Dancing in High Heels

[pygmalion]

Here's one for the ladies. Do you have a preference of heel height for your dance shoes? Why? (Obviously, I have an agenda in asking, and lots of points to contribute, but I'll do it later in the thread! :lol: )

[Swing Kitten]

Obviously, I have an agenda in asking...

like your Christmas list ???? ;)

:lol:

Of course I'm not much of a heels gal which works out really well with dancing Lindy I think. I mean, I suppose you could dance lindy in heels... but I wouldn't recommend it-- I'm never sure what's going to be lead ... some pretty crazy stuff sometimes. Maybe all I'd need is practice... but that's when a lack of desire comes into play.

I can walk on stilts... even dance in them (not lindy-- at least I've never tried) but high heels are a different matter!! How do you do it!!??

[redhead]

Interesting. What's on your list?
Here's my scrambled thoughts.
I never dance in heels under 2.5. I practice ballroom in 3 inch heels; it took time to get used to them after 2.5, because balance is a little different. It made me think: if .5 inch makes a difference, why do ladies even use practice shoes? Is it the reason why I see beautiful dancing at the studio and not-so-great competition performance?
Leg line is sooooooo much nicer in high heels :P
Doesn't holding your weight mostly on the balls of your feet make you faster and more precise?
For salsa, for me there's no difference between 2, or 2.5, or 3, or 3.5 (3.5 are not dancing shoes, just a nice pair of strappy sandals). There isn't much techique for salsa, afterall. It's just that I love dresses and wear them going out about 98% of the time; flats just won't do.
I'd love to get a pair of dance sneakers, though, to wear with jeans. What do you think of those?

[Swing Kitten]

I would imagine that heels would limit my dancing. I would miss that dynamic between my toes and my ankles... If for some reason I wanted to go up on my toes I couldn't because I'd already be there... plus doesn't it hurt? I would think that it would.

I'm sure it's different for the majority of the ballroom dances and yes they do look beautiful... even sexy.

[Dancegal]

I have 2" heels I use for salsa dancing and am comfortable with them; however, when wearing these same shoes for swing, they do not seem to work quite as well. For Lindy, I prefer flat shoes - I like to slide and can't quite slide on heels. At best, the heels are OK for basic 6-count swing or basic WCS. I like the sexy look of higher heels; however, my feet will not allow it :-(, (ouch).

[salsachinita]

For salsa, I need some heels. At least 2.5, no more than 3. The heels need to be solid for me, coz I CAN'T (and WON'T) walk in stiletto type heels :!:

I used to get dance shoes but in recent years have discovered that some fashion shoes are even better! I LOVE my solid wedge (almost platform) open (but never strappy) shoes. (CLOGS...! As one guy nick named them!)

Love the idea of dance sneakers, but found the lack of heels hard to get used to......and there's too much 'grip' to allow for sliding on the floor.

[Giselle]

I WILL only dance in heels for latin. Helps with weight placement, love the suede bottoms, lovely lines. 2.5 is my limit, because I am 5'7" as it is. For me, stiletto heels are important because they allow movement in the arches and allow easier pointing of the toes when striking a pose. :lol:

[Mich]

I agree with the comment about weight placement, it's easier to dance salsa and other dances with the weight balanced on the balls of your feet.

But I usually wear 1 1/2 Cuban heels because higher heels make the neuroma in my left foot worse (esp during rise and fall); at 2 1/2 inch and 3 inches I sometimes exhibit a wobble, esp on turns; and the higher heels shorten and tighten my calf muscles.

As a runner and a dancer, I try to stay in the DNS (Do Nothing Stupid) zone, even if the line is not as attractive. It's more attractive than limping.

Thanks for all the good comments. As a newcomer I always find good tips in this forum.

[pygmalion]

Hi Mich! :D Thanks for your post, and welcome the forums. :D

I was wondering if anyone to get to talking about the connection between heel height and foot health. Bunions, bruises, etc. anyone? Any preventative measures?

