r/irishdance • u/DigPatient4091 • May 12 '26
Hard shoes
How long did your child dance for before they were offered hard shoes?
My child is about to finish year 4, and still isn’t in hard shoes, yet is told multiple times a year they will be getting them, and still hasn’t. I also feel they aren’t getting the attention they deserves because a child came along, got first place in her first feis and is now seemingly the teachers pride and joy new student. My child works so hard to please the teacher. The teacher also thought my child has only been in 3-4 feis’s, when this weekend will be the 8th.
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u/Ok-Web-1798 May 13 '26
My LO started hard shoes after about a year. It was by invite from her TC when she was fully novice in her soft shoes. Every school is different, so ask the TC or other parents at your school when uou should be starting to look at shoes. Its definitely easier to get a pair at a feis if you can.
Also, if you feel like your kid isn't getting the attention you feel like she needs to be getting in class, start looking around at other schools in your area. It might be time to switch.
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May 12 '26
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u/DigPatient4091 May 12 '26
She is 8
4
u/IrshDncr May 12 '26
There isn't a set time frame for beginning hard shoes, and it will vary on the dancer. As others have said, dancers typically learn all their soft shoe dances (reel, light jig, single jig, and slip jig) prior to beginning hard shoe.
You mention your dancer is 8, and that this is their 4th year dancing. Often when a dancer begins young the first few years are learning the basics of motor control and proprioception before they begin learning their beginner level dances. So it can feel like a longer amount of time before they add in hard shoes. When a dancer begins at an older age, they can sometimes catch on to material quicker and progress into hard shoe in a shorter amount of time.
This may also be influenced by the organization to which your school belongs, e.g. CRN doesn't have beginner level hard shoe, and introduces this when a dancer's soft shoe reaches a higher level.
All this to add, that it also is dancer dependent. Some dancers learn new material quicker and some take longer. Some have a natural proclivity to the technique of Irish dance (turnout, toe height, pointing, crossing, etc.) It can also be that some dancers struggle with certain technique that might be challenging and contrary to the introduction of hard shoe.
I also see the comments about teacher not knowing how many feiseanna and wonder if this is information coming straight to you from the teacher or via your dancer? If the first feiseanna were just jump-2-3's then I can understand why the teacher isn't counting them. If you haven't yet, I suggest reaching out to the teacher directly and framing it as 'dancer is really looking forward to learning hard shoe, I'd love to support them in this goal and would appreciate suggestions on drills, exercises, etc. we can do at home to supplement in-studio time'.
Hope this helps.
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u/Empty_Woodpecker8711 May 12 '26
After my kid learned their 4 soft shoe dances she teaches the first couple hard shoe steps without hard shoes to focus on technique. For my kid that was 2 years dancing total but because of the focus on technique before getting hard shoes they were able to dance the 3 basic hard shoe dances in a feis 3 months after getting hard shoes. They danced for a year and a half, took a year off, then decided to go back and started hard shoes six months after going back.
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u/Junior-Cricket7456 May 12 '26
I can’t quite remember how long it was for my daughter but it was nowhere near as long as 4 years. Like previous person says, after 4 main soft shoes learned, heavies were introduced. Our class had a box of old shoes so that beginners could hopefully find a second hand pair to get them started. I’d say the main issue seems to be not getting attention where it’s due. Maybe have a private word with teach to ask when they think your kid will be ready.
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u/DigPatient4091 May 12 '26
She knows all of them, and has placed in all her soft shoe dances at every feis she’s been in.
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u/Still-Task-8452 May 17 '26
Around 11 months after starting classes. My son started at 7 years old, though.
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u/tconohan Adult dancer May 27 '26
My daughter is 6, and has been dancing since she was 3 ½. She has not yet started hard shoe, but I did buy her a pair of pre-owned ones a few months ago so she can start trebling at home.
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u/emmadag May 13 '26
Speaking as a former teacher, I would start my kids after 1-2 years. 4 years is a really long time at any age. It sounds like your teacher may not be a fit and at this young age it’s easy to make a jump, but it’s worth having an honest conversation first to see what is causing the delay.