Ballet shoes are lightweight shoes made specifically for male and female ballet dancers to help them stay perfectly balanced on their toes. Ballet shoes come in leather, satin and canvas. The type of ballet shoe someone chooses depends on his or her experience and preference. Canvas shoes are inexpensive and may be used for rehearsals and practice, while leather shoes can be quite expensive and last for longer periods of time. The satin shoes are generally used only for performances and wear out very quickly.
Jazz shoes are a type of dancing shoe which come in both low-rise and high-rise styles. The shoes are intended to provide dancers with the necessary foot flexibility to make the required dance moves on stage. Some shoes come with a rubber sole that offers extra cushioning and absorbs the shock during jumps and other advanced moves. Most shoes are made of leather or canvas and are available as slip-ons or with shoelaces. Some jazz shoes may be more flexible then others and have split-soles, which make it easier to bend and flex your toes.
Tap shoes are made specifically for tap dancers and contain metal plates on the heels and the toes. These plates are designed to make a loud sound when struck against a stage or performance surface. The metal plates are used to create a percussive that mimics the act of playing a musical instrument while dancing.