Your toes should come to the edge of the shoe and your heel should rest firmly into the back
The shoes should include some padding to absorb the pressure of the foot constantly pressing on the floor.
Your toes should come to the edge of the shoe and your heel should rest firmly into the back
The shoes should include something to secure them tightly on your feet like straps or laces. The best support in women’s sandals are shoes that include a strap underneath the arch of the foot.
In woman’s sandals, the width of the shoe’s straps should be about 1/4″ or wider to prevent breakage of the strap and to lessen the strap cutting into the foot. Also, tension straps are desirable because they don’t require a hole in the strap and it allows you to adjust for tightness differently on each foot.
All dance shoes will stretch over time. If a shoe feels slightly tight at first, it’s better than a shoe that is too loose. Ultimately, a dance shoe should mold to your foot.
The type of heel should be considered. For women’s shoes, the heel should be a little thicker for better support and balance. Men should consider which style of dancing they will do most often. Smooth dancers will probably prefer a flat (1/2″) heel, while a rhythm or latin dancer will probably prefer a cuban (1 1/2″ – 2″) heel which will force them more onto the balls of their feet.
The outside texture of the shoe should also be considered. Brocade designs, nubuck, velvet, and suede wear quickly and shorten the life of the shoe since the appearance becomes undesirable.
Special consideration should be taken with patent leather shoes. It’s usually a good idea to put petroleum jelly on the inside of each heel to prevent sticking as the feet pass one another. No matter what style of shoes you buy, be aware that patent leather will almost always crack or crease just behind the toes.