[pygmalion]

One thing I noticed with the high heels is that I couldn't wear them, period, until I understood what forward poise meant. As long as my weight was over my heels, I kept fighting the shoes (which were trying to keep my weight forward) and losing my balance.

[Sarah]

I was wondering if anyone to get to talking about the connection between heel height and foot health. Bunions, bruises, etc. anyone? Any preventative measures?

I wear 2.5 in heels for salsa - I have short feet and anything higher produces an impossible angle between my foot and leg. I find that as long as the shoe fits well wether its a dance shoe or a fashion shoe I don't have any health problems. I also wear mostly flats or bare feet for everyday which stops problems with shortened tendons and muscles.
I wore flats when I did swing lessons.
Things that I look for in a shoe are
1) wether the shoe sole bends easily in the right place - just behind the ball of the foot. If it doesn't I end up fighting the shoe even to walk easily. I will pick up a shoe, try to bend it, and if it won't bend I don't even try it on.
2) wether the shoe allows the foot to expand naturally across the top just behind the toes - this is part of the shock absorbtion of the foot and leg, and if it is prevented this has to be compensated for by the calves and ankles. Ouch and double ouch the next morning. This goes equally for heels and flats.
3) wether the shoe will attach firmly to my foot. When you're standing balanced on stilettos you realy don't want to slide sideways unexpectedly, as that is the way to broken or wrenched ankles, and ignominious landings on ones butt. I prefer a closed heel and anklestrap, but some arangements of strappy sandle are fine. Others are truely hopeless.

Also, bunions and so forth are not instantaneous - there will be some precursor symptoms that is to say - pain. If the shoe hurts - don't wear it! Not even if it is really cute and you paid a lot of money for it!

Cheers
Sarah

[pygmalion]

I think someone in this thread mentioned practice shoes as in, why wear them? Good point, becase the 0.5 to 0.75 inch difference in heel height is like night and day with respect to my feelings of balance. However, I wear them because they're wider in the toe box. Much more comfortable and safer for long term wear. Typical court shoes and Latin shoes have a very narrow toe box and/or constrictive straps. Without the space to spread your toes, the foot tends to deform over time. Hello bunions, somewhere down the line. :shock: If I have a performance coming up, a couple weeks in advance, I'll start breaking in my fancy shoes.

Like you, Sarah, I also like to wear sneaks, flat sandals, flats, or bare feet pretty much all the time when I'm not dancing, to rest my feet and stretch my tendons.

[pygmalion]

Oh yeah, and another question: does anybody use orthotics, pads, cushions, insoles, gels, etc. to work around foot pain and/or prevent problems? If so, what works for you?

[foursquare]

I did the Rocky Horror Show (the stage version) about a year ago. I had two pairs of shoes; the pair in the first act and beginning of the second act had 6 inch heals, and then I switched to 7 inch heals for the rest of the show.

While it's possible to dance everything in shoes like that, it took at least 3 weeks after the show closed for my feet to feel anything close to normal again (e.g. blisters went away, it didn't feel like the bones in the balls of my feet were grinding into each other, etc. I don't know how you chicks do it.) The balance and movement were fine... the discomfort was downright intolerable.

So, you chicks out there swing dancing in your heals... is it a discomfort you just put up with for the look, or is it different for you (narrower feet than I guy, etc.) and you are actually comfortable (shudder.)

foursquare

[ballroomboilergirl]

I have three different shoes I use for ballroom: one pair of 3" straight heels for Latin, one pair of 2.5" flared heels for Latin, a pair of 2.5" straight heeled court shoes for smooth/standard. I practice in the 3" straight heels for both latin and smooth until two weeks before I compete, at which time I switch to the 2.5" Latin and Smooth shoes for the respective styles.

To me, practicing in 3" heels in much like how professional cyclists train up in the mountains before a race: if you practice in a way that is a lot harder than actual competition, once you get to competition, it'll be a piece of cake. I used to practice in jazz boots, until one of the more advanced members of my team basically told me to "cut it out" because I would never get used to my ballroom shoes and would be all types of uncomfortable when it came time to compete. He was right - I have watched girls suffer through wearing heels at practice and do beautifully at competitions and the girls who breezed through practice in sneakers or jazz boots make complete fools of themselves.

