The Perfect Salser@s Dance Shoe?

[peachexploration]

You know, lately I'm finding that the perfect shoe for me, for salsa is get this, a Tango shoe with a leather sole. Yup! I cannot where anything else without screaming by the end of the night. My feet are terribly sensitive to most shoes. Last year I bruised my instep from just a walking shoe. What shoes do you find best for dancing?

[la celia]

Well,I can't dance with high-heeled shoes because of my ankle! So I denca with dance snakers sometimes (block). Now I have to buy a pair of jazz shoes! :D
I hope to find the right shoes! :oops:

[salsachinita]

I've been a long-term defender of my good ol' beloved mules ( :shock: despite everyone's total disapproval) 8) ....!

Early last year, I got into Jeanette shoes. They DO take a bit of getting used to; after that it's great for spins :D !

These days I wear my jazz ballet/ballet slippers with a little heel. They helped my develope into a new way of balance & changed my dancing. I'm taking things easy after my injury.........

[peachexploration]

Jeanette shoes....gotta take a look at those. I have high instep and it makes terribly difficult to find a good shoe. I'm dreading it big time but it's time that I get a new pair. My old standbys are worn out. :cry:

[peachexploration]

I just purchased some shoes and the heel is just right BUT: This time I measured the heel and it was a 3-inch heel. :shock: I didn't think I could walk in a 3-inch heel, let alone dance in them. :? I usually order 2-inch heels (And thought I did this time :roll: ) My question is: Where does the actual measurement of the heel begin? The very back of the heel or the back of the arch of the foot? :? Anyways, I like my new shoes. :)

[salsachinita]

I'm glad you are happy with your new shoes, PeachE :D !

After a bit of searching & experimenting, I'm convinced that how comfortable a pair of shoes are, have little to do with heel heights alone, but the whole balance of the shoes themselves.

I was struggling in 1.5 inch ballroom shoes while I could dance all night in my 3 inch mules.

Of my two pairs of Jeanette shoes, one pair ('Louis' heels) is relatively shorter than the other (platform with 3 inch heels). I'm finding that I could dance longer wearing the latter, because the balls of my feet are more 'padded' from the platform.

Still, I wish they'd start making 'Louis' heels with platform......that would be my ideal shoes ;) .

[peachexploration]

You're right about the ball of the foot, SC. I've been dancing for about 4-years now and the balls of my feet never got used to dancing without that extra padding which is why I always order it when I buy dance shoes. 8)

[salsachinita]

:o You can actually order extra paddings on shoes.....?

Wow, I've been living under a rock! All I do is buy those little gel pad thingies to add padding.......

[peachexploration]

:o You can actually order extra paddings on shoes.....?

Wow, I've been living under a rock! All I do is buy those little gel pad thingies to add padding.......

Yeah, at Jorge Nel Dance Designs, you can. Particularly since they are custom made. They also offer platforms. I'm pretty sure others offer that service if they're shoes are custom made. :)

[m1ckey]

At least you ladies can wear "ballroom" shoes for salsa (IMO you get some really good looking ones...) and they have leather soles which turn and spin well. We do ballroom too, but a man can't really wear cuban style ballroom shoes to a salsa club!

My wife and I have tried jazz shoes (Blochs) - they're very very comfortable, spin well, etc! Highly recommended!! :)

Martin

[Ms_Sunlight]

Yeah m1ckey, but conversely it's so much easier to find a good selection of leather-soled mens dress shoes than it is to find leather-soled shoes for women in ordinary shops at a reasonable price.

[m1ckey]

Hi Ms Sunlight! Yes - I would agree with that - there are tons of formal mens shoes with leather shoes!! Some nice ones too... BUT for salsa clubbing I prefer a lighter, more sporty, trendy shoe than formal mens shoes. Find that with a non-stick sole and I say you've been shoe shopping! (been there - searched through London (twice) and Paris!)

The problem with male shoes - and I guess ladies may have the same problem - you don't necessarily want to take an extra pair of shoes with you. Check them in? Maybe in your big handbag! What do we do? And if you're visiting a place like London, where you walk miles from your place to the tube, miles under the ground and then miles at the other end to the club, you don't want to wear your Bloch jazz shoes out on the journey! (Especially if your only there for a short time and you go club hopping through the night!)

So I guess, the search for the perfect salsa shoe continues!! :D

[salsachinita]

The problem with male shoes - and I guess ladies may have the same problem - you don't necessarily want to take an extra pair of shoes with you.......... you don't want to wear your Bloch jazz shoes out on the journey! (Especially if your only there for a short time and you go club hopping through the night!)

Excellent point, m1ckey.

From what I've seen in a few different cities, there seem to be two groups of people (out of all the 'serious' dancers who are there to dance). The ones who change shoes, and the ones who wear them there.

I do either, depending on whether I'm driving there, or walking there. The floor conditions also play a part (no use wearing nice suede/leather sols to a sticky grubby floor :roll: ).

My ol' mules and soft Jazz (ballet) slippers (with Topy soles put on) are comfy all rounders, especially if I plan to dance R&B as well.

The 'proper' Jeanette shoes (I can't stand still in them for very long) are reserved for more intense salsa only clubs with clean floors (or early on in other clubs, before the floors get dirty).

Like most shoe-changers, I bring a shoe bag & place the bag under a seat (or behind the DJ booth) while I go dancing. If I park close by I might just wear 'em 8) .

[peachexploration]

....The ones who change shoes, and the ones who wear them there..

Yeah, this why I also have an all purpose Salsa shoe. A pair with leather soles so I don't have to worry too much about ruining them depending on where I'm going.

[Smooth and Silky]

I'm also looking for a pair, but it's hard to find the right style in JA. Do you think regular church shoes would work.

[Guarachero]

Smooth:

Regular church shoes? Good Salsa shoes are considered, by those who have being dancing Salsa for years, to be preferably soft, but specially with smooth soles. In my opinion, I never buy specialized shoes. I buy good leather shoes, and it does not matter how stiff they may be, I'll train them good.

Guarachero