06/28/2024
Ok so a couple things to know about dance shoes.
Not all dancing is the same technique so they design a different style of shoe for the different styles of dance.
1. Latin shoes for : salsa, cha cha,rumba, merengue, samba, paso double, and Argentine tango. Also good for west coast swing.
2. Ballroom shoes: for waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, Viennese waltz, and American/international style tango.
3. Swing shoes: for Lindy hop, Charleston, balboa, and s**g.
4. Country western: they now make dance boots for country western dancing whereas tradition boots are the worst things to dance in. People don’t like to hear that but it is totally true. I usually opt for a street dance shoe like fuegos
Then there are what they call “instructors shoes” that will allow you to dance a variety of styles overall but they aren’t as cute of an option,
Also be aware if you buy a real pair of Latin or ballroom shoes (the best to learn the proper technique in) you will only be able to wear them in a studio where the floors are kept clean, they’ll be ruined on other floors that have dirt or spilled drinks on them.
The option for going out is to either but a practice pair that you don’t mind getting beat up or getting a shoe that is designed for any type of floor but these shoes will also have restrictions on the level of technique you can apply in them.
Now pricing.
As with everything you get what you pay for.
You can get shoes cheaply on Amazon, but often I’ve seen these literally fall apart in a short amount of time.
I prefer to get my shoes off of www.danceshopper.com
I also get street practice shoes from www.fuegodance.com
But I’ve also been eyeing some on www.danceandsway.com for something more stylish but street floor compatible.
My old school favorite brand of swing shoes are at www.bleyersshoes.com but they are such good quality I’ve never had to replace them in 20 years!
I know it’s a lot of information but having a good quality pair of dance shoes makes such a difference! It is entirely comparable to other sports that require cleats instead of tennis shoes.
Enjoy choosing your shoes! They can be a great way to express your own personality and style!
