Ouch! Dancing without proper shoes!

[Nickie p]

I've only been dancing for about 3 months now and have been using a pair of smooth soled shoes that I never used to wear to make up for the fact that I have no proper dance shoes - up till now these have been fine.

However - think i need to buy some proper dance shoes now! We were doing a routine with a good few spins in last night and I ended up with the whole of the ball of my foot blistering up (lovely big 2inch blister!) - which then burst - so is very sore today! :cry:

Have been looking around for larger sized dance shoes - I am a size 7 to 8 normally.

Can anyone reccomend some good but no so expensive shoes? I start university in september and am not sure how much I will be dancing from then but I can't carry on like this in the meantime!

Also - if anyone has any tips for easing blister pain..... :(

Nic

[MacMoto]

Also - if anyone has any tips for easing blister pain..... :(
Get some large "blister plasters" -- they have a clear gel layer that absorbs moisture so blisters heal more quickly, while providing a good cushion for the painful area. They really do work. I ended up with a big blister on my foot after my first social dancing night but was able to dance the following night :roll: thanks to a blister plaster. You should be able to buy them from any large chemist's shop. Only, I'm not sure if there are any large enough to cover a 2" blister...

[Nickie p]

just to add - have remedied the shoes problem - just won a bid on ebay for some Roch Valley dance shoes (no idea if they're any good though!)

[funseeker321]

regarding the shoes......I have a narrow foot that I've had trouble finding comfortable dance shoes to fit...I've purchased International, SupaDance and another ....none fit welll



so I'm now taking my comfortable street sandals and shoes to a good shoerepair shop and having them add leather half soles for dancing in clubs with wood floors and suede half soles for better quality wood dance floors....$16 a pair to add suede or leather!!!!

can't beat it!

[Karlita]

Hi! Just wanted to join in your shoe talk to ask a quick question: Are there any salsa shoes someone could recommend that are not heels? Heels make my feet hurt so bad, I really would like to find a good dance shoe for salsa that is flat or at least not too high of a heel but that is still attractive looking as well. Please help if you can! And maybe tell me where to find them too please
thanx!!!

[peachexploration]

Hi Karlita. You can try the jazz flats, alot of Salsa dancers use those. Try
Capezio®’s techno jazz oxford. You could find probably at any dance shoe store. :)

[Karlita]

Once again, thanx peach! Are those shoes nice looking for clubs and parties? Or old ladyish? In pics on internet, dance shoes seem so ugly! Maybe I just have to cultivate a taste for them or maybe I havent looked at the right shoes.. hm. I'll check out the ones you mentioned! BTW, what is the benefit of buying dancing shoes as opposed to just putting a suede sole on regular street shoes?

[peachexploration]

Karlita, here is another thread regarding shoes:
:arrow: What are the best shoes for Salsa? (http://www.salsaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=546&highlight=shoes)

Ugly dance shoes? Take a browse through the Event Announcements and ADs and Websites of Interest sections for good links on shoes. Very nice shoes for all kinds of heel types. :)

[Ephidel]

Do you guys know about shoes for men? All the shoes I see in dance stores are girly and pointy, and even have about 1 inch heel. I don't want pointy girly shoes. Are there some shoes that are slippery enough for the dance floor but that don't make you look like a ballerine?

[memphis salsero]

I dont really know what to tell you b/c we have a decent selection in Memphis. I do want to warn you though that a lot of men's leather bottom shoes only have a small layer of leather. So after a few nights out you will have worn them back down to rubber. It is really worth it to pay the extra money and order some good shoes off-line if you cant find any around you. Ask some of the seasoned dancers around you where they bought their shoes. In memphis there are some stores that arent very well known and kind of hidden that sell great men's dance shoes.

[praecantricis]

Ephidel - A lot of guys I know use Bloch dance sneakers - unfortunately popular with Cirroc dancers...they do a great job for salsa. I have a pair for when I'm dancing in jeans....

[memphis salsero]

I have a pair of bloch dance sneakers and I really like them

[JazzHands]

I third that! Blochs are excellent for salsa :applause:

I even manage to get them in my size (12-13 UK).

[PielCanela]

those Blochs...

you guys/gals gettting them your street shoes size ?? the pair of dance shoes I bought a month ago, after reading some posts decided to go for 1/2 shorter. I am glad I did, it is still a bit bigger for me.. not that big but maybe a whole size would have been the ideal

[Karlosism]

Guys whats up with the white shoes... ?? Where do you buy them..I've seen these square toe white shoes, but I don't know where to get them..online???

[memphis salsero]

No my Bloch size is 1 higher than my shoe size. It's usually more expensive to buy shoes online. I think I said this before but I asked some dancers in my area where they bought their dance shoes and they told me about this place that is not that well known, but they have good shoes for social dancing for like $30. Ask people in your area where they buy shoes.

[JazzHands]

My Blochs are a size US 15 1/2 - which I guess must equate to a UK 13 or something.

If you can get to London there are a few places that will help you find a perfect fit.

[PielCanela]

MS I saw several models for the botch sneakers ...

is this the one that you have ?

http://www.latindance.com/webimages/bloch_S538BM.jpg

[memphis salsero]

Yea, except mine are red 8)

[PielCanela]

Yea, except mine are red 8)

Red ... what do you combine it with ?? do you use it when going to the clubs too ? just wondering never had red shoes before

[memphis salsero]

Typically when I practice I wear them with whatever. I dont where dance sneakers to the club very much b/c I usually like to dress up at the club. Maybe if we had a good more club more than 2 nights a week I would be more casual. The times I have worn them to the club there are usually with some kid of causal black pants and a red shirt. I also have a red salsa hat with a black stripe down the middle. If you're looking for something to wear out alot then black would be the way to go. I just already had black shoes.

[LilWhiteBlondGrl]

Any girls out there who only have heels...save your feet once in a while and get some jazz shoes! I have Capezios, which I really like that I got off eBay, and Wal-Mart had some cheap ones for $15 that I wear garage practicing. ;)

Sometimes I'll even wear them to the club....or change into them after a few hours. They look silly with a skirt though...keep this look with pants. :doh:

[kdogg]

I'm still trying to get used to dancing in bloch sneakers with the split heel and toe. I normally wear dress shoes with leather sole. Having good shoes does affect your dancing, especially for followers who does multiple spins.

[PielCanela]

MS , do you have any jazz shoes also ? I keep hearing jazz shoes being mentioned as a practice shoe.

-anyone else has then for salsa purposes ?

[pr]

I use dance sneakers and sometimes I use jazz shoes. :P My jazz shoes have suède soles and therefore works very bad on wet floors (e.g. beer) :x, but if the floor is dry it works fine. :)

[memphis salsero]

Sorry cant help you with the Jazz shoes