Where to Buy Dancewear Online Now That Discount Dance Supply Has Closed

Discount Dance Supply — the online retailer many dancers relied on for twenty years — was acquired by Capezio in late 2025, with its e-commerce operations folding into Capezio's platform. If you landed here after typing "Discount Dance alternative" or "where to buy dancewear online" into Google, you're in the right place.

From the Top is a three-generation family-owned boutique shipping dancewear, pointe shoes, and dance accessories nationwide from Waco, Texas. We carry every authorized brand a serious dancer needs, offer real pointe fittings in-store, and answer the phone when you call.

What actually changed at Discount Dance

For two decades, Discount Dance Supply was the default answer when dancers, dance parents, and studio directors needed leotards, tights, pointe shoes, or basics shipped fast. In April 2025, Capezio — founded in 1887 and family-owned for 140 years — was acquired by private equity firm Argand Partners. By October, Capezio had absorbed DDS's e-commerce operations and inventory. For dancers who want a fully independent, multi-brand retailer, the search for a new online source is on.

If you've been bouncing around trying to figure out where to shop now, you're not alone. A few things worth knowing before you pick a new go-to:

• Not every online retailer is an authorized brand dealer. This matters most for pointe shoes, where counterfeits exist and fit safety is everything.
• Big-box dance retailers have their own house brands that dominate product placement. If you want specific brand names like Bloch, Capezio, Gaynor Minden, So Danca, or Nikolay, boutique retailers are usually a better bet.
• Returns, customer service, and sizing expertise vary wildly between retailers. The convenience of the cheapest-possible-shipping is often paid for in harder returns and slower help.

What to look for in a Discount Dance Supply alternative

Five things we'd check if we were you. The list is short on purpose — these are what separate a real dancewear retailer from a drop-shipping operation in disguise.

1. Are they an authorized retailer for the brands you need?

Authorized retailers get real product from the actual manufacturer, with real warranty support and legitimate inventory. This matters especially for pointe shoes, where a counterfeit can literally injure a dancer. Most brands list their authorized retailers on their own websites — check there before buying.

2. Do they offer real fitting expertise — even remotely?

Pointe shoes, tap shoes, and ballet shoes all have fit nuances that a generic size chart won't catch. A shop where you can call, text, or email an actual dancer or fitter with sizing questions is worth more than a 10% discount.

3. Do they carry the breadth you need for dance families?

If you have a dancer who does ballet, jazz, and contemporary — and maybe also a cheer sister and a gymnast cousin — you want one source that covers all of them. Specialty-only retailers mean multiple checkouts, multiple shipping charges, and multiple return policies.

4. How's the return policy?

Dancewear sizing is unforgiving. A clear, fair return window with reasonable conditions saves you money over time, even if a retailer's sticker prices are slightly higher than the cheapest option online. Read return policies carefully — and remember that pointe shoes and tights are typically final sale across the entire industry for hygiene reasons.

5. Do real humans answer?

Try calling them. If the phone rings through, that tells you everything. Dance parents and dancers often need answers fast — before class, before recital, before pointe day.

"A counterfeit can literally injure a dancer. Authorized matters."

Why From the Top fits

We're a three-generation family-owned boutique based in Waco, Texas, shipping dancewear nationwide. Founded in 2024 as the newest chapter of a dance retail family with deep roots in Central Texas, we opened because our region deserved a real boutique — one that knows your studio, your teacher, and your dancer by name.

We're an authorized retailer for every brand we carry — not drop-shipped, not gray-market, not knockoff. Our pointe specialist Hannah Requa has 15+ years of experience and a background as a principal soloist; she fits dancers in-store in Waco and handles remote pointe questions by phone. We stock dancewear, cheer uniforms, and gymnastics leotards under one roof, ship nationwide with free shipping over $100, and answer when you call us at (254) 732-3716.

Frequently asked questions

Is From the Top a Discount Dance Supply alternative?
Yes. We carry many of the same brands Discount Dance Supply customers relied on — Bloch, Capezio, Gaynor Minden, So Danca, and more — as a verified authorized retailer of each. We ship nationwide from our Waco, Texas storefront, offer real fitting expertise by phone, and answer when you call. If you need help finding a specific style or size that DDS used to carry, reach out and we'll source it from the manufacturer when we can.

Do you ship nationwide?
Yes. We ship from Waco, Texas to all 50 states. Free shipping on orders over $100.

Are you really authorized retailers for pointe shoe brands?
Yes. You can verify directly on each brand's website — Bloch, Capezio, Gaynor Minden, Nikolay, and So Danca all list their authorized retailers publicly. We're one of them.

Can I get a pointe fitting if I don't live in Waco?
In-person fittings happen at our Waco storefront. For remote dancers, we offer phone consultations — call (254) 732-3716 and we'll help you think through sizing, brand choice, and model recommendations based on your foot and dancing.

What's your return policy?
Online returns are accepted within 14 days of delivery; in-person exchanges within 5 days of purchase. Items must be unused, unworn, with tags attached. Online returns are subject to a 15% restocking fee. Pointe shoes and tights are final sale for hygiene reasons (industry standard across all authorized dancewear retailers). Full policy at our refund policy page.

Do you offer discounts for dance studios and teams?
Yes. Studio partnerships and group orders get dedicated service and volume pricing. Reach out through our Studio Partnership Program.

Do you carry plus-sizes and adult sizes?
Yes, across most brands. If you don't see a size listed on a product page, call us — we can often special-order from the manufacturer.

And if you're not in Texas? We ship fast, we answer the phone, and we take this seriously. Welcome to From the Top.