Step N Up Hawaii

We’ve been shopping here for our daughter’s dance supply needs since she began ballet at 4 yrs old. We recently returned for the now 11 yr old’s first pair of pointe shoes. As always, the staff was so helpful and took the time to make sure our ballerina got the perfect fit. We love coming here, and the discount’s a bonus.

My daughter wants to dance. I never have. So we signed her up and I went in with a list for her uniform. The young lady working was very helpful. Since I had no idea how things were supposed to fit she was great helping and making sure everything was the right size and my daughter will be comfortable. Thankfully the cost was not as much as I had expected either. The only surprise was parking is a charge, but they validate with purchase so I didn’t have to pay.

What a great store for kids! They are stage ready for all ages and sizes! And, convenient location!

Went there for the first time last week and received great service. The woman who helped us was very knowledgeable and helped my daughter try on and find the right sizes for everything.

I went here to get my daughters jazz shoes and jazz pants. They have great selection and the staff was very helpful. Found my daughter exactly what she needed quickly. It was a little hard to find because I didn’t know the area but gps got me there. You do have to pay to park but step-​n-​up will validate. Overall good experience.

What brought me here? Beyonce. That’s right, the über famous platinum selling artist Beyonce. Or at least my own personal reincarnation of her for a Unilocal party. It was « Unilocal’s Almost Famous» party at Airpark Karaōke and my costume for the evening was Beyonce from the video «Single Ladies.» My work wife Cathy T was going as Jay-​Z (aka Mr. Carter). She already had her costume, I of course had waited until the day of the event to find something. What’s a girl the do because Beyonce costumes unfortunately do not grow on trees.
I went to Step N Up hoping to find a nice black leotard and appropriate tights. When I say «appropriate» I mean ones which helped me not to feel as though I was not half naked. Considering I was half naked, this really was going to be a tough find. But the angels above must love Beyonce because low and behold I found the perfect costume! The black leotard was made of this really comfy material that made me look great! The tights sucked everything in and I’m tempted to wear them as an alternative to spanks!
A woman, who I can only assume was the owner helped me find everything and was really friendly! I didn’t feel like a freak at all for wanting dress up as Beyonce. On top of it you get an automatic 20% off which is fantastic! Everyone loved my costume and I’m thinking of turning into fake Beyonce full-​time.
I returned a few weeks later to pick-​up ballet and jazz clothes for my two little daughters who are starting dance classes. Maybe one of them will grow up to be the next Beyonce and she can borrow my leotard! Or she can look at my fake Beyonce photos and say, «Mom you are so weird. I love you.»

I’ve been to this store a couple of times to buy my daughter’s ballet gear and both times the staff was VERY nice and helpful. They carry everything we need there and there’s a little dressing room so we could make sure the leotard fit before buying. There’s plenty of parking (you have to take a ticket, but they validate) downstairs. Convenient location in town. I haven’t really price shopped this stuff, but their prices seemed very reasonable.

Found an old gift card my oldest daughter got like 5+ years ago. They took it with no questions asked. Was able to buy some dance items for my 5 year old daughter!
Went on a Saturday morning and the place was packed. Workers were friendly and patient. Prices were reasonable (wherever I go, I look up the prices for the items on Amazon to see if the $$$ is reasonable. Some items were actually cheaper than Amazon!
Would highly recommend this place. It also feels good helping out a small local business survive in this brutal economy!

this is the one and only danewear store in hawaii– da best! good selection and prices.

It’s been years since I had to visit Step N Up. At least 5 years since my last ballet class at UH. Now I have a 4 year old in ballet and she needed shoes, tights, and a hair net. I expected high prices and was completely wrong. On top of a back to school sale where everything was 20% off the stork clerk was knowledgable, patient with my kids as they tore up the store, and very helpful! It was a great experience!

DANCEWEAR and ZUMBA SHOES! This is where you go to buy leotards, tights, ballet shoes, tap dancing shoes, pointe, jazz and hip hop clothes starting from when you are tiny toddler sizes (2T) up to women’s sizes.
I went here to buy my daughters first «ballerina» leotard, tights, shoes, etc. They have all different colors, with or without skirts, and all the «accessories» that you apparently need when you are 3 years old and take a dance class.
AND THEN I ENDED UP BUYING MYSELF THE BEST PAIR OF ZUMBA SHOES EVER!!! The shoes are «dance» shoes so they have no «grip» on the bottom which makes them perfect for pivots, que te mueve, and other merengue type steps which normally put a lot of torque on your knees. Dancers have been using these shoes for decades so they aren’t anything new. These shoes are similar to the Capezio dance shoes or other similar brands.
BACK TO THE SHOES: If you are using regular aerobic shoes for Zumba classes, and you are having knee issues, you really gotta try these shoes! They are better than the Nike Zoom dance shoes that I used to wear for Zumba because:
1. They have an air cushion in the heel portion to absorb shock when you jump or do impact type exercises. (the Zoom shoes don’t have great shock absorbers, I feel every jump in my knees)
2. They have a great pivoting sole under the «balls» of your feet that really take the torque off your knees. It makes your moves more fluid and free.
3. Good arch support. If you have NO ARCH (flat footed), these shoes will not work for you.
4. They are lightweight!
Send me a PM if you want to know more, don’t want to bore the rest of you.
Located in University Square across from Pucks alley, they will validate your ticket.

I had not been to Step N Up in over ten years. Ever since achilles tendonitis took my dance dreams and smashed them mercilessly into the ground leaving me weeping over my dance-​less life, I have not been in need of dance wear. In fact, I found even thinking about the store depressing because of what could have been. Which would have been amazing despite my short stature and lack of breast size…
Yeah.
What am I talking about?
Right, so I found myself boldly walking into this establishment of old in search of shoes for my newfound passion, zumba (yes I’m a tad behind, what of it?). Guess what? Everything in the store was 20% off! Score. guess what else? In the last ten years dance sneakers have dropped from $ 90 a pair to only $ 55! Score. Guess what’s even better than reasonably priced dance sneakers? Reasonably priced dance sneakers in bright green and pink with a hibiscus embroidered into its side. SUPER SCORE! There was only one pair left in size 8, but I shoved my foot in there ala Cinderella’s step sisters and I MADE it fit. Would I have been more comfortable in a 9? Maybe. But those only came in boring colors.
It is better to look good than to feel good. If you recognize this quote then you’re extra cool.
The store had shelves and shelves of dance sneakers, ballet slippers, jazz shoes, character shoes, etc. plus a wall of brightly colored zumba wear and the customary racks of leotards, tights, and teeny little shorts I used to wear when this body was still on the firm side. I tried on several cargo pants but felt they did not properly hug my buttocks. My buttocks need to be hugged.
When I was trying on my shoes the salesperson said «Are these for zumba?», to which I wanted to reply «No, I’m a real dancer damnit!». I suppose the combination of my garish color choice plus my age and jiggly bits caused her to conclude the only reason I would need shoes is to exercise in a dance-​ilke way. The sad truth.
Overall, a decent selection for a small dance store in Hawaii and very nice staff. I will definitely be bringing my daughter in as soon as she turns three and I start forcing her to take dance classes. I mean, sign her up for classes that she willingly participates in because she loves it so much. And she WILL love it…
Yes.