A lot of my students have asked me about dance shoes, specifically which brands are the best and how to find the right fit. Finding the balance between appearance and comfort can be hard with ballroom dance shoes but it is extremely important to find a good pair of shoes so that you can be steady on your feet and avoid injury. The top brands trusted by professionals are Supadance, International Dance Shoes, Aida, Dance Naturals, Ray Rose and Paoul. This already gives a wide variety of choices when you start shopping. Everyone's foot shape is different so what works for one person may not be the right fit for you. In the end, you may have to try several brands and styles before you find the right one for you. When searching through all of these options, here are my top tips and advice:
1. Prioritize Stability: For several years my main concern with my dance shoes was their appearance. I tried a few brands that I considered to have the prettiest shape and style of shoe, even though I could see that the heel and balance of the shoes were not ideal. Ultimately, dancing in an unstable shoe can really slow down your learning process, so choose a shoe that won't make you wobble.
2. Heel height & width: Consider a lower heel. This applies to men too. Most people don't realize that you can get a lower heel by special order. The same applies to the width of your shoe. It's definitely worth the extra week of waiting for special order.
3. Tightness: Find the balance of a snug shoe that doesn't give you blisters. Dance shoes should fit your foot fairly tightly to achieve correct technique. A lot of people think that extra room is good but if you can fit your finger between the straps and your toes, then your shoes are too loose. Consider getting a half size smaller. Of course, the stiffness of the material can affect the comfort level and brands that use softer leather usually make a more comfortable fit so that you can wear your shoes with a fairly snug fit and still not have to worry about blisters.
4. Try it on in the store but order online to save money: Dance shoes are extremely expensive. Before I started dancing, I never thought I would spend so much on shoes. A good way to get a better price is to order directly from the manufacturer or brand's website instead of other sellers. The mark-up is quite significant so order directly and you can save $50-$100!