Choosing Correctly Fitting Dancing Shoes

Dancing shoes

When you’re involved in dancing, you’re on your feet the whole time and you need to ensure you have comfortable and suitable shoes for the job. Here are some practical tips to help you choose correctly fitting dancing shoes.

Dancing involves actively being on your feet, with your feet bearing the weight of your body. Whatever type of dancing you’re involved in, it’s essential that you have appropriate footwear for your needs.

Whether you’re buying dancing shoes for the first time, realise that perhaps the shoes you have aren’t quite right or need to replace your old faithful dancing shoes, it’s important to carefully choose and find the right pair for you.

Wearing badly fitting or incorrect dancing shoes could cause serious problems for your feet.

If the shoes are too soft, your feet may come into contact with the floor too much, if the dancing shoes are too tight, they could end up rubbing and causing blisters on your feet and if your dance shoes have the wrong sized heel, you could end up with leg, foot or back ache.

There are a variety of different types of dancing, such as ballet and ballroom dancing, and each form of dancing requires a different type of shoe.

Tips For Choosing Correctly Fitting Ballet Shoes

There are two types of ballet shoes – full-sole, or traditional, ballet shoes, that have a sole that runs the length of the shoe and split-sole ballet shoes, that has a sole that is half under the ball of the foot and half under the heel.

Whichever type of shoe you go for, correctly fitting ballet shoes should fit snugly on your feet, but not be too tight. If it’s the right fit, your heel will stay in place as you dance and there should be enough room to comfortably wiggle your toes.

When you’re wearing your ballet shoes, or ballet slippers as they’re sometimes called, your shoes should be flat on the floor – if they’re not, you’ve got the wrong size and need a bigger shoe.

Tips for Choosing Correctly Fitting Ballroom Dancing Shoes

Depending on the type of ballroom dancing you’ll be doing, you may well need shoes with heels.

Always get advice about the right height of heel for the dancing you’ll be doing, as if the heels is too high, you could risk injuring yourself and causing all sorts of foot problems.

Your dancing instructor should be able to offer advice on the required heel height.

When you’re choosing ballroom dancing shoes, try and look at a variety of options in a shop and try them on to see what the fit is like.

A pair of correctly fitting ballroom dancing shoes will fit snugly, but not uncomfortably, and won’t run the risk of falling off mid-dance.

Closed toe shoes will protect your feet (especially if your dancing partner has two left feet), but be aware that shoes with pointed toes could squash your toes too much and be uncomfortable.

Small peep toes may be the more comfortable choice. Enclosed heels are also better than open backed heels, as it gives your feet more vital support.

General Tips for Choosing Dancing Shoes

Some of the tips about choosing correctly fitting dancing shoes apply across the board, regardless of the particular type of dancing you’ll be doing.

  • Always try and buy dancing shoes in person, rather than by mail order, so that you can try them on. Not all dancing shoes are the perfect fit for everyone.
  • Specialist dance stores are a good source for well made dancing shoes.
  • Always walk around a bit and see how the shoes feel when you’re wearing them. If you’re able to, try a few dance steps in them too.
  • If you’re unsure of your shoe size or fitting, then try and have your feet measured.

Overall, remember to keep in mind that these are practical shoes that should serve a good purpose – helping you to dance well and not suffer afterwards. Don’t get tempted by shoe looks over shoe practicality and always try them on before you buy.

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