Dance Retailer News relaunched at the end of 2024, making 2025 its first full year of coverage. And what a year it’s been—from tariff confusion to major brand anniversaries, acquisitions, and more.
To mark the end of a dynamic year, we looked back at some of the biggest stories from the past 12 months. These pieces were not only newsworthy, they also resonated with you as some of the most-read articles on our site.
MODE Market Trade Show Had Its First Edition in Atlanta
From January 23–26, 2025, dance-store owners headed to the first edition of the MODE Market trade show in Atlanta, GA. With a three-day program featuring expert-led educational sessions, keynote speakers, storeowner panels, and brand seminars, the event aimed to “provide an educational experience for retailers,” Kelly McCaughey, North American Sales and Marketing Director for Só Dança and a board member for the show, told Libby Basile in this article.
“Beyond learning, attendees will discover exclusive 2025 product showcases from leading manufacturers, network with industry peers, and enjoy nightly entertainment,” added John Minden, co-founder of Gaynor Minden, also a MODE board member.
DRN writers Gilbert Russell and Shaté L. Hayes attended the show, reporting back on the top products and business lessons they learned while they were there.
Suffolk Celebrated 25 Years of Dancewear and Pointe Shoe Innovation
This year marked the 25th anniversary of Suffolk. To celebrate, DRN spoke with founders Mark and Keri Suffolk about their journey. “Mark is a former engineer with more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing pointe shoes,” wrote regular contributor Hannah Maria Hayes in her article. “Keri is a former dancer who worked in fashion design and purchasing for upscale retail before opening Spotlight Dancewear, a large dance store near Dallas, TX, in 2000.” When they finally connected in 2009, they became not only business partners but life partners, as well.
Read the full story here.
Tariffs Drove Up Pointe Shoe Costs
As U.S. import tariffs took effect in mid-2025, pointe shoes became noticeably more expensive. Retailers nationwide reported price increases of up to 7 to 8 percent from major brands like Bloch, Suffolk, and Gaynor Minden, while ongoing uncertainty left manufacturers and stores scrambling to adapt.
DRN spoke with three retailers who shared strategies they employed to help customers plan ahead, such as offering bulk discounts and increasing communication. Early ordering became more crucial, especially for advanced dancers, though Victoria Lyman Guimarães of Allegro Dance Boutique cautioned this wasn’t an option for younger dancers “working hard with the goal of going on pointe that fall.” Doing so meant they would risk outgrowing shoes before they were ready to wear them.
Read the full story here.
Balletcore Sneakers Boomed
Balletcore was around long before 2025, but this summer, it became the newest “it” fashion for mainstream sneakers. “You know it’s a solid trend when fashion-forward pop star Harry Styles dons a pair of ‘sneakerinas,’ and Bad Bunny’s recent adidas collaboration resulted in a shoe called the Ballerina,” wrote Hannah Hayes in her article on the topic.
While some young dancers saw sneakerinas as a stylish option for walking around the studio, Pamela Levy, director of the ABT/NYU master’s degree program in ballet pedagogy, said she wouldn’t be purchasing them for studio use. “I think the people who understand dance and dancers’ needs are the experts who should be creating footwear for us,” she said, citing established dance brands like Bloch and Capezio. “However, if these shoes are helping people feel more connected to ballet by appreciating its aesthetic, I think that’s a good thing.”
Read the full story here.
Lululemon’s Sweat Collective Controversy Created an Opportunity for Dance Brands and Stores
In July, dancers expressed frustration over being rejected from lululemon’s Sweat Collective discount program. While the brand maintained that dancers were still eligible, some—including Michelle Hepp—told Erica Iacono for her DRN article that the confusion led them to reconsider future purchases.
The situation created an opportunity for dance-specific manufacturers and independent retailers to showcase their expertise and strong community connections. Stores like The Dance Bag highlighted the value of their dancer-led service, while brands like Barre Trash capitalized on the moment with witty campaigns promoting their dancer-designed apparel.
Read the full story here.
Capezio Was Acquired by Argand Partners
Capezio has been a cornerstone of dancewear since 1887, so when private equity firm Argand Partners acquired the family-owned brand in April, the industry took notice. But according to Capezio CEO Michael Terlizzi, the partnership is about support—not reinvention. “We’re craftsmen, dancers, producers—not e-commerce experts,” Terlizzi told DRN. “Now we’re working with people whose expertise we couldn’t buy on the open market.”
Looking ahead, Capezio plans to expand into markets including the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Japan, while continuing to prioritize its long-standing relationships with retailers. “Their passion and love to present…it would be very hard to articulate to someone how to fit a pointe shoe or properly wear a K360 [tap shoe without them],” said Terlizzi.
Read the full story here.
Capezio Acquired Key Assets of Discount Dance Supply
Following its partnership with Argand Partners, Capezio wasted no time making bold moves. In October, the company exclusively revealed to DRN that it had acquired key assets from Discount Dance Supply (DDS), a leading online and catalog retailer serving dancers of all levels.
While operations are expected to continue under the Discount Dance Supply name through 2025, the agreement calls for DDS’s e-commerce operations, select inventory, and customer-facing programs to be integrated into Capezio’s platform. “A big goal we had was to bring more of our dance products to more people,” said Argand partner Joyce Schnoedl. “This partnership really accelerates and fulfills that vision.”Read the full story here.
Read the full story here.
Emily May is the editor of Dance Retailer News.