Dancing Shoes
Selecting Dancing Shoes
When selecting a pair of dance shoes, there are some basic considerations to bear in mind; these include:
- Comfort – There is little worse than an uncomfortable walking shoe. Now, imagine that you are dancing at a recital and your shoes are pinching. A flawless performance will be difficult if you are in pain. New dancing shoes will feel somewhat stiff when you first try them on, but if they are of high quality they will conform to the shape of your foot after wear. Shoes that are hide tanned into leather will initially feel stiffer than those that are hide tanned into suede; the latter is more flexible and comfortable at first, but may not retain its shape as well as the former.
- Grounding – Shoes that have straps or laces can add extra security while dancing. Loose shoes can cause you to strain in order to keep your toes in place. For this reason, some people prefer a slightly snug fit.
- Heels – The industry standard is a 2.36 inch heel. If you are a beginner or unaccustomed to heels, you can start with a shorter heel. Traditional dancing shoes come with a narrow heel, but you can also find some with wider heels that will increase confidence in beginners.
- Jazz, Tap, Ballet Shoes – These shoes do not have heels, but come with considerations of their own.
Split-soled ballet shoes have been known to offer the best arch support, and are best for the beginner. Full-soled shoes help initiated dancers learn how to use their feet most effectively. Toe shoes should fit in such a way that allows toes to just barely touch the tip of the shoes. If they are set back at all, they are too big. When wearing the shoes, you should feel no pulls (otherwise the shoe is too narrow) and should not be able to pinch much material at the heel (otherwise the shoe is too long). Decide whether or not you will want padding in the shoe. Silicone or gel patches work well for comfort without interfering in the step.
Jazz and Ballroom Shoes
Hard leather jazz and ballroom shoes will add a certain lightness to your feet and offer good support. Spinning and moving across the floor is easy with hard leather and will typically last longer than soft leather soles. However, soft leather shoes will lend a stronger contact to the floor. Moving around is fairly easy in soft leather shoes, but they also offer less support. While soft leather shoes are best for jazz dancers, soft suede shoes suit ballroom dancers better. Soft suede shoes allow ballroom dancers to glide softly across wooden floors.
Tap Shoes
Tap shoes should fit snugly, in such a way that the wearer's first two shoes graze the top of the shoe. They are made of three principle materials: canvas, plastic uppers, and leather. Canvas is the most flexible and least expensive. Plastic uppers are the least flexible, and do not tend to become more flexible even after frequent use. Leather is the most expensive, but longest lasting and flexible choice.
The heels of tap shoes come in different sizes. Beginners should start with lower heels. Once more advanced, students can explore additional options, such as split-sole tap sneakers, slip-ons, T-strap, and single-strap shoes with higher heels.
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