Foxtrot Project

What kind of shoes do I wear if I'm learning Latin Ballroom dancing?

I've registered for Latin Ballroom dance classes. And very, very, very excited about the whole thing! I need to know though, what sort of shoes do I need? And what kind of clothes do I wear? Confused!

Public Comments

1. most use a practice shoe sturdy heels two and half inch , wear slacks or skirt , be comfortable, and have fun,,,,on the shoes any shoe with leather soles no rubber
2. Well, there are "character shoes" and "ballroom shoes." I don't know if you have ever done ballroom dancing before, but if you're a beginner, I'd go with character shoes. This is because ballroom shoes tend to have a higher and narrower heal, and if you're not used to balancing on a narrow heel while dancing, you can twist your ankles pretty badly. Additionally, if you have weak knees, it's best to start out with character shoes with a low heel (i.e 1 and 1/2 to 2 inches). Here is a picture of character shoes: http://www.dancedistributors.com/index.cfm?act=prod_detail&pln=3361&cat=10 There are tons and tons of styles, and I'd recommend a shoe like the one above --with a simple strap versus a "t-strap." Here's a picture of ballroom shoes (these are actually for professional Latin Ballroom dancers): http://www.dance4less.com/92002_55_stephanie_ballroom_shoes.htm Oh, and the color you buy (unless otherwise specified by the teacher) doesn't really matter. Happy dancing! :-)
3. wear either jazz shoes or comfortable heeled shoes i found that shoes that were slightly tight (ie. NOT loose) worked the best when in heels because it makes you feel like you have more stability. as for the clothing wear something you are cofortable in dont wear jeans or tight/constricting clothing flowing stuff is always good. hope this helps !
4. as many pros do, i suggest you wear character shoes for ballroom classes and tall (like 2 1/2 to 3 inches) heeled, opentoe shoes. go to any ballroom dancing website and they will give u links and stuff like that to browse for latin shoes. as for the dancewear, wearing a tank top and yoga pants are fine, but NO JEANS!!!!! whatever will absorb sweat and that is comfortable for u to dance in will work. for dances like the mambo or the paso doable, you should wear a practice skirt.