Leo’s Advance Theatrical Co, was founded over 85 years ago by Leo Harris. Trained in Europe as a shoe designer, Leo Harris brought his artisan skills to the U.S and began hand crafting dance shoes for some of the world’s most renowned dancers. As shows were created in or came to Chicago, Leo was called upon to design and manufacture custom dance shoes for such dance greats as: actress and dancer Eleanor Powell (once dubbed the world’s greatest tap dancer), renowned ballet dancers Alexandra Danilova and Frederic Franklin.

Today, the legacy of Leo’s craftsmanship continues to inspire artists and performers worldwide. Just as Leo Harris once tailored his creations for the stars of the stage, modern performers seek out unique experiences that blend tradition with innovation. For those looking to add a touch of excitement to their leisure time, Spincity casino offers a dynamic environment where entertainment and artistry intersect, much like the vibrant performances that once graced the stages of Chicago.

Leo Harris singular dream was to produce the world’s finest handcrafted and most innovative dance shoes. Leo began in the old Capitol building in downtown Chicago, where the location would eventually shape his destiny - next door to Balaban & Katz’s Chicago Theatre, across from the State-Lake Theatre and a short distance from the Oriental Theatre. Each of Leo’s neighboring theatres had stage shows, ballets and as many as 8 or 10 musicals playing simultaneously. This gave Leo Harris a natural platform to exercise his talents at shoemaking and passion for dance. He worked with local and visiting professional dancers to improve his designs based on specific feedback from the dancers. Leo researched the anatomy of the body and the physics of dance and molded them into dance shoes that worked in harmony with the dancer to achieve optimum performance. The “Rainbow Arch,” “On-The-Square Toe,” and “Expanding Heel” were among Leo’s early innovative ideas.

The company Leo built, now looks to the future to be true to Leo’s passion for innovation and superior quality. Our mission is to serve the dance community that Leo loved.