Standard Shoe Guide

by Elizabeth Ditchburn

The right dance shoes are the most important piece of equipment that a dancer can have. Both ladies and gentlemen should seriously consider purchasing a pair of dance shoes if they take their dancing seriously. Dance shoes should fit snugly, and typically dance shoes are worn about half a size smaller than street shoes.

Gentlemen have it easy here. A single pair of leather shoes should suffice for both competition and practice. There are a variety of toe shapes and widths to chose from; men should find the style that best fits the shape of their foot. Shoes should fit snugly, but should be comfortable and not too tight. Some gentlemen prefer patent leather shoes for competition, but plain black leather is OK for competition too, and is easier to keep looking good if you practice in the same shoes you compete in.

Ladies have a bit more of a decision to make. Typically, ladies compete in "court" shoes. These are satin pumps, usually white, with slim heels. Heels that are 2.5" are the most common, but 2" heels are also common, especially in larger shoe sizes, and some ladies where 3" heels. You'll want to take your own height and the height of your partner (if you have one) into account when choosing a heel height. There are several styles available with either pointy or less pointy toes, and some have elastic around the inside of the toe to help keep them on.

The problem with court shoes is that they don't stand up well to wear and tear. Most ladies have practice shoes and save their court shoes for competition. Leather tie up practice shoes are also much more comfortable to wear for long hours of practice. Many varieties come with a lower, fatter heel than the competition shoes. This is much more comfortable, but you should be aware that the higher heels feel slightly different to dance in, which is why I prefer a practice shoe with a heel similar to my competition shoes. Another innovation of some practice shoes is that they are perforated, which keeps your feet from getting very sweaty.

Shoes are expensive (~$100), so both practice and competition shoes might not be in your budget. You might want to just buy a pair of court shoes and resign yourself to the fact that they'll look a bit beat up after a short while. You can also buy practice shoes now, and do your first few competitions in your practice shoes, at the beginner levels this won't raise any eyebrows.

Any shoe for standard and/or smooth should be closed toe. An open toe will lead to at least torn stockings if you're trying to take backward steps properly, and will probably prevent you from taking the proper action.

There are differing opinions on what colour shoes should be. Many people will advise you to get neutral or beige shoes because it takes attention away from the feet. Before you take this advice, think about how much it applies to you. I always compete in white shoes because I want the judges to watch my feet! If footwork is your strong point, you might similarly want shoes that are white or dyed to match your dress. I also prefer to get practice shoes that will go with outfits that I'm likely to wear to dance parties.

One general brand recommendation I'd make is for Supadance shoes. They're made in the UK, so the sizes are different than US sizes. In ladies shoes, the US size is the same as the UK size +2; for men the US size is generally the same as the UK size +1.