I actually enjoy practicing in heels now because it definitely enhances your line and makes your legs look KILLER, especially when you're wearing a skirt...plus I'm a die-hard girlie-girl and feel ultra-sexy in a pair of good heels :wink:

However, I have noticed a marked difference between flared and straight heels...flared heels will give you a lot more support than straight ones, but I have also found that they tend to slow down your turns a bit. I guess its a trade-off...you have to decide whether you would rather have the support and have to work harder at your turns or would rather have better turns and less support.

This is not to say that heels are a walk in the park to carry off...ohhhh boy, hell hath no fury like a woman who has been dancing for three hours straight in 3" latin shoes. My feet used to be my favorite part of my body (well, I guess they still are) but now they are covered in blisters and callouses and aren't the most attractive things to look at. I soak my feet in hot water twice a week and ice them once a week, and I slather them with Burt's Bee's Coconut Foot Creme and cover them with cotton socks before going to bed (I highly recommend this, it heals your feet really well). Usually the balls of my feet feel like they're on FIRE from all the pressure. On top of that, my metatarsals (the long bones in the middle of your foot) are always sore and stiff the next morning, and my ankles and calves often ache as well...my mom worries about my feet and tells me I should go to a podiatrist, but I know they'll only tell me to stop dancing in heels (fat chance). The faculty advisor for my team has been dancing for 8 years and as a results has a permanently deformed little toe and arthritic ankles. All of the doctors that have looked at her feet have told her to stop dancing or she might have to have surgery when she's older, but she just keeps dancing like there's no problem whatsoever...now THAT is dedication.

I haven't used halter pads or insoles yet because a lot the people on my team really don't (I think halter pads in particular fall into the same category as practicing in jazz boots...its almost "cheating", lol), but it seems as though they would relieve a considerable amount of stress from the ball of the foot. Does anyone else use them? What do you think about them?

[pygmalion]

I did the Rocky Horror Show (the stage version) about a year ago. I had two pairs of shoes; the pair in the first act and beginning of the second act had 6 inch heals, and then I switched to 7 inch heals for the rest of the show.
:shock: Six or seven inch heels? Yikes! I don't know if it's possible to be comfortable in them. But I have worn three-and-a-half to four inch heels all day long (in the past, before I stopped caring LOL!). Yes, they can be comfortable, but it has more to do with the cut of the shoe and the way it's balanced. I'm not talking dance shoes now, although this probably still applies. But I can buy shoes from a certain manufacturer and be comfortable on high heels all day, or buy shoes from a different manufacturer and be uncomfortable on high heels all day. A lot depends on how the shoes are made.

[pygmalion]

I haven't used halter pads or insoles yet because a lot the people on my team really don't (I think halter pads in particular fall into the same category as practicing in jazz boots...its almost "cheating", lol), but it seems as though they would relieve a considerable amount of stress from the ball of the foot. Does anyone else use them? What do you think about them?

Try the halter pads. How can that be cheating? If nobody sees them, hey. Nobody's the wiser. :D I have them in all my shoes. I had a really bad couple of months with a bruised toenail caused by five- to six- hour days of dancing with my feet sliding forward all the time (2 to 3 inch heels, btw). Agony! The halter pads really help. I hadn't thought about the ball of the foot much, but my toes thank me every day. :lol: :D

[Sagitta]

What are halter pads?

I have a big toenail problem on both feet (ingrown nail, nerve irritation....). If I wear latin shoes, and even though they aren't that high as I'm a guy, my big toe gets extra pressure all night and after an hour my toes are on fire. Ballroom / street shoes are fine though...would halter pads help if I wear latin ballroom shoes?

