I have to agree 100% with full sole. My reasons are the same as many listed: quality of sound, support, etc. Truthfully, I don't know any professional tap dancers who wear split sole tap shoes. Most wear K360's or Miller & Ben.

Now, as for buying K360's for an eight year old, unless he/she is a full on tap prodigy, I would not spend the money. Those cost several hundred dollars; that's a steep investment for someone who will probably outgrow the shoe in six months.

If you are looking for something that Mom can pick up at a local dance shop, go with the CG09. If you are looking for a bit more than that, go with Miller & Ben.

Thank you for all your replies. I never imagined that it would get so heated!!! lol! I appreciate all your honesty, so I will get honest with all of you. I am a tapper, grew up a tapper. Tapping comes very easy for me. Always has. I started in the plain mary jane taps and graduated to a demi-heel and then heel taps in middle school. I tapped in high heels until I was Senior in high school and then switched to a flat. I wore them so much that they kind of made their own split sole!!! I loved those tap shoes. I now teach in split soles. I love them, but I think that I don't have some of the problems you all are talking about because I grew up with perfect technique. You have certainly given me some food for thought and I will probably be re-vamping my ideologies about the full vs split sole. I'm really glad that my SO didn't take one look at my tap shoes and decide not to hire me! lol! I clearly have the best motives for my students.

My 8 year old student has much promise, but is certainly no prodigy. She also happens to be my daughter, so I want only the best for her. I think she will continue to grow and develop. I hope one day she is better than me. I want to maximize her tap sounds in the best way possible. Again, thank you for all your input. Kudos to you all!

I would like to say that I agree with all posted here. I have NEVER at ANY legitimate tap festival seen a professional in a split sole shoe, or even a student. I, myself, grew up learning in the CG09 and also a tap character shoe when I was younger, and then went into the K360s and Miller and Bens. I have had students come to me in a split sole and much to the chagrin of their parents immediately tell them they have to have a full soled shoe before I will allow them to attempt certain steps because of the risk of injury and improper muscle technique development in a split soled shoe. I have heard many here argue otherwise, or say they cannot do toe work in a full soled shoe which I cannot imagine being true. If you cannot do toe stands in a full soled shoe something is wrong with your technique. My favorite, as stated is the CG09 and then the SoDanca TA48 for younger students who don't want to invest in a $100+ shoe. Those who have said the tone quality will be better in a full sole are correct also.

Wow I'm definitely sensing a bit of arrogance and anger on this thread. The point of this site is to communicate, grow and learn things that you may have never thought of, but to do so in a manner that is not offensive or belittling to someone else, not matter what you have experienced in your career.

I understand everyone's points on the board, but if you want to make blanket statements about people's abilities or knowledge based on the type of shoe they wear or prefer, then that's your choice and right, although there is certain way that you should do it. However, to everyone on the flip side of that debate, I would offer this piece of advice: pick and chose your battles, especially when your opponent seems dead set that they are right no matter what.

To answer the question, I like the CG09 for students. The shoe offers great support for the beginners' feet and ankle, and the Capezio is just a great tap shoe. The make, quality, and sound that it produces is superb.

Unfortunately, I can't find a CG09 small enough for her foot. Has anybody tried the Hoof Master by Capezio? They say it is the same body style as the CG09, but it has the traditional 3 screw taps...

lmtdance wrote:

Unfortunately, I can't find a CG09 small enough for her foot. Has anybody tried the Hoof Master by Capezio? They say it is the same body style as the CG09, but it has the traditional 3 screw taps...

From what I have read the Hoof Master is a decent shoe. I haven't ever used it before, though.

Hoof Masters is a good shoe. Decent quality. I'm partial to Capezio tap shoes myself, but then again I've had the same pair of M60's for 7 or 8 years (sadly it is time for new shoes, but I really want some Miller and Ben tap shoes, so my broken ones will just have to do).

Regarding full sole verses split sole, I too live in a very densely tap populated area and full sole are the norm. One one studio likes split sole and everyone else shakes their head in dismay at them. Think of this way, even split sole pointe shoes have a full shank - only the outer sole is split (and I know of no professionals who use them). I learned how to do toe stands and work on my toes in full sole shoes as did the kids I teach and the kids at all the other studios I taught for. And one young lady has gone on to tour with a national tap show and teaches.

imadanseur wrote:

Name one professional tapper that uses split soles. How about any professional tap companies. Go look at ANY tap festival and see if those tap kids are wearing split soles. Yeah, they aren't...because split sole tap shoes are crappy shoes that competition dancers sometimes wear when performing a jazz routine in tap shoes full of fouettes and some kind of lyrical roll to the ground.

Any tap dancer I know would never ever ever dance in split sole tap shoes much less perform in them, and I have never taken class from someone wearing split sole shoes. In fact I know of someone that came and interviewed for a job and as soon as we saw her pull out her jazz taps we said, "Next." We let her teach the class and her limited knowledge of tap confirmed her shoe choice.

I've been in 2 professionally tap companies and 2 professional jazz companies (that also incorporated tap occasionally) and you just don't use split soles. I've been tapping for 31 years, and teaching tap for 18 and have never ever ever had a student doing a solo dance in split sole...and my dancers have nice clean light sounds, but they can also accent, and produce shading and dynamics when necessary especially on a crappy stage.

This is quite the emotional response. I could say the same thing...I have been tapping for 37 years and teaching tap for 15, and have had my solo students and groups in split soles. We weren't doing "jazz tap" or "lyrical tap" either. We were doing solid tap with good technique. Awards to show for it...but its not even that...

And, I would hope I never lose out on a job offer simply because of the shoes I choose to wear! That's a pretty crappy way to pre-judge someone.

Please respect that there are respected and good teachers out there that like to do things differently. Actually, you usually seem to, so I am kind of shocked by your emotional response to this.

Thanks...

imadanseur wrote:

No it's not a matter of opinion. If it makes you feel better to believe that...that is okay.

This is condescending and downright uncalled for.

It is entirely possible to respect a fellow teacher's opinion while disagreeing, in the same sentence, even, if one is familiar with the comma. That you chose not to is telling.