| What makes a big difference to your enjoyment and | | | | in the soles of the shoes. For men wearing tennis |
| advancement in ballroom dancing classes and ballroom | | | | shoes you will keep running into the sides of the lady's |
| dancing in general is your footwear. Just like a musician | | | | feet when you are trying to step between their feet. |
| with their musical instrument, a dancer's musical | | | | Men's dress shoes are also clunky as they are wider |
| instrument are their ballroom dancing shoes. | | | | than men's ballroom dance shoes. stubbed toes or |
| If you are attending ballroom dancing classes in your | | | | ripped toe nails - this happens to most ladies who insist |
| bare feet, flip-flops, sneakers, tennis shoes, running | | | | on wearing open toe shoes while dancing with |
| shoes, stilettos, platform shoes, boots, slippers, dress | | | | beginner leaders. The leaders are just learning how to |
| shoes etc. you are doing yourself a big disservice in | | | | lead and if they are not taught proper technique, they |
| your efforts to learn how to ballroom dance. | | | | will invariably step on the lady's feet. If the ladies are |
| Why? Because you are spending hours dancing on | | | | wearing open toe shoes, this will result in pain and quite |
| your feet and if you are wearing street shoes instead | | | | often, a ripped toe nail. So ladies, please wear closed |
| of ballroom shoes, you are practicing incorrectly and | | | | toe shoes when dancing with beginner men. Men - |
| also experiencing the following problems: | | | | learn the technique on how to lead properly from the |
| - Slipping on dance floor - most leather soled and | | | | start and you will never step on a lady's toes. Ballroom |
| some synthectic soled street shoes are slippery on a | | | | dancing shoes are specially constructed so they are |
| wood floor. Most ballroom dancing classes are held on | | | | balanced in the right places especially over the arch |
| wood dance floors. This is even more dangerous for | | | | and heels of your feet. They also flex in the right |
| beginners as beginners are generally not as balanced. | | | | places and have suede bottoms. |
| You may slip, fall or twist your ankles especially when | | | | Ballroom shoes fit your feet like a glove and there is |
| wearing high-heeled street shoes. A lot of high-heeled | | | | no bulky material around your feet so you can close |
| street shoes are not constructed well to balance the | | | | your feet properly. On ballroom dance floors, suede |
| body over the heels. Turning, spinning swivelling, or any | | | | bottoms provide the best combination of glide and grip |
| fast changes of directions becomes scary. | | | | capability. Better ballroom shoes are very flexible and |
| - Sticking to dance floor - most sneakers, tennis shoes | | | | allow you to articulate your feet ie. 'point' your feet, |
| etc or shoes with rubber soles will 'stick' to the wood | | | | articulate from heel to the ball of your feet to your |
| dance floor and make it difficult for you to move your | | | | toes or inside edge of ball of foot to whole foot or |
| feet quickly. East Coast Swing, Salsa/Mambo, Jive, | | | | combinations thereof. |
| Cha-Cha, Samba, Viennese Waltz and Quickstep will | | | | This articulation of your feet is important in developing |
| be particularly challenging because of the speed of | | | | your ability to dance and is what will allow you to |
| these dances. You will have difficulty executing the | | | | develop grace, fluidity and power in your dancing. It all |
| correct technique as you will need to glide from foot to | | | | starts in your feet and good ballroom dancing shoes. |
| foot and articulate your feet from Heel to Toe or Toe | | | | Every ballroom dance has specific techniques when it |
| to Heel or using the inside edge of your foot etc. In | | | | comes to foot articulation (footwork) to show the |
| ballroom dancing, other than tango and jive, we do not | | | | character of the dance. Waltz and Foxtrot uses Heel |
| pick up our feet when we move from step to step. | | | | Toe, Toe, Toe Heel, Toe Heel Toes etc. Salsa uses |
| You will also have difficulty changing directions like in | | | | Ball Flat. Tango uses Heel, Toe Heel, inside edge of ball |
| pivoting, turning, spinning or swivelling and may hurt your | | | | of foot etc. |
| knees when you try to use your upper body to | | | | It is a good idea if you take a lot of ballroom dancing |
| compensate for your feet not turning. | | | | classes to wear Ballroom dancing practice shoes |
| - Clunky or stomping - you feel really clumsy, your feet | | | | which are more covered and have a lower heel. Then |
| feel large and clunky and you feel like you are | | | | you can save your feet and higher-heeled Ballroom |
| clumping or stomping through your steps. You are | | | | dancing shoes for social dancing, performances or |
| most likely dancing in tennis shoes. Tennis shoes are | | | | competitions. |
| bulky so you will never be able to close your feet | | | | Enough said, stop dancing in your street shoes and |
| properly - the bulk gets in the way. This will encourage | | | | invest in a good pair of ballroom dancing shoes. You |
| bad habits as you will always dance with your feet | | | | will be amazed at how much more balanced you will |
| and legs apart even when it's supposed to be closed | | | | feel and how much easier it will be for you to move |
| in particular steps. Platform shoes also have this similar | | | | from step to step, glide, turn, pivot, spin or swivel. And |
| clunky effect due to the extra weight and lack of flex | | | | you will enjoy your ballroom dancing classes more. |
