new Dance Shoes Options

Greetings Dancers!

The only equipment you need for dancing are dance shoes. The right dance shoes protect your knees, hips and back, not to mention your feet. They make it possible to turn without slipping, providing mobility with control. That said, just like sizing, dance shoes are not one size fits all. Some of us do better with a flat sole, some do better with a split sole, some of us can even dance in boots. Here are some favorite brands/types used by dancers in our club:

Raven: 

Fuegos are my new favorite shoes. fuegodance.com. They are actually designed for hip hop dancing, so you don’t have to change shoes for dance. Instead of suede soles, they have pivot points on the toe and heel that make for both easy turning and plenty of control. They don’t slip, which is really important. They come with a super thick insole and are the first pair of shoes I’ve ever had where I don’t have to use my own insert. You can get these in a variety of styles, with both flat sole and split sole. I wear high tops strictly as a fashion statement, although I do like the extra control I have with their maximal support. You can get a 10% discount on these shoes by entering the code: TREVORT10 in the coupon box. These run true to size for me, although I’ve heard others say they fit narrower feet better than wider feet. Replacement in-soles can be bought at this site for both flat and split soled models. 

Barbara & Karen:

Ultimate Hybrid Dance Sneaker from the Dance Connection. You can find these on line at  danceconnection.com. These are very popular flat sole shoes that come in a variety of colors.

Boots:

Evenin’ Star Boot Company. You can find these on line at eveninstarboot.com. Be aware that many of us find that while we love the look of boots, our feet don’t feel as good as they look. (Sadly, we tend to age out of boots at some point.)

Notes:

* Most orthotics are made for a variety of conditions. While you may wear orthotics in walking shoes, they may actually hurt your feet in dance shoes. This is because walking and hiking are essentially heal to toe movement, while dancing emphasizes softer heal action and more toe pressure. While I wear orthotics in my hiking and street shoes, I do not use them in my dance shoes. Some problems, like orthotics for pronated ankles, need to be worn for dancing. It depends on the problem. 

*If the balls of your feet ache, you might substitute Dr. Scholls gel pads for the factory insole. (This may not be necessary with Fuegos because of their particularly padded insole.) This problem occurs as you age and the pads on the balls of your feet diminish or shift forward leaving the metatarsals unprotected.

*You can also purchase suede-DIY to turn a shoes not designed for dance into a dance shoe, as long as it doesn’t have much of a tread. You get these at www.soles2dance.com. This brand is excellent and although more expensive than cheaper products on Amazon, it is a better investment. I tried the cheaper ones and they didn’t stick well. I ended up having to replace them with the better ones. These also come in a variety of colors. 

*I think you all already know about the toe socks, or “sliders” that allow rotation which is a good option until you decide to invest in dance shoes. The club usually has some available for purchase. These, however, may provide a bit less control on a slick floor.

*Split soles versus flat soles: 

All I can tell you is that some work for some people and not for others. My feet don’t do well in split soles. Other people don’t do well in solid soles. Just as some brands will work for one person and not for another. So try your shoes out at home for awhile and exchange them if they don’t work for you. Many of us have gotten stuck with shoes that don’t work for us. If you don’t return them, please consider offering them to other Sunliners. 

Socks:

*I discovered bamboo socks online and found them to be excellent for dance as they provide added cushioning and sweat absorption.

Good luck. Happy feet make for happy dancers