Hi, I am new to the dance world so I have a few questions. I’ve been taking Argentine Tango and were shown shoes like Comme il Faut for dancing…I’m deathly afraid of heels (and the price). Because I plan on taking more dance lessons (all ballroom) and will eventually need "non-marking soled shoes", what is a good type of shoe to start with? I’m thinking something comfortable and versatile (no heels) until I actually need to break down and buy actual ballroom shoes/tango shoes etc. Would jazz shoes work as a universal practice shoe? I do plan on eventually buying ballroom shoes, but for now I would like something basic that I can just you know, jump around in (during class) while not breaking an ankle. Or, would the recommendation be that I buy a pair of low-heeled dance shoes for all occasions?
Thanks
You never NEED to wear heels for ballroom dancing unless you plan to do it professionally or compete, etc. Therefore, if you don’t want to do these things then you can wear jazz shoes forever! However, if you think that you may want to progress to heels at a later date, I would advise that you start now with low heels. The only reason is that it feels very different dancing in heels to dancing in flats, so you may find you need to adjust your technique. Rather than adjusting, it is easier to just learn from scratch to do it the way you plan to in the future.
If you do decide to swap to heels, I would recommend starting with wide heels, not stiletto/ thin style heels, as they are much easier to balance on. There are shoes called "practice shoes" which are a bit like jazz shoes with small heels and are very comfy. Here is a link to the brand I use so you can see what they look like, but I’m sure other brands do them too:
http://www.supadance.com/acatalog/Ladies_Practice_Styles.html
Have fun dancing!
You never NEED to wear heels for ballroom dancing unless you plan to do it professionally or compete, etc. Therefore, if you don’t want to do these things then you can wear jazz shoes forever! However, if you think that you may want to progress to heels at a later date, I would advise that you start now with low heels. The only reason is that it feels very different dancing in heels to dancing in flats, so you may find you need to adjust your technique. Rather than adjusting, it is easier to just learn from scratch to do it the way you plan to in the future.
If you do decide to swap to heels, I would recommend starting with wide heels, not stiletto/ thin style heels, as they are much easier to balance on. There are shoes called "practice shoes" which are a bit like jazz shoes with small heels and are very comfy. Here is a link to the brand I use so you can see what they look like, but I’m sure other brands do them too:
http://www.supadance.com/acatalog/Ladies_Practice_Styles.html
Have fun dancing!
References :
7 years of teaching beginner’s ballroom!
I recommend getting a pair of so called "practice" shoes. The heel they have is low and wide. They are universal to all ballroom styles. Don’t waste your money on anything that’s not ballroom specific. Your feet will be unhappy and your progress will be slow. Jazz shoes are not a good substiute for ballroom shoes.
You don’t need to get an expensive brand right away, but do get a pair that was designed for ballroom. Your feet and back will thank you.
http://www.featherdanceshoes.com would have a cheaper pair as compared to Supadance.
References :