Decide what type of dance you will be doing and on what surface. Street dancers will need thicker soles on the shoes to protect their feet, while lyrical or ballet dancers will need flexibility and the ability to feel the floor underneath their shoes.
Choose a material for the shoes. A soft ballet shoe is typically made out of canvas or leather while a shoe for more modern-style dance may consist of a few strips of tough leather.
Consider what parts of your feet need to be covered. A breakdancer dancing outside or on pavement will want the entire foot covered. The ballet dancer will want the entire bottom of the foot covered, with special covering on the ball of the foot and the heel for traction. A modern dancer may need only the ball of the foot covered.
Decide on how to position the shoe on your foot and keep it in place by developing straps. Ballet shoes often have an elastic band that covers the top of the foot, while a modern shoe will have loops that fit around each toe of the wearer.
Choose a color for the shoes. A traditional dance shoe typically comes in pink, white, tan or black. For a performance or a non-traditional show the shoe can be any color that you desire.