How to buy ballroom dance shoes


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Guide to Buying Ballroom Dance Shoes

The purpose of this post is to take the mystery out of buying ballroom dance shoes. Once you start taking lessons, the next step is to get proper shoes. Indeed, there’s nothing like having the right tools for the job!

Ballroom dance shoes have a suede sole.  Because of this, they provide just the right amount of slip and grip to get around nicely on the dance floor. 

Dance shoes are not made to wear on the street.  By all means, avoid stepping in water, grease, or dirt when you’re wearing them. It’s best to carry a shoe bag and change into your dance shoes before you start dancing.

The shoes you wear depend on the style you’re dancing.

There are four different ballroom dance styles.  They are:

  • American Smooth 
  • American Rhythm
  • International Ballroom
  • International Latin

Here’s an example of what you can learn to do when you have the right shoes. Enjoy watching Riccardo Cocchi and Yulia Zagoruychenko as they dance the Jive.

First, let’s look at men’s shoes.

Ballroom and Smooth

Gentlemen will wear the same type of shoe for both International Ballroom and American Smooth, smart-looking Oxford lace-ups. Available in black leather or patent leather with a 1″ heel, they give stability and comfort to the ballroom dancer as he takes long strides in Ballroom and Smooth dancing.  In addition, we’re looking for a close fit.

Men’s Ballroom and Smooth Shoe
Latin and Rhythm

Men’s Latin and Rhythm shoe styles are also the same.  It’s similar to the Ballroom/Smooth shoe, however, there’s a big difference in the heel.  While the Smooth/Ballroom heel is 1″ and flat, the Latin shoe has a 1.5″ – 2″ Cuban heel, as well as a flexible sole.

The reason for the higher heel is to position the body properly over the balls of the feet allowing for the rolling ball-flat footwork required in Latin and Rhythm dances.  

Men’s Latin and Rhythm Shoe

When choosing dance shoes, women have more to consider.

  • International Latin/American Rhythm
  • International Ballroom
  • American Smooth

Just about all women have a love affair with shoes.  It’s no different when it comes to ballroom dance shoes.

Latin/Rhythm

Most professionals recommend a Latin sandal for your first pair of dance shoes.  These shoes are used primarily in Latin and Rhythm dancing, but it’s perfectly acceptable for a new dancer to use them for Ballroom and Smooth, too.

The lady’s Latin/Rhythm shoe has a flexible shank.  This lets her point her toes to create a long leg line.  Also, the heels are specially placed to give her a forward poise with her weight balanced over the balls of her feet.

Heels vary in height, but the most common are 2″ – 3″.  Many women choose 2.5″ to start.  Heel shapes run from stiletto to flared in a variety of widths.   A flared heel is a bit wider on the bottom and tends to give more stability.  Nevertheless, personal preference rules.

The fit will be snug with the toes coming to the end of, or even over, the tip of the shoe.  In the beginning, it’ll feel strange, but you’ll get used to it.

Ladies Latin and Rhythm Shoe
Ballroom

International Ballroom shoes are closed-toe pumps. The heels are placed to create an easy backward movement for the lady.

One of the main characteristics of the International Ballroom style is that the couple does not separate.  In fact, they stay in closed dance position using long flowing steps to express the music.  Because of this, the lady will need the security of a closed-toe and support of a less flexible shank. 

Ladies Ballroom Shoe
Smooth

American Smooth is an extremely expressive style, combining the stunning closeness of International Ballroom with the stylish open movements of the Rhythm dances.  The partners will separate a good deal of the time giving the lady lots of opportunities for kicks and fancy leg lines.  Therefore, she requires a different type of shoe.

Ladies Smooth Shoe

Like a Ballroom shoe, the Smooth dance shoe has a closed toe.  The two main differences are that the sides will be open and the shank is more flexible.  This shoe is a cross between a Ballroom shoe and a Latin/Rhythm shoe.   

There are a few more things to consider when buying ballroom dance shoes.

Fit

To ensure a snug fit that gives you good support, it may be necessary to select shoes in a size smaller than usual.  If you can’t wiggle your foot around in the shoe, then it’s just right.  On the other hand, that doesn’t mean it should hurt! Also, keep in mind that these shoes are notorious for stretching – a lot.

Many ballroom dance shoes are made in Europe and will be sold in European sizes.  Shoes from the United Kingdom and Italy are very popular.  Your salesperson will know how to convert to your American size.  If you’re ordering online, be sure to consult the size chart on the website.

By the way, many ballroom dance competitions have an area for vendors of ballroom shoes, supplies, and accessories.  It’s a good idea to try shoes on there because the salesperson will be an expert in fit and style.

ColorA little bling never hurt no one.

Although men will normally wear a black shoe, women have lots of choices. For social dancing, there’s red, silver, gold, glitter, animal print, embellished, etc.  You name it, they make it.  However, competitive dancers will often stick with a flesh-colored shoe to visually elongate the leg.  Although, a little bling never hurts!

