5 Best Dance Sneakers for Dance Auditions

You may be new to the professional dance space or just looking for a reliable pair of dance sneakers to wear to dance practice. Either way, we have you covered.

Proper dance sneakers are essential in the pro dance audition process.

As dancers, we require a dance sneaker with the necessary support for long performance days while also seamlessly tying into our dance audition outfits.

Showing up to dance auditions with the proper audition shoe is vital as you want to make sure that they are not only reliable to dance in but also mesh with the rest of the dancers auditioning for that specific dance team or cheerleading team. We are here to provide you with the best dance sneakers so that you are showing up as your best for professional dance auditions.

By the end of this article, you will know some of the top recommended dance sneakers, understand what dancer shoes others auditioning with you will show up in, and have the knowledge to choose a pair of sneakers that are best for you.

You may be wondering, “what professional cheer shoes should I wear?” or “what are the best professional dance sneakers?” To keep it brief and general, white tennis shoes are the go-to dance shoes for professional dance auditions. Let’s narrow it down further..

Step 1: Research the Team

All NFL cheerleading teams and NBA dance teams vary in requirements, which may include dance shoes. Before committing to any type of dance shoe, it is important to research the specific dance team that you are planning to audition for. Always refer to the official dance or cheerleading team audition page for what exactly to wear for dance auditions.

Below is an example:

Here are a few examples of the variations that different NFL cheerleading teams and NBA dance teams may require for their dance shoes. You need to take note of their requirements and make sure that you are following their guidance on what to arrive in.

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Slip-on jazz shoes / cheer: Nike Flex shoes, Nfinity Cheer shoes.

Laker Girls: Non-marking athletic shoes or jazz shoes only. No dance heels or boots will be allowed.

Denver Nuggets Dancers: Wear athletic attire and shoes with non-marking soles.

Pro Tip: Always throw a pair of nude jazz shoes in your dance bag. Jazz dance shoes are important and are generally always required for the technical aspect of dance auditions.

Jazz shoes for dance will be further discussed at the end of this article.

Here are the best dance sneakers recommended by professional dancers and professional cheerleaders:

5 Best Dance Sneakers for Auditions

Although white sneakers are not required, most professional dancers will show up in all-white sneakers. They are simple, clean, and easily match any form of dancewear. With that being said, we are focusing solely on sneaker brands and specifically white sneakers, as those are the most common. (and our personal preference)

This is not to say that you can not wear colored sneakers, just make sure that they tie into your audition outfit and always get a second opinion.

For professional dance auditions, white tennis shoes are the gold standard. As we mentioned before, it is important to have the best white sneakers available, versus buying a pair that inhibits your dance abilities or stands out in a negative way. Here are some tips for your audition shoes:

  • Show up with clean sneakers, especially if they are white sneakers.

  • Have proper-fitting dance sneakers. Not too big and not too small.

  • Your dance sneakers need to tie in with your dance audition outfit.

Here are our top picks on the best dance sneakers for pro dance and pro cheer auditions:

  1. Nike Women's Air Max 270 Running Sneakers

In my opinion, these are one of the absolute best dance sneakers to wear to dance auditions. They are amazing audition shoes as they go with any dance outfit, they provide unmatched support, and they are currently very in style. You can never go wrong with a pair of white Nikes, but these specific ones are top notch.

Cheer Shoes - Required by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders require and recommend specific cheerleading shoes for their dance auditions. Two types of professional cheer shoes in the brands they they listed as a requirement:

Are Air Force Ones good for dancing in?

When it comes to dancing in Air Force Ones, they are great to add some style into a dance solo, dance performance, or dance class but they are not recommended for dance auditions.

Jazz Shoes

Always have a pair of nude jazz shoes in your dance bag. At any professional dance audition you will be required to showcase your dance technique, in which jazz shoes are a necessity. Keep it simple with a well-known brand such as Capezio or Bloch. Here are a couple of brands that are well-known in the dance world:

When it comes to auditioning to become an NBA dancer or NFL cheerleader, preparation is key.

Keep your audition shoes clean and simple. Make sure to choose a white sneaker or a dance shoe that ties your audition dance outfit together without being too distracting or mismatching.

Practice dancing in your sneakers and make sure that you are comfortable executing your dance technique with them.

These are the top choices for a great set of white sneakers to dance in for auditions. Choose a set of dance shoes that work best for you and throw them in your dance bag with your jazz shoes. Good luck with auditions, we are rooting for you.

XO,

The Sideline Secrets

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