How To Choose Ballroom & Latin Dance Shoes: Guide for Ladies & Men
When you come in for your first lesson, you do not have to wear dance shoes. Sneakers or any comfy shoes would do!
But after a few classes, you might consider investing in proper dance shoes.
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored or affiliated with any mentioned brands. All opinions are my own.
When you are looking for dance shoes, there are a few things that you need to take into account.
The first thing is the style of dance that you will be doing.
The second is the type of shoe that will be best suited for your needs.
In this blog post, we will discuss both ladies’ and men's dance shoes, as well as the best brands on the market. Let's get started!
What Makes Dance Shoes Different?
The soles of dance shoes are considerably different from those of normal shoes. Ballroom dance shoes have a thin suede sole that allows you to glide across the floor with just enough grip.
Dance shoes are also flexible, allowing the shoe to follow the foot's movements.
A good shoe not only allows a dancer to slide but also highlights footwork.
Regular shoes often have a rubber sole that helps with a grip - but that grip is not quite what a dancer is looking for!
Two Main Types Of Dance Shoes Are Ballroom & Latin.
Ladies Shoes
In general, these two ladies' styles may be identified with a glimpse.
Latin shoes are generally open-toed and more ‘strappy' than ballroom shoes, which will be quite similar to a conventional court shoe but with a buckle fastener across the sole.
Heels or no heels? That’s a good question!
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. The reason is…balance. When you are starting your dance journey, you don’t want to be struggling with balance but rather focus on getting the dancing basics.
Bonus Tip: Heel Protectors
Heel protectors help prevent damage to your heel and heel tips. You can get those at any dancewear store. They also add support, stability and friction to the heel of your dance shoes. Also, dance shoes make an interesting swishing sound when slid against the floor. Heel protectors significantly reduce noise and, believe us, this noise sometimes can be very annoying!
Men’s Shoes
Men's Ballroom shoes are similar to men's dress shoes: - closed shoes with low heel and laces.
Men's Latin shoes have a slightly higher Cuban heel (block heel). They are designed to keep the weight towards the balls of the feet for easier weight changes. Often you need some time to get used to a Cuban heel.
Traditional ballroom and Latin shoes tend to come in black colour, but you can find some more colourful options on the market so pick a pair that suits your personal taste.
Practice Shoes & Dance Sneakers
Practice Shoes
These are comfortable shoes used for practising or for those who prefer a steadier shoe. These shoes often have black, lace-up designs and a low heel.
A pair of practice shoes will save the wear and tear on your regular dance shoes as they are usually sturdier and are built to last you years of practice.
Dance Sneakers
This is a more casual version of a practice shoe. They are handy when you practice for many hours and need that comfort. Dance sneakers have built-in arch support and allow movement flexibility.
The Best Dance Shoes For Ladies And Men
Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with any mentioned brands/shops.
When buying dance shoes, it’s not always necessary to pay a fortune for good quality, but the cheapest option isn’t always the best one either.
Popular High-Quality Brands
I have tried a lot of brands throughout my dance career and I can recommend looking at these brands:
Ray Rose, Supadance, International Dance Shoes and AIDA
These are the most popular and high-quality shoes available on the market.
Where To Buy Dance Shoes?
If you can, visit a dancewear store and try before you buy to make sure that they are comfortable and don’t allow the foot to wiggle.
If you order online, bear in mind that dance shoes can vary significantly in their width, firmness etc. Wide fitting from one manufacturer is not the same as from another. Make sure you can easily return or exchange them if they don’t fit.
You can find some shoes on Chinese marketplaces such as Aliexpress or LightInTheBox. They can be very affordable, however, they might not last long and you need to choose a shop carefully.
If you live in Sydney, we recommend visiting VivazDance in Rosebery - they have a great variety of stylish good-quality shoes.
GlamourDance Shop is also a great place to order shoes (online only).
We hope that this guide has been helpful in choosing the right type of Ballroom and Latin dance shoes for you. Just remember to keep comfort, support, and style in mind when buying dance shoes.
Happy shopping!