I hope this guide helps you make the right choices when you buy ballroom dance shoes. By the way, take a look at this Dance Safari post, “Improve Your Ballroom Dancing with These 10 Habits” for some tried and true advice on how to become a better dancer.

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How to choose shoes for ballroom dancing?

Ballroom dancing, like any other kind of art, requires a person's creativity and imagination, however, it is not by chance that they are called sports ballroom dancing. Such dances involve numerous trainings and incessant work on oneself, where, as a result, the dancer will certainly participate in competitions, contests and tournaments.

If you are involved in ballroom dancing, then you know firsthand that only with intensive training can you achieve your goals and results. During training, smooth movements and pas are born, as well as stretching and posture are formed. In this case, the dancer must correctly control his body and foot. Only professional dance shoes ensure the proper functioning of the feet.

Dance shoes are selected individually for each dancer, while neither health nor dance technique should suffer.

Many beginner dancers often ask the question: why do I need special shoes to dance, what will happen if I dance in ordinary shoes?

Ordinary shoes have rather thick soles, and the shoes themselves are made of fairly dense leather. In such shoes it will be very difficult to pull the toe correctly, and the movements will be performed incorrectly. Special dance shoes are made of very soft and thin leather or satin-type fabric, and the sole is very flexible, so the movements in such shoes look very smooth and graceful. Dance shoes fit snugly around the foot and almost follow the shape of your feet.

To choose the right shoes for ballroom dancing, you need to consider the main types of shoes:

  1. Rating shoes

    These are children's shoes for beginner dancers. For girls, these are shoes with wide heels, the maximum height of which is 3-3.5 cm, with a closed heel and an open toe. For boys, boots with a heel height of 2-2.5 cm.
    Ranking shoes cannot have any decorations. Their young dancers will be able to afford after moving to an older category. But the color can be different: white, black, tan, flesh, gold, silver.
    Since a child's foot tends to grow very quickly, it is recommended to buy shoes for a child with a small margin (no more than half the size.) If the shoes are very large, then there is a risk of injury, and it will not be possible to dance in such shoes comfortable. The child will constantly cling to the floor with his toe, and this will lead to inaccurate dance movements.
    For young dance lovers, one pair of shoes will be enough for the first time.

2.
Shoes for Latin American dances

Women:

To dance latin, you will need special sandals with a closed heel and open toes, with a sufficiently long strap and a heel height of 5, 7, 8 and 10 cm. It is better to fasten the strap under foot, and not on the ankle, this is a more comfortable and safe option. In order for the movements to be free, and all dance steps to be performed as correctly as possible, the arch support of such shoes must be flexible.
As for the choice of heel height, it is worth noting that it is selected individually for each dancer. Someone and on a hairpin in 10 cm. feels quite comfortable, and for some, even 5 cm is quite enough. It all depends on the structure of your figure and the shape of the foot. But, all the same, for beginner dancers, in order not to experience unnecessary stress on their legs, it is recommended to choose a model with a lower heel.
For men:
Men's boots with a 3.5 - 4 cm heel. Just like in the women's models for La, a soft and flexible arch support is required for the correct position of the foot.

3. Shoes for the European program

Women:
Closed shoes, usually with a pointed toe and a strap that fixes the foot, with a heel height of 5 to 7 cm. – 3 lessons, when the shoes bought for a size larger will stretch, and become even more free, will begin to cause discomfort during movements, and even fly off.

Men's:
The height of the heel of men's boots, for the standard program is lower than in Latin, 2-2.5 cm, and the instep is longer.

When choosing shoes for dancing, pay attention to the comfort of the heel. If, while trying on shoes, it is inconvenient for you to stand or move in heels, then you should try on other models. You can't dance in these shoes.

Rules for the care of dance shoes:

In order for dance shoes to serve you for a long time and retain their appearance as much as possible, they must be properly looked after. After training, the shoes must be dried using crumpled paper and placing it inside. You can also purchase a special form - stretching for shoes. This device is now sold in many stores. Always dry your dance shoes at room temperature. Try to avoid artificial heat sources. From high temperatures, shoes can become deformed and it will become uncomfortable to dance in it, and improperly dried shoes will fail much faster.

Dirt that has appeared on shoes must be cleaned with products specially designed for this purpose. You can buy them in almost any store. When using shoe protectors, be sure to ask what materials they are used for shoes.

When caring for your shoes, don't forget to pay attention to their soles as well. After all, stability and slip depend on its state. Don't forget to clean it with the special brush before training and performances.

In order for the heels on the shoes to last longer, we advise you to buy heels. When buying heeled shoes, consider the shape of the heel. Each shoe manufacturer has its own, so take your shoes with you to buy heels, and a consultant in the store will help you make the right choice. Heel pads are usually made of transparent and fairly hard silicone. To put them on shoes, the silicone needs to be softened a little. To do this, dip the headbands in hot water for a few seconds or heat them with a hair dryer. After such procedures, the silicone will become softer, and you can easily put them on your heels.

If you follow our tips for selecting and caring for dance shoes, your shoes will please you for a long time.

Dance mood everyone!

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