Thread: ballroom shoes

i'm thinking about starting to perform in ballroom shoes....but the problem is, i'm a bit clumsy and have the tendency to trip over my own bare feet! ..l;,

would it be easier to start off with a very low heel, then work my way up? i've found that ballet slippers are a bit too slippery for me, and i don't have any other dance shoes.

i feel most comfy in bare feet, but i'm tired of digging beads out of my feet at the end of a show. ,f::

You know, the height of heel you start in is going to be totally up to you. There are a lot of options, including 1/2" which, while changing your center of balance a little, really isn't that big a shift.

The biggest issue will be practice. Lots and lots of practice. And make sure you are walking with your whole foot.

{{{HUGS}}}

i'm worried about that too...i tend to dance on my toes a LOT. i'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing :(

We dance in releve all the time. That is as normal in this dance form as dancing flat footed. What I mean is that people have a tendency to clomp in heels if they aren't used to it. When you walk in heels, you need to roll through the foot just like you do with regular shoes, just adjusted enough so you don't break the heel! ;-)

As I said, practice.

{{{HUGS}}}

To echo Tahira's 2nd post, we dance in releve a lot. If you have strong ankles and feet and use releve currently, you may actually prefer a higher heel or a narrower heel. I find that I high narrow heel keeps me light on my feet and more balanced because it keeps me in releve and I put very little weight into the actual heel of the shoe.
if you have a good dance supply store in your area you may be able to try before you buy but if not it can be hard to find ballroom retailers where you can try on shoes.
IMO the biggest thing about ballroom shoes is their flexible sole. Its an asset but can be difficult to get used to at first.
Good luck!

My ballroom shoes are boring and serviceable silver t-bars with a lowish heel (about two and a half inches) which allow me to go up onto full releve easily and give me a helping hand with a level change down. You'll find ballroom shoes great once you get used to them - they are very strong and as they are designed for dancing, they give you all the flexibility your foot requires PLUS support. I have wide feet with high arches and I prefer to try a shoe always before buying - I'd recommend going to a shop rather than buying online if you can. When you buy some wear them round the house for a bit - you'll quickly stretch them to shape.

Originally Posted by Zumarrad

My ballroom shoes are boring and serviceable silver t-bars with a lowish heel (about two and a half inches)

Two and a half inches is a LOWISH HEEL??? Wow. I'd hate to see what you consider a high heel. I get vertigo above two inches! ..l;,

Oh, I don't know inches! I am measurement challenged due to switching to metric when I was 10! *measures* It's two and a half inches from the back of the heel to the heel tap.

I have high insteps though, I can walk around on a high ball very easily. Also I do tango and my shoes are frumpishly low there (though much easier to dance in than evil heels).

I just bought ballroom shoes to dance in today so, I'll let you know how they go for me! The store I went to only carried ballroom shoes in 2.5" or 3" heels and they said that is the ballroom standard. I don't wear heels often in everyday life and normally dance in flats but, my first practice went well with them. Just my two cents.

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

What I mean is that people have a tendency to clomp in heels if they aren't used to it. When you walk in heels, you need to roll through the foot just like you do with regular shoes, just adjusted enough so you don't break the heel! ;-)

As I said, practice.

{{{HUGS}}}

clomping is often a byproduct of having the wrong height heels for your personal locomotion... I'm smooth in heels of 1/2" or less, very clompy in heels 1/2" to 2-1/2" and smooth in heels 2-3/4" to 4". I taught ballroom in 3-1/2" heels for a couple of years, worked perfectly. For me, finding that right height made all the difference, it allows me to roll through the action from heel to ball of foot. in a 2" heel, I tend to flap the ball of the foot down instead of rolling smoothly into it. in what we do, working in releve means you don't spend a *lot* of time rolling through from heel to ball, but the mechanial angles seem to matter to stablility as well.

most non-dance heels are not designed to take a normal stepping stride supporting your weight on the heel as you roll through. because of this I think a lot of women learn to step clompy in them - heel and ball landing flat at the same time - to avoid breaking off a heel and then your ankle...

a properly fitted ballroom heel holds to your foot securely and has a shank built in to allow the shoe to support you fully, even if all your weight is on the heel. the most popular heel height is 2-1/2" and sometimes you have to special order if you want a higher heel. typically shoes with 2" or lower heels have a character style (blocky) heel instead of the narrow stiletto style. if you are clompy in the height you're trying out, you may want to look at a heigher, as well as a lower, heel height.

some of the latin styles are downright sexy, perfect with an elegant egyptian gown. The biggest problem I've had in dancing in them is not the operation of the shoe, or balance, but hooking my heel in the hem of my skirt.

omg im scared of getting my heel stuck in my skirt too lol

I've gotten my heel stuck. But I wear 3 - 3 1/2" heels.

Just FYI: Fahteim wears 1" heels and so does Nasila. I hope she'll chime in here!

{{{HUGS}}}

The nice thing about custom ballroom shoes is you can get just the height you want. But of course you can't try them on in advance.

I have some of these:
http://www.dance-wear.net/product.php?cat_id=7

I got them in the 1.2" heel height as I have achilles tendon problems and can't wear a high heel any more.

I wanted some decent dance shoes (not slippers) but have foot issues. (A size 10.5 and beginning of Morton's neuroma.) And I'm a klutz, too. Ended up with 1.5" heel character shoes:

http://www.dancefashionswarehouse.co...ht-pr-336.html

They have a nice flexible sole and are really comfortable.

I love my 1 1/2 inch holographic silver t-straps though they are a tad small. If you have any questions about sizing please do yourself a favor and call the company. They'll be happy to make sure you get the right shoe for you.

I like the 1 1/2 height because it's just high enough to look like a heel and it still feels stable.

http://www.veryfineshoes.com/index.php

This is the company I ordered from: probably not the cheapest but they do have a nice selection.

Originally Posted by roguepen

I wanted some decent dance shoes (not slippers) but have foot issues. (A size 10.5 and beginning of Morton's neuroma.) And I'm a klutz, too. Ended up with 1.5" heel character shoes:

http://www.dancefashionswarehouse.co...ht-pr-336.html

They have a nice flexible sole and are really comfortable.

With anything Morton's related, make sure you have proper arch support! (Modify with an insole if you must.) As one with Morton's foot form(one of the 75% of the human population who have it) and an MT, I support proper arch support!

I have danced in 2.5" and 3" heels. I started in heels because of the troupe I was in so I'm used to it by now. As others have mentioned, practicing is a must! I rarely get them caught in the fabric of my skirt, but did get them stuck in the the beading of my skirt this past weekend getting up from floor work, yikes! I use very fine brand (2 for the price of 1!) and Elegance. Elegance are better quality, but more expensive... Good luck!

I started dancing in shoes because I also do a lot of folk dancing and found the shoes I used for the folk dances helped my foot problems. (falling arches)

http://www.dancecenter.com/Shoppe/sh...l#Anchor-42728

I like the Kelly Style and bought the gold ones which go with most of my costumes.

Marya