Thread: Barefoot: A Cautionary Tale

I'll admit it. I'm a shoeless dancer. I prefer to be barefoot unless I'm doing a number that specifically calls for shoes. I learned years ago though (the hard way), the hazards of going shoeless in a venue where glass gets broken... say a bar or restaurant. Ever since then I've worn shoes for any stage that's not designed specifically for dancing.... or any venue where drinks are served.

Last weekend in a rush of packing for a restaurant show I forgot the shoes. Well, the show must go on and not only did I manage to find a wee shard of glass, but it embedded itself into the ball of my foot at such an odd angle and so deeply that fishing expeditions with tweezers proved fruitless. After waiting a few days for it to work itself out, I finally decided that I needed to see a podiatrist. I could dance and walk and all, but when I stepped or pivoted *just so* it hurt like the dickens! It had to come out.

In order to get the glass out (warning... the following account is not for the squeamish) the doc had to apply a local anesthetic and cut a 1/2 in diameter and 1/8 inch deep piece of my foot out that surrounded the sliver of glass. Now I have a hole in my foot that's quite painful if I apply pressure on it so I'm getting around with the help of crutches or just some very strategic walking. Releve is an impossibility right now, as is dancing for at least a few more days. I had to cancel my performance at a hafla last night and a workshop I was supposed to teach today.

Shoes: Don't leave home without them!

Unfortunate. :(

This makes me want to cry!!! I'm so sorry for you. But thanks for sharing. I will show this to my friends who insist on dancing barefoot in restaurants even though they've stepped on glass before...

Ouch!

So sorry for you, hope you get better soon.

Ouch! So sorry you are going through this. I has a similar incident, dancing at a restaurant. Stepped on a piece of glass and was bleeding the whole time I was dancing. Thank God the glass came out, but I did have a hole on my foot. Very painful enperience.

ouch! so sorry to hear that and i hope you get better!

Owwwie.

I learned my lesson a few years ago doing back to back restaurants. I was in pain but my foot was so filthy I couldn't even start to figure out if it was glass in my foot. It actually turned out that I'd ripped off a chunk of foot-skin in a turn. I wore dance sandals after that.

Take care of you bodies! Our bodies our our tools. If the floor is questionable, take responsibility to take care of your feet! Don't expect the restaurant or venue to know what is best for you and your body.

As a backup for nights when you forget your dance shoes, Dr. Scholl's has started selling "Fast Flats" - fold up slippers in a wee pouch for "nights when you're out dancing in high heels and need a break"! They cost about $10, but they tuck right into your dance bag. Not the most flattering dance shoes, but they work in a pinch!

Sorry to hear about your accident, Christina! Hope you're back on your feet soon. :)

Originally Posted by Qalysha

As a backup for nights when you forget your dance shoes, Dr. Scholl's has started selling "Fast Flats" - fold up slippers in a wee pouch for "nights when you're out dancing in high heels and need a break"! They cost about $10, but they tuck right into your dance bag. Not the most flattering dance shoes, but they work in a pinch!

Sorry to hear about your accident, Christina! Hope you're back on your feet soon. :)

I'll have to look for these while I'm out doing the Christmas shopping. Sounds like a nifty "must have" to keep in the show bag! Thanks for the tip!

The foot is healing at a steady pace. I still can't put full weight on it, but I'm walking a bit closer to normal and have been able to do *just* enough almost-dancing to run my student troupe rehearsals so far this week.

OUCH! Glad it's getting better. I admit to being a barefoot lover--not just for dancing! But that does not sound like a fun experience, oh my.

(If anyone gets those Fast Flats, please do report back. Ever since I saw a commercial for them, I've been wondering--are they rubber [they look to me like that stretchy rubber like those rubber bootie things you can get to pull over your shoes]? If so, I'm not sure that would be pleasant for dancing!)

Keeping some of these tucked into your costume bag might also be a solution.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Professional-B...item2c58dfdc51

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by Kat144

(If anyone gets those Fast Flats, please do report back. Ever since I saw a commercial for them, I've been wondering--are they rubber [they look to me like that stretchy rubber like those rubber bootie things you can get to pull over your shoes]? If so, I'm not sure that would be pleasant for dancing!)

No, they're not like galoshes. They're just inexpensive faux leather at the top with soles that are similar in thickness to a house slipper. The soles are enough to give you some protection against small things like beads or little bits of glass, but I wouldn't recommend walking or dancing on surfaces with larger hazards, like grass with the occasional sharp rock or parking lots with coarse gravel or broken glass (not that one shouldn't try to avoid performing on those surfaces anyway...). The soles are ridged and look like they could be a bit grabby for dancing on interior flooring, though. In other words, they're okay as an emergency backup, but they may be too much traction for indoor use, and not substantial enough for some outdoor situations.

Originally Posted by tahiradancer

Keeping some of these tucked into your costume bag might also be a solution.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-Professional-B...item2c58dfdc51

{{{HUGS}}}

Hmm.... wondering if any of my local vendors carry these. These would be great!

Originally Posted by Christina K

Hmm.... wondering if any of my local vendors carry these. These would be great!

I've actually seen them at Walgreen's drugstore!