Ballroom at Maryland
BAM > Shoes

Dance Shoes

While ballroom shoes are not required when you start out (most people start out dancing in socks or tennis shoes), as you get more involved it becomes more important to consider purchasing your own, especially for competitions. Dancers can also use jazz shoes, dance sneakers, or character shoes. The following information refers to shoes created specifically for ballroom dancing.

General If you have not purchased a pair of ballroom dancing shoes before, do not try to buy them online or without first talking to an experienced ballroom dancer. BAM organizes shoe-shopping trips periodically that are announced in class and through the listserve. Expect nice ballroom dance shoes to run about $100 for mens' and $150 for womens'. They are almost always hand made in England in relatively small quantities of high-quality materials like leather and suede. Three of the best brands to go with are:

Places to buy shoes:

Fit is VERY important. We recommend you purchase your first shoes in-store so you can try them on.

Men's Shoes

When you are first starting out, one pair of shoes is probably good. As you get more competitive, a separate pair of shoes for Latin/Rhythm and Standard/Smooth is very helpful. Make sure they have a low heal and offer some flexibility in the front of the shoe.

  • FIT IS VERY IMPORTANT. We cannot emphasize this point enough! Sizing is very different from normal street shoes. Many shoes use European sizing. The only way to be sure your shoes will fit you is to try them on. If you have any doubts or questions about the fit of your shoes, talk to an experienced ballroom dancer. The members of the club will be glad to help you find the shoes that are right for you.
  • For standard/smooth, you will want a shoe with a shorter heel (unless your partner is taller than you) and a much more rigid sole for support.
  • For latin/rhythm, you want a pair of Cuban heels (a men's dance shoe with about an inch heel). The shoe should be extremely soft and flexible around the toes and should fit like a glove. The flexibility in the shoe allows you to work your feet off of the floor and also point your foot (which you should be doing ALOT :)
  • Just a note, don't go with Patent Leather (it looks really shiny but is a big pain because the shoes will tend to stick together every time your feet brush together). Nubuck is a nice material but it doesn't stretch. Leather is good and will stretch a little and can become more form fitting.

Lady's Shoes:

If you have not purchased a pair of ballroom dancing shoes before, do not try to buy them online or without first talking to an experienced ballroom dancer. Here are some general guidelines you can follow:

  • FIT IS VERY IMPORTANT. We cannot emphasize this point enough! Sizing is very different from normal street shoes. Many shoes use European sizing. The only way to be sure your shoes will fit you is to try them on. If you have any doubts or questions about the fit of your shoes, talk to an experienced ballroom dancer. The members of the club will be glad to help you find the shoes that are right for you.
  • Get a 2 or 2.5 inch heel (they create better lines and are preferred by judges).
  • For competition stick with skin-toned shoes (especially on latin shoes!). Do not buy darker colored satin shoes unless they match your legs.

The goal of skin-toned shoes (while they may look ugly or dull in the catalogs), is to make your legs look longer and make your footwork mistakes less noticeable. If you do buy flashy shoes, make sure you have dresses and ability that will go with them.

Closed toed shoes are designed for smooth and standard dances (i.e. waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, etc.). Open toed shoes are for latin and rhythm (cha cha, rumba, samba, etc.). You can wear either type social dancing and for your first year or so

Last modified: September 24 2007 19:28:24.