Shoes

Ballroom Dancing Shoes – Tips for new dancers!

1. The Ballroom Shoe

As for most types of dance (Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Street, Tango), Ballroom Dancing has specific footwear. Ballroom dancing shoes come in a variety of styles. However, the important characteristic of the ballroom shoe is the suede sole. Ballroom shoes are designed for dancing on wooden dance floors. The flexible suede sole allows the dancer to feel the floor and achieve the correct foot action. The sole also helps the dancer achieve the optimum grip on the floor and allow free movement without sticking or slipping.

2. Types of Shoes

There are two main types of ballroom dance shoe for both men and women:

The Ballroom shoe:                                                      The Latin American Shoe:



Men’s shoes are invariably black and are made of plain leather, patent leather or nubuck. The main difference between men’s Ballroom and Latin shoes is the type of heel. Men’s Ballroom shoes have a low heel much the same as a standard shoe. Some of the new styles of shoe come with cushioned heels.
Cushioned heels help to produce a smoother action and also prevent skidding when taking heel leads.
Men’s Latin shoes typically have a Cuban Heel which is higher than the Ballroom shoe, typically 2 or 2.5 inches. The higher heel helps the dancer keep their weight over the balls of their feet and achieve the foot action required in Latin dances.

Buying Tips for Men:

As a beginner you will probably be learning a mixture of both Ballroom and Latin dances. If this is the case, men should opt for a ballroom shoe when first buying a pair of dance shoes. It is much easier to dance Latin dances in Ballroom shoes than it is to dance Ballroom dances in Latin shoes! The Cuban heels on Latin shoes can be tricky for men beginners to get used to particularly when balance is a problem. Also avoid the patent leather ballroom shoes as these can stick together unless you treat the shoes regularly.

............ More