An Unrivalled Gift To The Dance Community

By Author: Cedric Grosjean
Total Articles: 60
Comment this article

The Theatrical & Historical Shoemaker- in 1887 this could be read above a shop door across the road from the infamous Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Salvatore Capezio born on the 13th of April 1871 in Muro Lucano, Italy opened this store aged just seventeen. He began his work repairing shoes for the dancers of the Opera House, and soon became a favourite due to his superb craftsmanship and easy going personality. Shortly afterwards he was called upon to make an emergency pair of shoes for Jean de Reszke, transforming him from a simple cobbler to brilliant shoemaker. He enjoyed making pointe shoes in particular as he found a challenging balance between the delicate construction and complex engineering. Thereafter the shop became a meeting place for dancers. A ballet dancer who graduated from La Scala, an associate school of the Opera House in Milan, Italy, Angelina Passone once stopped in his shop to discuss shoes and in 1902 married Salvatore.

The renowned Anna Pavlova purchased Capezio Pointe shoes for herself and her entire company for her first American tour. Pavlova's open-handed praise ensured Salvatore's ...
... success, due to this he enlisted the help of his family so he could expand his business and entrusted only them with his secrets.

In 1949 thanks to this growing trend, Capezio featured on the cover of Vogue, then in 1952 it received A Coty Award, fashions highest accolade. If there were no performers there would be no show and Salvatore created shoes for the best of them from Fred Astaire to Sammy Davis Jr. Future performers and students continue to where these products on their feet and bodies.

In 1998 Capezio branched out to the ice skating population with Olympic Gold Medallist Tara Lipinski as their spokes model. In the same year they also produced DanceSport to welcome the 2000 Olympics, where ballroom dancing was made the newest Olympic exhibition sport. Since which time ballroom dancing has become more popular with many more dance nights and classes available and advertised, and even dance cruises and holidays, where each night has a different theme and a new dance opportunity to learn or take part in.

Capezio products have always remained at the head of superiority and technological advances in dance shoes, for example the split-sole and the ‘tapsneaker'. Capezio still hand-craft footwear for many Broadway shows and company's such as Cats, The Lion King and for Disney World, over 100 years after Salvatore fixed his first pair of shoes for the Met. The company is now being run by the third and fourth generation of the family since Salvatore and the level of commitment put into it is still the same.

Capezio now produce many more products from dancers, ice skaters, theatrical performers and recreational use. They are very committed to their customers as Salvatore himself was, and always provide innovative and quality products and services to the best of their ability. They keep up to date on new technologies and advancing market research in order to keep their products fresh and advanced.

Europe's leading online retailer of dancewear - Dance Direct.For further information regarding our range of Capezio products, please visit our website at http://www.dancedirect.com.