Virgilio

[ballroomboilergirl]

Halter pads are these special adhesive foam pads that stick in your shoes to keep your toes from sliding too far forward when you dance. Here's an example:

http://danceshopper.com/accessories3.aspx?itemid=Tacco%20Halter%20Cushion

I personally have never used them so I can't really give you much of an opinion on them...but I have really only heard of women using them (since our toes are more prone to slippage than men's are) pygmalion, can you answer this one? [/url]

[pygmalion]

I don't know for sure that they will help, but it's certainly worth a try. They saved my life, meaning, took the pressure off my toenail (big toe) enough to allow the toenail to heal. It took a while to heal, but I felt the relief of pressure immediately. BTW, I got my halter pads at the shoe repair shop for $3.50.

I also know several other women who swear by them. I figure, for a less that $4 investment, it's worth a try. Also, from what I've heard, there's a relatively minor outpatient foot surgery to relieve the ingrown toenail problem. If the pain is excruciating, you might want to talk to your podiatrist.

[foursquare]

[quote="pygmalion"]But I have worn three-and-a-half to four inch heels all day long (in the past, before I stopped caring LOL!). Yes, they can be comfortable, but it has more to do with the cut of the shoe and the way it's balanced. I'm not talking dance shoes now, although this probably still applies.

I think the cut was the big problem. The costumer got women's 11s for me, so length wasn't a problem, but they were so freaking NARROW. Plus, I tip the scales at 200 lbs., so it felt like my toes wanted to come out as sausages through the little opening at the end.

I started off in 2 inch character shoes, and those never bothered me. I also wore a rope tying my knees together for 2 weeks of rehearsal to lose "the guy walk."

Oy, what we do for our art.

foursquare
(I bought the 7 inchers after the show closed and they now sit on my bookcase in all their fire engine red glory. I don't wear them anymore. Well, not much. :twisted: )

[pygmalion]

Yes, oh yes. Too narrow shoes are murder! :evil: I'm glad you still have the shoes, though, to remember the good old days, if nothing else! :lol: :D

Just a cautionary note for all you high heel wearing people out there. Check out this link, which lists some possible neagtive effects of wearing high heels (wearing, mind you, not even dancing.)
http://www.glendalememorial.com/wsj/w5-03_7.html

BTW, the article mentions the fact that most people have two different sized feet. I know this is true of me. Not different enough for me to need different sized shoes. But, for those of you who might need that, try toe2toe.com. You can special order any pair of shoes with two different sizes (i.e. size 7 left foot, size 7.5 right foot) Amazing the things you can find on the web, isn't it?

[pygmalion]

I'm really not trying to be difficult here, about the high heels. I see why a lot of people consider them a necessary evil. Leg lines are important, especially in ballroom. The reason I started this thread is so that we could share up's, down's and preventative measures. Anyone?

What about the idea of deceptively not high heels? The last time I went to the dance shoe dealer, she suggested Dance Naturals shoes, because, "they look much higher than they are." The 2.5 inch heels looked a lot higher than 2.5. Is that an option?

[Dancegal]

Halter pads - have never heard of them, thanks for the info - sounds like hope for the toes! :D I'll try these sometime - maybe then I'll dance in heels again :D

[Mich]

Re inserts
For black toe prevention and protection, try tubular foam toe bandages, a little foam tube protects the length and end of your toes.

And for pain/pressure on the ball of the foot, I have just ordered two sets of metatarsal pads, one for my ballroom shoes and one for my running shoes. There are triangular versions of this pad which purportedly fit in narrow shoes.

Limping to work did not create a good line, and the cortisone shorts were killers. So I now appreciate my shorter heels.
Keep dancin'.

[pygmalion]

Has anybody tried the gel toe protectors -- a little cup that covers all of your toes and fits into the toe box of your shoes? They sell them in ballet stores for about $20. They look like good preventative care for hammertoes, etc.

[tasche]

I have used these in the past as a ballet dancer. However generally you have to go up one shoe size to accomodate them. Being that ALOT of ppl have problems with wide ball of foot narrow heels then this would worsen that problem.

