Low-cut derbyDuties prepaid
The Ava derby in Platinum, worn on a wood floor
Platinum Ava Derby, three-quarter view
Platinum Ava Derby, side view
Platinum Ava Derby, top view
Platinum Ava Derby, cut-out detail
Platinum Ava Derby, leather and cut-out close-up
Platinum Ava Derby, insole close-up
Ava Derby in the marleys dust bag
Ava Derby leather soles
Ava Derby leather grain and stitching

Proudly Canadian, made in Portugal

The Ava Derby

$350 CAD Rated 5.0 out of 5 from (6 reviews, read them)

or 6 payments of $58.33 at 0% APR with

Ships in 1–2 business days

A soft leather dance derby with a roomy almond toe and 8 mm of cushioning underfoot.

Colour · Platinum

White-gold goat leather with a metallic sheen. Flexible, with a little structure.

Select your size

Size & fit guide

Wrong size? Your first exchange is free.14-day returns · Free return shipping
Tested by 200+ dancers See their stories →
Why we made this

If you love a classic pointed toe but hate having your toes crushed, the Ava is for you.

A roomy almond toe inside a classic derby, shaped through fittings with real dancers rather than copied from another shoe. The cutouts over the ball of your foot keep you cool and let you flex.

And our signature 8mm insole that balances cushioned comfort with feeling the floor.

Who this is for

Femme social dancers who spend hours on the floor: lindy hop, balboa, west coast swing, rockabilly jive. It suits you if:

  • your feet are wide, or you have bunions
  • you feel constricted dancing in boots (the Ava sits below your ankle)
  • your feet get hot by the end of a social (the cutouts let air in)
  • you wear orthotics (the insole lifts out)

The Ava Derby comes in women’s 5.5 to 10.5.

Shipping & delivery

Orders ship from Montreal. It takes us 1–2 business days to ship your order.

  • Canada: free shipping. Delivery takes 3–4 business days.
  • US: a flat $15 anywhere in the US, with duties already paid, so there’s nothing to pay at the door. Delivery takes 4–8 business days.
Details & materials

Upper: Juniper and Brushed Gold are our softest sheep leathers treated in our Italian tanneries. Platinum is our texture goat leather, offering a little more structure. marleys Purple is a metallic goat leather, soft and stretchy.

Lining: Soft cow leather in a nude tone, so it won’t rub colour onto your socks.

Insole: 8 mm balancing dense foam with slow-release memory foam & arch support. Removable so you can replace with your orthotics.

Sole: Full leather with a complete, stacked leather heel. Built to flex at the ball of your foot. Super slick.

Heel: 2 cm (¾ in), a slight drop with the inner corner shaved to prevent nicks on your leather uppers.

Cutout: a slot in the vamp that the lace passes through, so you can dial in the fit.

In the box: Two pairs of laces, one to match and one in marleys purple. A marleys dustbag, and our packaging inserts.

Designed in Canada and assembled in a small family-run factory in the north of Portugal.

The marleys fit promise

If they don’t fit, we fix it.

  • Wrong size

    Your first exchange is free. And we cover the cost to ship the pair back.

  • Changed your mind

    14 days to return, free return shipping.

  • Not sure yet

    Book a free 15-minute fit call before you order.

Real dancers, real feet

Dancers in marleys

Follow @danceinmarleys

Testimonials

  • ★★★★★
    “Feel like slippers.”
    Jonathan, CanadaFounding customer
  • ★★★★★
    “The leather uppers are soft and malleable.”
    Victoria, CanadaFounding customer
  • ★★★★★
    “I feel confident and comfortable dancing in these.”
    Wenxin, CanadaFounding customer

Prefer a boot?

Questions, answered

How do I find my size?

We size by length. Stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall, mark your longest toe, and measure heel to mark. Do both feet and use the bigger number, then find it on the size chart for your shoe. The size chart shows the room available inside the shoe, so if you’re between sizes, go one size up. For more, visit our size & fit guide.

What if they don’t fit?

Your first exchange is free. We cover the shipping back to us and out to you again, and we ship your new pair as soon as you’ve dropped the first one with the carrier.

You can also return your shoes within 14 days for a full refund, with free return shipping, as long as they come back in the original packaging and in resellable condition.

How long does shipping take?

We take 1–2 business days to ship your order. Carriers then deliver within Canada in 3–4 business days and in the US in 4–8 business days, with duties prepaid.

Can I dance in them straight away?

Yes. The leather is supple from day one, so there’s minimal break-in. Our soles are fast, so try them at home and in lessons before taking them to the social dance floor.

Where are you based?

We’re a Canadian company and we make our shoes in Portugal. Every order ships from Montreal, QC.

Will they fit wide feet or bunions?

Yes. Our shoes fit a range of widths and foot shapes: roomy toe boxes, and leather that gives where you need it. For bunions, Juniper and Brushed Gold are our softest.

How much is shipping?

Shipping is free in Canada and a flat $15 anywhere in the US. US orders arrive with duties paid, so there’s nothing to pay at the door.

Can I wear them on any floor?

They’re made for wooden dance floors. Leather soles slip on tile and wear down fast on concrete, so keep them for the dance floor.

Not sure? Book a free 15-min fit call

Reviews

A
marleys
Anonymous (Canada)

I am really excited to try on my new Ava shows. I am a west coast swing dancer and I have been looking for new shows that fits my foot. They are super comfy and the leather quality seems amazing. Just got them. Can’t wait to try them on the dance floor.

Ps they are true to size and have good room for the feet and the inner sole is soft but has support.

Aww MJ, thank you so much for this lovely review! ❤️
We're so happy to hear that you're loving the comfort, fit, and quality of your new Ava shoes! It means so much to us that you've found a pair that feels just right for your feet.
We can't wait for you to take them for their first spin on the West Coast Swing dance floor! Here's to lots of smooth moves and happy dancing!

A
marleys
Abby T. (Canada)

My new favourite pair of dancing shoes for West Coast Swing! I got really sick of having to choose between pretty dance shoes with a million laces that came undone constantly or sneaker style shoes that still didn’t have enough support. Marleys allow you to still be able to feel the floor and glide effortlessly while still having some cushioning & support.

Aww Abby, this makes us so happy! ❤️ Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
We love hearing that your marleys give you that perfect balance of floor feel, glide, comfort, and support without having to compromise on style!
Here's to many more effortless spins, smooth moves, and amazing West Coast Swing dances in your marleys!
Keep dancing and making those Marley Moves! 💃

M
marleys
Maria H. (Canada)

Ananya was so thorough and caring. I found her at Montreal Westie Fest while I was looking for dance shoes supportive enough for my multiple lower body injuries. She asked a tonne of questions to ensure she understood my needs to find the best fit for me. She showed me a couple different ways to lace my shoes as well for the best support possible. I am looking forward to busting these out on the dance floor and showing off my new Marley Moves ™️💃!

User picture

Aww, this makes us so happy to read! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! ❤️
We're thrilled that we were able to help you find the right fit and support for your dancing needs. We'll definitely pass along your lovely words to her!
We can't wait for you to hit the dance floor and show off those Marley Moves™️! 💃
Happy dancing!

J
marleys
Joelle W. (Canada)

The delay was a little bit long, but I received notifications for each step and I was not in a hurry :)

Hi Joelle, thank you for your understanding and for sharing your experience! We're glad the notifications kept you informed. Hope to serve you again soon!