Dancing Essentials: Shoes

essentials

September Specials

(Updated: 09.01.03)

   Dance shoes are another essential ingredient for the dancer.  Finding a proper fitting shoe is always a challenge, and it often takes time.  It is very important that your feet are as comfortable as possible to prevent pain, injury and deformity to the feet.  The goal is to be able to practice as comfortably as possible, for as long as possible.  However, searching for the right shoe is often a very difficult task.  You may need to try several different styles and different manufacturers before you finally find the right fit. 

   A good place to start in Vancouver is Limbers Dance Discount, Joel and Clara's shoe sponsors.  They have a wide variety of shoes available, including Capezio, Freed, and Supadance.  Among these different manufacturers, there is variation in the softness or stiffness of the shoe, the length of the shank, the shape of the toe box, etc...  However, the most important variable is how it fits on your particular foot, and that is unique for each individual. 

   After trying out many different makes and models of shoes, Joel and Clara have both chosen to wear Freed for competition and practice.  For competition, Joel wears style "6692P".  It is a patent leather shoe that seems to fit Joel's flat and narrow foot.  For practice, Joel wears "6692", which is a leather version of the competition shoe.  The leather shoe is more soft and supple, which is slightly more comfortable to practice in.

   Clara's feet are quite the opposite.  Clara has a very wide forefoot and a narrow heel.  Therefore, it is very difficult to find a shoe that fits properly.  For competition, she has chosen to wear an elasticated version of style "Spirit", in an extra wide fit.  This shoe seems to provide a wider toe-box, while at the same time, offering a narrow heel cup.  For practice, Clara wears style "Roma" in an extra wide fit.  It comes in a 2 inch heel, which is slightly lower than the regular 2 and a half inch competition shoe.  It also is made of leather, which is again more comfortable to practice in than the competition shoe.

   As a side note, Joel and Clara do not practice in their practice shoes exclusively.  They practice in both their practice and competition shoes.  The differences in heel height, shape and feel of the shoes can make a significant difference on the competition floor.  Thus, you cannot practice in one type of shoe and then only put on your competition shoe when you get to the competition venue.  You MUST practice in your competition shoe as well, so that your feet, body and partner get used to the competition conditions.   

m a k e   y o u r   d r e a m s  a   r e a l i t y