scroll down until you see “Gaffer Tape”
Gaffer tape is the MOST effective way of not falling and is allowed in competition. For now, black tape
is what should be purchased for hard shoes. It can be applied to the tip and the heel. It should be
REPLACED after every class, competition, or show to prevent against falls and injuries!
Everything about Irish Dancing!
Exercises and Techniques.
There are many other accessories, extras, and goodies provided on these sites as well many others. They are completely up to your discretion! During class, as long as the dancer is having fun and being safe, I am pretty flexible!