What Shoes Should I Wear for Ballroom Dancing Classes?

I’ve been dancing for a long time and I’ve finally decided to take up ballroom dancing, but I don’t know what shoes to wear. I have character shoes, but I know that they do have shoes specifically for ballroom. Should I invest in a pair, or are my character shoes fine? Please let me know! Thanks in advance!

Men’s Ballroom Dance Shoes

• All Leather Uppers
• Suede Ballroom Sole
• Mens 1″ Heel
• 5 eyes
• Medium Width

Product Description
Butter soft leather upper with a sleek design. Inner sole cushion with a 1″ basic heel. Sueded ballroom sole for non slip slide and flexibility. A great shoe for Latin, Salsa or any type of dancing.Sizing note: Men order the same as your regular USA street shoe size…. More >>

Men’s Ballroom Dance Shoes

How Are Ballroom Dancing Shoes Different From Regular High Heels?

Is there any real distinction between official “ballroom dancing” shoes and your standard high-heeled dress sandal? I know that they are different, but I’m wondering what makes them so special that people go to dance stores to buy ballroom dancing shoes.

My interest was piqued by my own sorry-looking high-heeled sandals. I’m going to a dance in April (for the first time – and to actually dance!) and my shoes are pretty flimsy. I’m wondering if they fall so short of dancing shoes that I’ll need to buy a new pair.

The Importance of Ballroom Dancing Shoes

Ballroom Dance Shoes

Ballroom dancing is more popular than ever. For one thing, there is a popular television show, “Dancing with the Stars,” millions of people tune to so that they can watch the ballroom dancing pros team up with the celebrities. Everyone looks gorgeous and the costumes are elaborately constructed. Flowing gowns, feathers, ruffles, bare midriffs, sparkles, and bangles, the costumes make or break the performance. Each costume is not complete without the perfect pair of dancing shoe to complement the look. Anyone watching can’t help but wonder how do the ladies dance in the high heels? The answer is that these shoes are specially constructed to provide comfort and support for the dancers. Men’s and women’s shoes alike are made to be attractive as well as functional. A good pair of ballroom dance shoes should be light as a feather, have proper cushioning for the sole and suede soles on the bottom.
Swing dance clubs are cropping up across the country, and enthusiastic dancers of all ages enjoy an evening out with friends and jive music. The clothes are fun, and there are dancing shoes to compliment each outfit while being comfortable enough to allow the dancers to dance the night away. Proper ballroom dance shoes are essential when dancing those small steps.
Salsa is a hot dance reminding everyone of Mambo. Many people join salsa dancing clubs and travel around to meet other clubs from nearby areas to perform at schools and clubhouses. The costumes are sexy and beautiful. Every salsa dancer needs a pair of salsa dance shoes to compliment and be supportive enough to make those provocative moves. The suede soles allow the ladies to spin and keep their footing.
Ballroom dancing, Swing, Salsa or Smooth, is a popular way to stay in shape. Classes are being offered at private dance schools and fitness clubs in nearly every city in the nation. What better way to show-off all those hours of practicing in these classes than to invest in a costume and dance shoes. Plus the proper dance shoes will allow you to learn faster, equipment is very important for the student. Keep your feet happy and they will dance the night away.
Whatever reason you want to dance, you can find the perfect dance shoe. An online supplier of dance shoes like USA Ballroom Dance Shoes has an unlimited variety of men’s and women’s leather dance shoes or satin dance shoes, you will find them all here, and they offer free shipping. A particular type of foot won’t be a problem; they have wide and narrow dance shoes, as well as hard to find sizes including; ladies 4. 5, ladies 10. 5-12. Any type of dance shoe can easily be found on the internet. Go to your favorite online search site and enter ballroom dance shoes, and you will find any kind of dance shoe you to trip the light fantastic.

The Importance of Quality Ballroom Dance Shoes

The date is set. Your outfit or costume has been selected, and now it’s decision time for shoes. Choosing ballroom dance shoes is not as easy as selecting a pair of street shoes. Ballroom dancers spend a considerable amount of time on their feet, and realizing the significance of superior dance shoes isn’t always obvious to many novice dancers. Ballroom dance shoes should be made with certain unique design characteristics: * The most important difference is found in the sole of the dance shoe. Most street shoes have rubber or leather soles, whereas the sole of a ballroom dance shoe is made of thin suede leather. The purpose of the thin soles is to allow the dancer to have better contact with the floor, which ultimately improves the quality of the dancing. * Ballroom dance shoes should be infinitely more flexible than street shoes, in both the upper and lower portions of the shoe. The flexibility offers a greater range of motion for the dancer. * Ballroom dance shoes should contain a metal tang for arch support. Greater arch support provides a more comfortable dancing experience, and has been shown to prevent pain in feet, ankles, knees and back. Just as there are different styles of ballroom dance, there are different styles of ballroom dance shoes. There are two main categories: * Standard/Smooth – The men’s ballroom dance shoes have the same type of heel found on men’s street shoes. The ladies dance shoes look similar to ladies pumps with a slightly lower heel and wider base. * Latin/Rhythm. Latin/rhythm men’s shoes have a larger heel, generally between 2 to 2. 5 inches. Ladies Latin/rhythm shoes are open toe and possess a sandal-like appearance with a tall, thin heel, generally 2″-3″ high. The Closed Toe Shoes or Ballroom Dance Shoes, Open Toe Shoes or Latin Dance Shoes, and Men’s Ballroom Dance Shoes should all be constructed using the unique fabrication features described above. When considering a ballroom dance shoe, remember to study the construction of the shoe. The stitching of the leather gives you some indication of the quality of the shoe. Small even stitches are preferable and usually indicate a higher quality shoe. Look for a soft inner sole with extra cushioning, which will diminish the amount of force taken by the feet from hard dancing surfaces. Poorly constructed shoes may not only lead to a shorter shoe life, but can severely damage a dancer’s foot. I speak from experience on this issue, and have suffered immeasurably because of it. For men who dance in both Standard/Smooth as well as Latin categories, Standard shoes will suffice if only one pair is afforded. The color black is the best choice for ballroom; reserve the two-toned shoes for swing. Avoid patent leather if the shoes will be worn for Latin. The preferred color for ladies in both the Standard/Smooth and Latin/Rhythm is a tan/flesh/bronze dance shoe if you are competing because these colors blend with the feet and give the illusion of longer legs, a very desirable quality in dancing. Ladies rarely compete in black shoes, reserving them for showcase, show dances, or special solo numbers. However, in social dancing, color selection is open to personal preferences. The cost for ballroom dance shoes varies, depending on the quality and source. However, for those who want to dance comfortably for hours at a time, they are a precious investment. Once your feet have been damaged from too much floor time in poorly constructed or ill fitting shoes, the recovery time can be long and painful. I know of very few other leisure activities that bring as much pleasure and enjoyment as ballroom dancing. Treat your feet to quality dance shoes and dance happy!