When it comes to dancing our footwear must perform as well as we do. Shoes are a vital part of dancing that goes beyond just style. How comfortable you are on your feet will ultimately define you as a dancer. In this article we will review the best shoes for dancers that are worth your dollar!
Shoes for dancers must be comfortable and durable enough to hold up to many forms of dancing. The styles of shoes worn play a large role in the look and feel of the dancer. Your footwork must be equally matched with your footwear.
Dancing comes in many styles and forms. Many people dance for a living and others do it for fun.
You are on your feet when you dance and what you wear on those feet can determine how comfortable you are with the process.
Anyone can learn to dance, but not everyone can do it gracefully and that is where a good pair of dancing shoes come in.
You need to be light on your feet while still having enough comfort and stability to maneuver. Shoes need good traction for dancing regardless of the style of the dance or of the shoe itself.
We have a few tips and tricks for picking out the right shoes for dancing no matter what your style.
What is Your Style of Dancing?
To better understand what kind of shoes will work best for you it helps to determine what your dancing style is. You may even dance in multiple styles that require different footwear.
Types of dance styles:
- Ballroom dancing
- Ballet dancing
- Breakdancing
- Hip hop dancing
- Dance fitness
- Contemporary dancing
There are hundreds of styles when it comes to dancing, however, we have chosen a few popular ones. Only a few of these require special footwear, and others use a wide variety of shoe types.
Chances are you are looking for popular dance shoes that will help you get to the next level.
Do not get caught up in all the hype though, making sure your shoes are comfortable and flexible is the most important tip we can give you.
You are going to be relying on your shoes to help you with those sweet moves, and the more comfortable you are the more natural it will be for you to perform.
Types of Dance Shoes and Heels
There are lots of dance shoes to choose from. Some have high heels, some have thick heels, others are slippers such as ballet slippers.
If you are just starting to dance you may want to consider a shoe with a thicker heel. You may need extra cushion and support while your feet get used to the heavy movement that dancing requires.
Some styles of dancing call for high heels, such as stiletto dancing (this is a difficult style.) Others may call for flat heels.
Types of dance shoes:
- Ballroom shoes
- Dance sneakers
- Ballet shoes
- Tap shoes
Some of these shoes are specific to their types of dance, other shoes on this list are contemporary shoes that will work for multiple styles of dance.
Once you know the styles you will be performing you will have a better idea of which of these shoe types will be a perfect fit for your dancing.
Dancing can be an exciting way to get exercise, to earn money, and just have fun.
Ballroom Dance Shoes
Ballroom dance shoes come in both men’s and women’s styles. They have a low heel that evenly distributes a person’s weight across the foot. There are classic ballroom shoes as well as Latin style ballroom shoes.
The Latin style shoes have a higher heel that distributes the weight to the toe. This allows for different styles of ballroom dancing.
These shoes look sleek and allow the dancer to move gracefully across the ballroom floor.
Ballroom dancing is a timeless style of dancing that is popular almost anywhere in the world.
Tip – When choosing a pair of ballroom shoes make sure that you find a pair that fits snug to your feet because you will be moving across the floor and putting a lot of weight on them back and forth.
Ballet Dance Shoes
Ballet dance shoes come in a variety of different styles. From leather to thin cloth-like material. To be a ballet dancer you must be light on your feet so the lighter the shoes the easier it will be to maneuver.
Some ballet shoes are even referred to as ballet slippers because they are lightweight and easy to slip on.
Tip – Leather ballet shoes last much longer than the canvas ones. If you are making a career out of ballet consider leather shoes.
Breakdancing Shoes
Breakdancing is an aggressive style of dancing that relies heavily on a good pair of sneakers. You want your shoes to get a lot of traction, with a sole that provides support.
Suede shoes are the most popular for breakdancing since they last longer and come in many awesome styles.
The shoe needs to be somewhat lightweight but tough enough to hold up to spinning around and doing maneuvers that require durability.
Tip – Breakdancing shoes are also about preference and personal style. Choose a shoe that looks good and feels good.
Shoes for Hip Hop Dancing
Hip hop dancing comes in many forms. Shoes for hip hop dancing are generally sneakers with a lot of cushioning and a thick sole. It can be an aggressive style of dancing so you need traction and durability.
The most popular hip hop dancing shoes are Converse, Adidas, and sneakers that look nice.
There is a lot of argument about what is the best style when it comes to the best shoes for hip hop dancing.
Tip – Pick a pair that feels comfortable and that speaks to your style of hip hop dancing.
Shoes for Dance Fitness
The best shoes for dance fitness are running shoes and sneakers. You want something that has a good thick sole, plenty of cushion, and support for your ankles.
Dance fitness combines aggressive exercising with music on a whole new level. It’s a very popular way to get exercise and it feels amazing.
You have a pretty wide variety when it comes to picking a good pair of dance fitness shoes. They don’t need to be fancy but they do need to be quality shoes.
Tip – When you pick out a pair of dance fitness shoes, ask yourself if you could run in them, jump in them, and try a few pairs on to see which ones are the most comfortable.
Contemporary Dance Shoes
Contemporary dance shoes work for many styles of dancing. You can hip hop dance in them, do fitness dancing, and go to the club looking nice in them.
They need to be versatile and stylish. The most popular contemporary dance shoes are Converse sneakers and sneaker brands like Puma, Nike, and others.
Tip – The most important thing is to be yourself. Pick a pair of sneakers that you think look nice, that are comfortable, and that let you move!
Find the most popular pair of Converse’s on Amazon here.
Tap Shoes
Tap shoes are a more specific type of shoe. While some people may not consider tap dancing popular, there is a large audience for tapping. These shoes are made with special cardboard on the bottom called soundboard.
Metal pieces attach to this area and are used for tapping out a rhythm and creating an awesome sound.
The metal taps are screwed into the soundboard with screws that can be adjusted.
Tip – The most important part of tap shoes is the quality of the taps, they come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Find out which ones work best for you and rock them!
Find a good pair of tap shoes on Amazon here.
Tips for Choosing the Right Shoe
You’re going to be on your feet when you dance. Your footwear should protect your feet, be comfortable, and look good.
A lot of times there is a lot of personal preference involved in the styles you like and what type of dance you’re into.
Here are a few tips:
- Try on multiple pairs of the style you like. Find the one pair that fits great and feels great.
- Don’t just go by how good a pair of shoes look, they need to feel good on your feet and let you move around with agility.
- The more lightweight the shoes are the easier it is to let loose on the dance floor. Go for durable, lightweight shoes.
Keep these tips in mind when you are looking for a great pair of dance shoes. The most popular brands of dance shoes such as Converse, Adidas, Nike, and Pumas all make great quality dance shoes. Choose a pair that really speaks to you and your style of dancing.
“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.”
Friedrich Nietzsche
Related Questions
Can you dance in any type of shoe? Usually, you can get away with dancing in most types of shoes. As long as they are comfortable and look good. When dancing all that matters is that you have a good time and feel good about it.
Are there any dance shoes to avoid? You should avoid trying to dance in sandals and shoes that have high heels or platforms (unless your dance style calls for them.) You need your feet to have protection and balance. Shoes with ankle support and padded toes work best.
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