Ballroom Dance Shoes
Ballroom dancing is an extremely rewarding hobby that can keep you happy and fit. Once you are signed up for a class in ballroom dancing, it's time to buy a pair of ballroom dance shoes.  Due to the fact that ballroom dance shoes are completely different for men and women, we've divided the advice into two separate guides. Check out the guide relating to you for more information on the specifics of choosing your ballroom dance shoes. Here you will find advice that is fairly universal and helpful for both genders to know.
How to Buy Ballroom Dance Shoes- You will need non-slip soles. Look for suede soles, as they will give you good grip but allow some sliding for stylistic purposes.
- Buy ballroom shoes. Don't use normal heels or other street shoes for ballroom dancing. They are not made out of the right materials to ballroom dance, and they may even cause injuries if used for ballroom dancing.
- Take care of your shoes. Never wear them on the street (bring a bag to change into normal street shoes after practice. You'll want to wear sneakers anyway after a long practice). Invest in a ballroom shoe brush to keep those blue suede shoes looking snazzy.
- Buy flexible shoes! Don't buy any shoe that seems too stiff to give a little here and there. Make sure the shoes are not flimsy, though. Cheap, poorly made, or flimsy shoes will not only be sure to last less than a week, but you could also risk injuring yourself if a shoe doesn't give you the full support, grip, and flexibility you are sure to need.
- Make sure you can balance well! This is more valuable to women dancers, as some shoes can have enormous heels. Don't buy a heel that is so high that you'll be focusing more on not falling than dancing.
- You may be tempted to match a shoe to your outfit, but that may not be the wisest choice. If you are a beginner and want to save money, buy a shoe that is skin colour and will match with just about any outfit. This will save you from having to buy a separate pair of shoes for every costume change.
- Shoes should be snug, but not toe crushing! The shoes may be a slight bit tighter than you like your street shoes to feel, but they shouldn't feel overtly uncomfortable or cram your toes.
- Fit is the most important quality when choosing a shoe.
- Quality shoes are worth the extra price. Usually you get what you pay for. While it's probably not a good idea to pay a fortune for ballroom dance shoes if you are just taking a two week class for fun, it is nice to splurge a little to get something that will give you support, look nice, and fit perfectly.
Related Guides
External Links- About.com-- What you should know before purchasing ballroom shoes.
- Gottadance.org-- Everything you need to know about dance shoes.
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