You have sat and watched the stars dance around your TV. You have seen the how absolute beginners can be transformed, with expert tuition, into gods that float effortlessly across the ballroom floor. So now you want to join them.
The lessons are going to be tough, that goes without saying, but you if you are not careful your body can suffer too. The question that you should ask is whether it is you or the shoes that should good.
Normal shoes are designed for walking where grip is important, this is not the case on the dance floor where too much friction can affect your speed of footwork and may even lead to ankle, knee or back problems. The reason is obvious; dancing requires your legs to move fluently and the difference could all be down to the choice of footwear. Your ankles, knees and back will try to compensate for any lack of slick foot moves.
A little investigation quickly reveals why good dancers wear the ‘fancy’ dance shoes. These will be made from breathable fabrics such as leather or suede. Generally the soles are made of suede. These shoes bear a resemblance to bowling shoes in their suppleness and feel. Men and women will tend to have different shoes for Latin dances with the men’s shoes having one and a half to two inch heels, and there should be room for the toes to move.
Buying a beautiful looking pair of shoes from your local shoe store may seem appealing, but if you want to dance your best you should wear proper dance shoes. You will need to try out any pair of shoes before you buy them. It is not only the looks but the feel as you step, turn and twirl. There should be no ‘stickiness’ and yet the shoes should not slip or slide uncontrollably. Also check that they stay on your feet when you go up on your toes!
Badly fitting shoes can lead to some serious foot problems such as metatarsalgia (pain in the ball of the foot), plantar fasciitis, hammer toes, and bunions. This is especially true with the Latin dances. Due to the stress on the lower limb and foot during dancing, injuries and complaints are quite common. If the problem is serious then you should see your GP or a podiatrist as soon as possible
Before buying a pair of new dancing shoes, you should do your research to find out exactly what is required for your particular type of dancing, and also make sure you get a proper fitting by a professional. Ill-fitting dance shoes can lead to numerous foot problems that can affect your dancing and enjoyment. Seek help from your dance instructor or leading dance shoe retailers. Remember that the choice of shoe depends on whether you're going to class, a studio dance or a competition. To begin with a leather soled shoe, such as a loafer-type, or for men, a dress shoe style, will do perfectly well in the studio.
To preserve the life of suede and leather soles, dance shoes should never be worn outside. Two other accessories that will extend the wear of your dance shoes - a carrying case for transporting them, and a sole brush to lift the nap of the suede every couple of weeks or so. Remember that the foundation of a dancer is the pair of shoes on their feet.
Roger Titley is a successful entrepreneur, both in the offline and online arenas. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, please click here: (http://www.studiodancing.com/)
