Dancers should get dance shoes for the same reason soccer players wear cleats or football players wear pads. Dance shoes are specifically designed to support your feet and reduce the possibility of injury to ankles and knees.
You should consider dance shoes if you:
• Take more than one group class per week
• Take more than one private lesson per week
• Participate in a showcase
• Have back, knee or ankle problems
• Have interest in competing
Balance Between “Slick & Stick”
Dance shoes have flexible suede soles that have the perfect balance between ‘slick and stick’. When dancing, you need a sole that allows movement during spins (unlike tennis shoes with rubber soles) and will also grip the floor when you need control (unlike leather or plastic soled shoes). Additionally, dance shoes are very lightweight and flexible to help prevent tired, sore, overworked feet.
Because the dance shoe is very lightweight and does not have a welt, it enables you to roll through and articulate your feet while dancing. This is something that cannot be done in regular street shoes. Rolling through the feet when you’re dancing creates better balance and control in your dancing, like you see the professionals doing.
Where can I find dance shoes?
Right here at The Shop at Go Dance! We have a good variety of practice and performance shoes for both men and women. Quite a few of our styles we keep in a full run of sizes so they are ready to be worn to your very next group class or private lesson. Don’t see anything you like? Our catalogue of shoes that can be ordered is extensive, there’s sure to be a style in there that fits your personality.
Find the Perfect Fit
One of the benefits for buying dance shoes here is that you get to try on the shoes for the perfect fit before you buy them. The experienced Go Dance staff will also make sure you are properly sized and fitted with the correct shoe before you wear your footwear.
Want a more casual look?
Lindy sneakers are a popular inexpensive alternative to dance shoes that are lightweight, no heel, and have suede on the soles. The Sansha brand sneaker is a great version of these shoes and can be found at Movin’ Easy. Jazz dance sneakers with their thick rubber sole, have been popular in the past, however, they should only be worn if you get suede put on the soles to avoid causing or aggravating ankle, knee or back injuries.
