Thread: What shoes do you wear onstage?

I'm planning on getting some decent dance shoes.

I'd just like to know who wears dance shoes and who wears street shoes, and for what reasons.

Are there any recommendations for brands of either dance or dance-able street shoes?

Thanks pickles!

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I wear both. I generally wear dance shoes if I'm going to be doing more dance based routines, and never if I'm planning to take them off during a routine, as their fastenings are usually convoluted and awkward. So if they're staying on, and I'm going to be doing lots of footwork, then dance shoes win every time. The flexibility of the soles along with the special grip means I can be confident that I'm not going to slip if I'm on a hard surfaced stage. I usually get mine from eBay and make sure they're satin, because then I can sparkle them up nicely with my rhinestone gun.

If I'm taking my shoes off during the routine, I'll use normal high heels. I tend to wear pumps or similar, with no straps or buckles, so that I can just slip them off and not worry that I'm going to get stuck in them. I also tend to go for street shoes if I'm doing less dancing, say if it's a more character based routine that requires more acting than complicated footwork. This is purely for the look of the thing, because dance shoes tend to have lower heels than street shoes for pracicality's sake - but if I want a character to look a particular way then higher heels might be part of that.

I can't recommend any brands but I will say that if you're going to buy dance shoes then make sure you get the fit exactly right - the sizing is a lot more accurrate than high street shoe shop sizing and you might take a different size than you'd expect. And if you're going to dance in street shoes, make sure they fit nicely and comfortably so you don't move awkwardly. Which type you choose is down to personal preference, practicality, and what fits the act.

Dear Ally Katte

I'm not a professional performer, but I do dance ( Argentine Tango) and I do do costume for a living, and for a couple of years I ran a bespoke shoe-makers' in Mayfair.
When I started tango I was desperate to buy my first pair of 'proper' dance shoes. I thought they would improve my dancing. I soon learned the expensive way.

I don't think ' dance shoes' are necessarily any better than any high street shoe. Personally I like an ankle strap when I dance, so that the shoe is held on tightly, but obviously this is no good if you want to do a stocking peel.

What I do look for is some flexibility in the shank of the shoe - the bit under your instep between the front part of your foot which is on the ground and the heel. It helps you to bend your foot and to walk in a more attractive and sensuous way. I also feel more in control.
Dance shoes are often sold on the basis that they have suede or leather soles, so that you can slide, move or swivel the front part of your foot on the ground. But you can easily ask any good shoe-mender to stick a suede sole on if that is what you need. Conversely he can put a rubber sole on so you don't slip.
The important thing for me is that the shoe is comfortable ( if you want to remove your shoe for a stocking peel and can't get your foot back in because the toe is too pointy it's not going to look great!)

If you are not going to remove your shoes I would favour an ankle strap, just so you feel secure, but really: leather, suede, satin - it doesn't matter, just so long as you are comfortable. I have about 12 pairs of tango shoes now : 4 of them are proper 'dance shoes' and the others are ' high street' ( I like L.K. Bennet, but also have Shuu and Nine West). The two things about all of them is that I can flex my foot, and that they don't squish the front of my feet.

Hope this helps!

Viva x