My suggestion is when buying new shoes is to take all the padding you ever plan on wearing with you and try it on with that. That way you can be sure of how the showe will fit.

[DanceMentor]

I believe it is very important to also own and wear a pair of practice shoes with a low heel. You HAVE to take care of your feet. It is not good to dance in high heels every day for many years. You WILL have have problems that degrade your ability to dance, and even worse. I know some teachers make students practice in the shoes they will be competing in on every single lesson, but I think this is a mistake, because you have to take care of your feet. Oerthotics are great, but they still won't completely compensate for the damage a high heel can cause over time.

[pygmalion]

I totally agree, DM. Totally. I think that, if you just have to wear high heels, you'll do your feet and your leg muscles a favor if you rotate through various heel heights from time to time. Your feet really taking a pounding in those high heels. If you plan to do this long term, you have to preserve your foot health, IMHO.

[pygmalion]

I have used these in the past as a ballet dancer. However generally you have to go up one shoe size to accomodate them. Being that ALOT of ppl have problems with wide ball of foot narrow heels then this would worsen that problem.

My suggestion is when buying new shoes is to take all the padding you ever plan on wearing with you and try it on with that. That way you can be sure of how the showe will fit.

Welcome to the forums tasche! :D

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try the toe protectors -- actually I have a couple pairs of dance shoes that are a bit too big. Maybe I'll try one of them with all the extra padding.

BTW, I have shoes in a bunch of heights -- from men's 0.75 heel ballroom oxfords to three inch heeled court shoes. But I'll often practice at home in socks or bare feet. Much easier on the feet. When in doubt, my 1.75 inch heeled practice shoes are always my first choice. *shrug* Those things are great! :D

[pygmalion]

To me, practicing in 3" heels in much like how professional cyclists train up in the mountains before a race: if you practice in a way that is a lot harder than actual competition, once you get to competition, it'll be a piece of cake.

This is a great suggestion. My competition shoes have 2.5 inch heels. So when I'm preparing for my next comp, I'll add my 3 inch heels to the practice mix. I bet it will help a lot. Thanks. :D

[Betsy531]

my mom worries about my feet and tells me I should go to a podiatrist, but I know they'll only tell me to stop dancing in heels (fat chance). The faculty advisor for my team has been dancing for 8 years and as a results has a permanently deformed little toe and arthritic ankles. All of the doctors that have looked at her feet have told her to stop dancing or she might have to have surgery when she's older, but she just keeps dancing like there's no problem whatsoever...now THAT is dedication.

Most doctors won't consider the fact that you will keep on dancing despite pain and injury, but if you "shop around" you can find a doctor that wil work with you. I'm new to ballroom (and dancing in heels) but have been dancing (jazz and ballet) for years, as a result of which I have bone fragments lodged in my toe joints. Luckily for me the first podiatrist I visited turned out to be great! He new that I was going to continue dancing no matter what and therefore helped me focus on pain management and prevention of future injury. He put me on medication to reduce inflimation and my feet never felt better (that is until I started ballroom and dancing in heels!)

[dancin_feet]

I dance in 2.5" heels for everything, latin, standard, etc. Use them for practice as well. I don't understand how you can practice in practice shoes and then perform the same way in higher heels. It would throw your balance off! :shock:

I tried 3" heels at one point, but my balance was not good and my ankles could not cope with keeping all 3"s off the floor for rise and fall movements. 2.5" for me!! :roll: :wink:

[Sakura]

Wow, this is a great thread!

