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Which Jig Shoe Would Be The Best For Me?
The choice of a heavy shoe type basically depends from personal requirements. E.g. how often and how long as well as what you will be dancing (learner, hobby dancer, principal dancer etc.). Simply use our information guide below, to choose a matching jig shoe type:
 Appropriate to beginners, amateurs, children
Leather soled shoes will only develop "flex" according to how much use the dancer gives them. The big advantage of this for beginners is that the shoes will be reasonably "stiff" for a little while, until the dancer progresses to more complex steps which require greater foot movement. As the dancer progresses, so does the degree of flex, however the shoe will always retain sufficient support for the dancer.
Maybe you would like to try Irish dancing at first to see if this will be yours or not. From that point of view it's less a question of footwear but rather a question of money. Appropriate shoes will be:
 Appropriate to advanced dancers
Suede soled hard shoes offer very little support for the foot and ankle, even with ankle straps. While this is not necesssarily a problem for dancers who have been dancing in hard shoes for a year or two, beginners should be wary about buying suede soled hard shoes as their first shoe. Experienced dancers have developed good strength in the muscles associated with feet, ankles and calves, and are less likely to suffer injury. Less experienced dancers may be more prone to injury in suede soled hard shoes.
Intermediate and open dancers, championship dancers, showdancers and dance teachers as well can choose a ultraflexible black suede sole which do not need a (longer) breaking-in:
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First of all you will only select your common street shoe size only and we will find out the right model size for you!
But it's also important to know how long and how often a week you are dancing. In consequence we'll also ask you for all important data around to identify an order size when selecting a hard shoe.
Please note that Irish dance shoes should always fit narrow and tight. They'll become wider and a little bit larger after a while depending on your grade!
It's also important to know that the sizes of the different jig shoes generally aren't comparible among each other. E.g. When wearing an Inishfree in size 5 a Fays jig shoe in size 5 would maybe too small! To beginners, Irish dancers without any experiences and Irish dancers who are dancing sometimes only we usually recommend to order hard shoes in your common street shoe size. Experienced dancers sometimes order a half size down.
And don't worry: If a shoe will not fit you can change them! Click here to read more about our return policy.
You will find more information in the item description of a jig shoe model. |
Several factors influence the volume of a jig shoe are:
- The type of floor being danced on, the composition of the tip, the experience of the dancer and the power of the dancer. Many of the older dancers and teachers say that the last two points are the critical factors.
- There is no doubt that modern composite materials may make a tip sound great with little effort on the part of the dancer, however a strong dancer can make the cheapest tips sound as good as the most expensive tips.
- At the end of the day, it is the dancer who drives the shoe, and a dancer who has strength and power (which can only come from regular frequent practice) will make any tip sound loud, sharp and crisp.
Decide between loudness, durability and price
There are different tips and heels available because they are made from different materials which affects on item price, durability and required sound properties. Dance experiences and personal requirements are important for the choice of the mounted tips and heels as well. In addition to the personal dancing technique, room acoustics and condition of the dance floor, the used materials do determine about the sound colour, sound level and durability. To meet all individual requirements you will find different materials and combinations. Particularly the choice of the shoe tips is the decisive factor for sound colour and level.
Durable and moderately loud shoe tips:
Extremely durable and louder:
Extremely durable and very noisy:
Noisy and concisely but moderately durable:
 Squared or rounded tips?
Female dancers, male and female dance instructors usually wear jig shoes with flattened tip-fronts for being able to make toe stands, dancing on toes etc (compare image). Male dancers do not need flattened tip fronts, they are round like street shoes. But it's absolutely no problem if they would be.
Fay's jig shoes are available with squared-off or round shoe tips (just select squared-off shoe tips yes/no when ordering a Fays shoe) whithout extra costs. If flattened they are already strong flattened for making toe stand and toe dances.
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Antonio Pacelli
Nova |
Antonio Pacelli
Superflexi |
Antonio Pacelli
Ultra Flexi |
Tip
-Loudness: |
Concorde:  Liberty:  |
Leinster: |
Concorde: Liberty: |
| Sole thickness: |
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| Cushioning: |
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| Comfortability: |
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| Durability: |
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| Recommended to: |
Experienced dancers (Concorde), Intermediate dancers (Liberty), Feis dancers, Show dancers, Dance instructors |
Beginners, "Sometime dancers", |
Experienced dancers (Concorde), Intermediate dancers (Liberty), Feis dancers, Show dancers, Dance instructors |
| Tip heigt at the front: |
(2.1cm) |
(2.1cm) |
(2.1cm) |
| Heel height: |
(3.5cm) |
(3.5cm) |
(3.5cm) |
| Heel "print": |
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| Country of Origin: |
Ireland |
Ireland |
Ireland |
| Manufacturer: |
Antonio Pacelli |
Antonio Pacelli |
Antonio Pacelli |
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Continuation
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Boyne Walk
All Black Storms |
Fays
Ultra Flexi |
Fays
Grey Suede |
Tip
-Loudness: |
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| Sole thickness: |
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| Cushioning: |
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| Comfortability: |
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| Durability: |
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| Recommended to: |
Intermediate dancers,
Feis dancers, Dance instructors, dancers with foot problems |
Advanced dancers, Intermediate dancers, Open level dancers, Feis dancers, Show dancers, Dance instructors, not for wide feet! |
Advanced dancers, Intermediate dancers, Open level dancers, Feis dancers,
Show dancers, Dance instructors, not for wide feet! |
| Tip heigt at the front: |
(2.5cm) |
(2.5cm) |
(2.5cm) |
| Heel height: |
(3.7cm) |
(3.5cm) |
(3.5cm) |
| Heel "print": |
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| Country of Origin: |
Ireland |
Ireland |
Ireland |
| Manufacturer: |
Boyne Walk |
Fays Shoes |
Fays Shoes |
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0 44 31 / 94 14 533 +49 -44 31 / 94 14 533 |
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Please let us know! A lot of items from Irish dance suppliers not to be found here can ordered too. Simply use our contact form. |
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