Capezio

Capezio is the trade name associated with Capezio Ballet Makers Inc., an American manufacturer and retailer of dance shoes, dancewear, and related accessories. The company traces its origins to 1887, when Italian-born cobbler Salvatore Capezio opened a shoe-repair shop near New York City's old Metropolitan Opera House. His proximity to the opera and theater communities gave him access to performers whose specialized footwear needs were not well served by ordinary shoemakers. Capezio initially repaired theatrical shoes, but his reputation changed when he produced an emergency pair of shoes for the Polish tenor Jean de Reszke. That episode helped establish him as a maker of performance footwear rather than only a repairer. The shop became a place where dancers and theatrical professionals could discuss fit, construction, and performance requirements. Capezio's visibility expanded substantially through visiting performers. In 1910, Anna Pavlova purchased Capezio pointe shoes for herself and her touring company during her first United States tour, an association that helped introduce the name to a wider public. Over subsequent decades, Capezio developed a broad reputation in ballet and other performance disciplines, while continuing to serve professional dancers, teachers, students, choreographers, and theater performers. The business gradually expanded beyond specialized shoes into dance apparel and accessories. Its product range has included ballet slippers, pointe shoes, jazz shoes, tap shoes, character shoes, modern and contemporary dance footwear, leotards, tights, warm-ups, bags, and other training or performance items. Capezio's products are sold through its own channels and through dance retailers and other distributors. Historical distribution expanded in the 1940s, when department stores including Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus began marketing Capezio footwear. Capezio has also used cultural programs to support the wider dance field. The Capezio Dance Award, established in the early 1950s, recognized important contributions to dance across performance, choreography, education, criticism, administration, and institution-building. The Capezio Foundation was created in 1953 to administer the awards program and provide grants to nonprofit organizations. The company later operated the Capezio A.C.E. Awards, a choreography competition that ran from 2009 through 2021 and represented multiple dance styles, including tap, jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, and musical theater. The company remains family connected and has been operated by third- and fourth-generation family members, although Lynn Shanahan became its first non-family chief executive in 2017. Manufacturing combines computerized production systems with a Special Make-up Department that handcrafts special-order footwear. Capezio's positioning is centered on specialized, performance-oriented dance footwear and apparel for dancers at different levels, from students and recreational participants to professional performers. Its long history, relationships with major dance figures, and association with institutions and awards have made it one of the best-known names in the international dancewear market.

Capezio began in New York in 1887 when Salvatore Capezio, an Italian-born shoemaker, established a repair shop near the old Metropolitan Opera House. The location placed him close to opera singers, actors, and dancers, whose footwear often required repairs or custom construction. A defining early episode occurred when Capezio made a fine pair of shoes for the Polish tenor Jean de Reszke in an emergency. This helped shift the business from general cobbling toward specialized theatrical shoemaking. As performers began visiting the shop, it became an informal meeting point for dancers discussing their footwear requirements. The company's reputation grew through word of mouth and through prominent users. Anna Pavlova bought Capezio pointe shoes for herself and her company during her first United States tour in 1910, giving the brand substantial visibility within the ballet world. Capezio subsequently became associated with a range of major performers and dance figures, including Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Sammy Davis Jr., Alicia Alonso, Bob Fosse, Gregory Hines, Mick Jagger, Liza Minnelli, Ben Vereen, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Maddie Ziegler. Ben Sommers served as company president from 1940 until his death in 1985. During his tenure, Capezio expanded its commercial reach and its engagement with dance culture. In 1941, department stores such as Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus began marketing and distributing Capezio footwear. Sommers also promoted dance and performance initiatives. The company established the Capezio Dance Award in the early 1950s, with the award first presented in 1952. The Capezio Foundation followed in 1953 to administer the awards and support nonprofit organizations through grants. The award program recognized a wide range of contributions, including choreography, performance, education, criticism, administration, and institution building. Capezio developed from a specialist shoe business into a wider dancewear company. Its assortment came to include ballet and pointe footwear alongside tap, jazz, character, modern, and theatrical shoes, as well as leotards, tights, warm-ups, bags, and accessories. The business retained an emphasis on fit and performance while serving dancers across experience levels. Its production operations later incorporated computerized manufacturing systems, but the Special Make-up Department continued to handcraft special-order footwear. The brand also created the Capezio A.C.E. Awards, a choreography competition that operated from 2009 to 2021. The program accepted applications from choreographers working in styles including tap, jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, and musical theater, and selected finalists to present work for recognition and support. Winners and finalists included choreographers such as Travis Wall, Peter Chu, Al Blackstone, Melinda Sullivan, Erica Sobol, Talia Favia, Kristen Russell, Martha Nichols, and Taylor Tsvyetkov. Capezio has remained connected to its founding family through third- and fourth-generation involvement. In 2017, Lynn Shanahan became the first non-family chief executive, marking a leadership transition while the brand continued operating as a private dancewear business. Its present identity rests on the combination of historical credibility in dance footwear, a broad product portfolio, professional and educational usage, and cultural support for the dance community.

