Review on 👟 Enhance Your Performance with Bloch Women's Performa Athletic Dance Theatrical Shoes by Lindsey Garcia

I have been dancing for many years and this is the first time I have received shoes from a major dance brand with pre-sewn elastics. These elastic bands are very tight on high arches. I posted a photo of my foot in the devant coupé showing how tight the rubber straps pull the boot over my foot (2nd photo). It's beautiful, aesthetically pleasing, but very uncomfortable. There isn't enough material to cut and reattach so I'm wondering if I want to spend more money on rubber bands or if this particular shoe is for amateur dancers and not designed for hours of practice, teaching, rehearsal etc.? There are also no adjustable elastic drawstrings, but there is elastic around the entire inner opening. Again, this creates a nice clean line, but the inability to conform to my foot is frustrating. However, the thin canvas is comfortable. This is also my first shoe with a square suede heel (on the sole) instead of the more traditional teardrop shape. Actually I prefer the square because I only feel the bottom and not the outline of the teardrop. Although the rubber straps need modification, I might end up leaving them just to see how this different heel shape would feel. For sizing, I usually wear a 7.5M (sometimes a 7, rarely an 8) and the 5M fits well. 5.5 was too big. (PS Just to throw it in there, I've heard parents in the studio say only adults in Bloch should go down a size, but kids can order normal size - could that explain some of the sizing issues I've seen in other reviews?)