Ballroom Dance Shoes - Shop Online in Australia | Vivaz Dance - Vivaz Dance (2024)

FAQs

What are dance heels? ›

Dance shoes and dance heels are made with a thinner sole to allow for freer movement and extensions like pointing your toes. The sole is reinforced with high-grade materials to withstand intense and irregular movement which street shoes do not offer. They may cause injury as the structure is too rigid.

All this technique is virtually impossible to do in a regular shoe. Regular shoes have thick, inflexible soles that are frequently meant to grip the floor. They are made for walking, or for appearances, but certainly not for dancing. Dance shoes are built specifically for dancing.

Heels might vary considerably in height depending on the range available. Ballroom heels are typically between 2.5-3 inches (6-8 cm), while Latin heels can be up to 5 inches (12 cm). However, we do not recommend buying a pair of competition heels until you have been dancing in lower-heeled shoes for a while.

Practice dance shoes

They either have suede bottoms like competitions shoes, or they may have plastic bottoms to allow for more durability. They have a 1 to 1.5 inch heel, and are often flexible at the arch to allow for pointing of the toe. They are padded, and often come in different colors and designs.

What kind of heels are easy to dance in? This will depend on your level of experience but generally the dance heels that are easiest to dance in are the 3.5 inch dance heel. A mid-heel is just enough height without the hurt or sacrificing your dance abilities.

The fit of a dance shoe needs to be tight.

The materials that your dance shoes are constructed of will stretch as you wear them and you want them to fit your foot like a glove. A dance shoe needs to fit snug and tight, but not painful. When you first put on a brand new pair, they should hug your foot.

Never wear your shoes "barefoot". You'd be amazed at how much looser dance shoes feel when worn with a pair of tights or dance socks.

Dance socks act as a protective barrier between the feet and the floor, reducing friction and minimizing the risk of abrasions and injuries. Additionally, they offer a layer of cushioning, absorbing impact and reducing the strain on dancers' feet, particularly during intense rehearsals or performances.

Whether to wear socks with swing dance shoes depends on personal comfort and shoe fit. Some swing dancers prefer the direct feel of the shoe, while others may wear thin socks for added comfort.

However, if we had to offer a timespan, we would say that your ballroom dance shoes should last anywhere from five months to a year (if used frequently). Some shoes can last much longer, others much less. It all depends on the quality and how you use them.

Can I wear ballroom dance shoes outside? ›

Can You Wear Dance Shoes Outside? Traditional dance shoes have suede soles and undersides and can snag or catch easily on rough surfaces, so it is always recommended to keep them just for stage or studio use. The bottom of the shoe is designed to be smooth for that essential sliding and gliding across the dance floor.

The height requirements of dancers are really designated by the ballet companies hiring. Most ballet company's average height for a female is approximately 167cm. However, in Europe some companies require females to be no taller than the traditional 165cm, while others have a minimum height of 173cm.

Ballroom dance shoes may have different sizing than regular street shoes, so check the brand's sizing chart. Toe Space - Ensure there's enough room for your toes to move comfortably without feeling cramped or squeezed. Secure Heel Fit - The shoe's heel should snugly hold in place for stability during movements.

Suede soles are the ideal sole material for a ballroom dance shoe. They give you some traction on the dancefloor and will allow you to glide without slipping. Suede soles do wear thin over time though. You can extend the life of your suede soles with proper care using a wire brush.

Any pointe shoe that is overly stiff can be a “cheater shoe,” e.g. a shoe that does the work that the dancer's body should be doing. Any inflexible shoe can prop you up on pointe and allow you to “sit”. An overly stiff shoe can also allow you to “pop up”, rather than roll up, to full pointe.

Additionally, many dance shoe designers correct one of the major flaws of regular heels: placing all of the wearer's weight on the balls of the feet. “Dancing heels allow you to bear more weight on the heel,” Lee said. “This is probably the main reason why they're going to feel more comfortable.”

Can You Wear Dance Shoes Outside? Traditional dance shoes have suede soles and undersides and can snag or catch easily on rough surfaces, so it is always recommended to keep them just for stage or studio use. The bottom of the shoe is designed to be smooth for that essential sliding and gliding across the dance floor.

Dancing shoes are designed with flexibility in mind, expecting the wearer to move their body and point their feet as needed. While street shoes are designed with thick, hard soles to protect the feet, dance footwear is thinner and allows for more articulation in the foot.