1. 2021Capezio A.C.E. Awards final documented year

   The documented Capezio A.C.E. Awards competition series reaches 2021.

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2. 2017First non-family chief executive is appointed

   Lynn Shanahan becomes the first non-family CEO of Capezio.

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3. 2009Capezio A.C.E. Awards begin

   Capezio launches a choreography competition covering multiple dance styles and supporting the development of new work.

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4. 1978National Dance Week is established

   During Ben Sommers's leadership, Capezio helps establish National Dance Week as part of its support for dance and performance art.

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5. 1953Capezio Foundation is created

   The Capezio Foundation is formed to administer the awards program and provide grants to nonprofit organizations.

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6. 1952Capezio Dance Award is established

   The company establishes an award recognizing significant achievements and contributions in dance.

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7. 1941Department-store distribution expands

   Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and other stores begin marketing and distributing Capezio footwear.

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8. 1940Ben Sommers becomes president

   Ben Sommers begins a presidency that lasts until 1985 and includes expanded cultural and commercial activity.

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9. 1910Anna Pavlova purchases Capezio pointe shoes

   Anna Pavlova buys Capezio pointe shoes for herself and her touring company during her first United States tour, increasing the brand's visibility among dancers.

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10. 1887Salvatore Capezio opens a New York shoe shop

    Italian-born cobbler Salvatore Capezio establishes a repair shop near the old Metropolitan Opera House, beginning the business that bears his name.

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Performance-oriented dance footwear, apparel, and accessories combining specialist construction, long-standing dance heritage, and broad availability for students, teachers, amateur dancers, and professionals.

• Ballet shoesDance footwear

  Capezio ballet shoes are designed for ballet training, rehearsal, and performance. The category includes lightweight slippers intended to support articulation, controlled movement, and close contact with the floor.

• Pointe shoesBallet footwear

  Pointe shoes are a core part of Capezio's historical association with ballet. They are specialized shoes constructed for dancers working en pointe and are typically selected according to foot shape, support requirements, training level, and professional use.

• Jazz and modern dance shoesDance footwear

  This group covers footwear for jazz, modern, contemporary, and related studio disciplines. Designs are intended to balance flexibility, traction, comfort, and movement demands across training and performance settings.

• Tap shoesDance footwear

  Capezio tap shoes serve students, teachers, and performers who require attached metal plates for rhythmic footwork. The category reflects the brand's broader role in theatrical and stage-oriented dance footwear.

• Character and theatrical shoesPerformance footwear

  Character and theatrical footwear is intended for stage, musical theater, ballroom-related, and performance applications where appearance, stability, and movement must work together.

• Dance apparelDancewear

  Capezio's apparel range includes leotards, tights, warm-up garments, and other clothing used for studio practice, classes, rehearsals, auditions, and stage performance.

• Dance accessoriesAccessories

  Accessories complement the footwear and apparel lines and include items used for carrying, preparing for, and participating in dance activities.

• 2009Capezio A.C.E. Awards

  United States · International dance community

  The A.C.E. Awards competition supported choreographers working across tap, jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, and musical theater. Applicants competed for recognition and support for future work.

  Outcome. The competition continued through 2021 and recognized choreographers including Travis Wall, Peter Chu, Al Blackstone, Melinda Sullivan, Erica Sobol, Talia Favia, Kristen Russell, Martha Nichols, and Taylor Tsvyetkov.

  Source
• 1953Capezio Foundation

  United States

  The Capezio Foundation was created to administer the dance awards and operate a grant program for nonprofit organizations.

  Outcome. The foundation extended Capezio's involvement beyond product manufacturing into nonprofit and cultural support.

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• 1952Capezio Dance Award

  United States · Dance community

  The Capezio Dance Award recognized important achievements in dance. Its recipients included prominent performers, choreographers, educators, critics, administrators, and dance organizations.

  Outcome. The award became a long-running cultural program associated with Capezio's support of the dance field.

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• 2017Appoint the first non-family chief executiveStrategy

  Capezio had remained connected to the founding family across multiple generations.

  What changed. Lynn Shanahan became the company's first non-family CEO.

  Aftermath. The appointment marked a significant governance and leadership transition while the company remained a private family-connected business.

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• 1941Expand distribution through department storesStrategy

  Capezio had developed a reputation among performers and specialist dance customers, but broader retail distribution could increase access to its footwear.

  What changed. Lord & Taylor, Neiman Marcus, and other stores began marketing and distributing Capezio footwear.

  Aftermath. The move broadened the brand's retail presence beyond its specialist New York origins.

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• 2021Capezio A.C.E. Awards conclude after a multi-year choreography program

  The Capezio A.C.E. Awards' documented competition series ran through 2021, recognizing choreographers and helping support the development of new work.

  Other
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• 2017Lynn Shanahan becomes Capezio's first non-family chief executive

  Lynn Shanahan was appointed the first chief executive of Capezio who was not a member of the founding family.

  Leadership change
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1. Capezio
2. Capezio official website