I'm still waiting for my first pair of practice shoes -- and their my first set of *true* heels as well. Any "raised" shoe I've ever worn happens to be platform-esque, or something screaming, "I belong on a street corner or in Rocky Horror!" :oops: :roll: (I make a point, being the tomboy that I am, to never buy a shoe I can't run in... =^_^=;;)

So, all of this advice is *really* great for me! I look forward to seeing more of this, and the links that have been put out have been *AWESOME*! Although, I can't help but be a little nervous that I'm going to break my ankle or something my first time out in those new shoes (whenever they get here...)!! :oops: :x :oops:

Sagitta, something we learned in my Sports Med. class that might help you with those ingrown toe-nails:

If they're not in too, horribly deep (in which case, Pygmalion's got you covered with the surgery), then, after a shower or a bath, take some cotton balls, Q-tips, etc, and stuff some of the cotton underneath the buried edges of your toe-nail until it's raised up over the skin that was over it. Make sure you put some of that cotton around the side edges of the nail to make sure they're completely away from the overgrown nail bed. (Use the little, "cleaning" part of your nail clippers to dig the buried part of the nail up.) Do this while the nail is soft, or your in for some MAJOR pain. (*speaks from experience...* :oops: :x ) If you can, while the overgrown part of the nail bed is softened, if any of it is calloused, dead skin, try to cut that off; it'll give you less to try and unbury the nail from.

Also, once you have the nail grown out, cut the nail across, and not at an angle. That'll prevent the nail from getting ingrown again.

Again, if this won't work for you because their condition is too bad, check out that surgery in the doctor's office Pygmalion brought up! Hope this helped you and anyone else with the problem! :)

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

PS-I did the Rocky Horror Show (the stage version) about a year ago. I had two pairs of shoes; the pair in the first act and beginning of the second act had 6 inch heals, and then I switched to 7 inch heals for the rest of the show.

:shock: :D :shock: :D :shock: :D :shock: :D I've mentioned you're my HERO, right?! I love Rocky Horror! (My friends and I go to the midnight showing's every other weekend here, so, you'll forgive my "fangirl" homage to you as an actor from the Stage version!) From something you said about your shoes sitting on your shelf in their, "fire engine red glory," I take it you were the great Frank, right?! 8) Long live Rocky Horror. =^__^=

[MacMoto]

I have two pairs of dance shoes: strappy shoes with 2.5" flared heels and dance boots with 2" spanish (chunky) heels. The boots double as my practice shoes.

I don't wear heels higher than 2 inches outside dancing and am not very good at keeping my balance on high heels. I'm forever tripping over when the heel slips sideways under me, which happens both when I'm dancing in my 2.5" shoes and walking in my work shoes. If (when :lol:) I buy a third pair of dance shoes, they will likely to have 2" heels again. Not pretty but give me the stability I need.

I do envy those dancefloor beauties who look elegant in pretty 3" latin sandals though.

[Purr]

Here's one for the ladies. Do you have a preference of heel height for your dance shoes?

I prefer dancing in the 2 1/2 inch heel Latin and smooth shoes. My practice shoes, which have lower heel, are more comfortable, but it's more realistic for me to practice in the other shoes. :wink:

[SamanthaDance]

I use 2-1/2 inch heels for both latin and smooth. I have a pair of 3 inch latin sandals I do practice in sometimes at home, as several DF'ers have already mentioned their own merits of that. For me, practicing in 3 inch heels, does make me work harder on balance.

One of my instructors has told me that he prefers me in 2-1/2 inch heels. He says my control is much better, which I agree, but he also says that the extra height with a 3 inch heel makes me seem way too tall. Any other's had comments from instructors or partners about your heel height?

SamanthaDance

[pygmalion]

Half an inch of shoe heel makes that much difference in your perceived height? Wow.

No, I've never had anyone tell me that. :? I guess the feedback could be valid. I know that half an inch of heel makes me FEEL like a totally different dancer. Maybe it makes me look like one, too. :?

[SamanthaDance]

Well I am taller than average, 5-8", and I took his comment to be his comfort level with me at a certain height. I suppose that someone that you dance with regularly becomes comfortable with their partner's (or instructor's) height, and the way that they move. I know I would never dance in 3 inch heels(at least not yet! :) )

It is very different for me when I dance with someone much taller (or shorter) than me, but I attribute much of that to my being a beginner still.

Side note: I go for my preliminary bronze checkout tomorrow night! (in 2-1/2 inch heels! :lol: ) Wish me luck!

SamanthaDance

[Genesius Redux]

I've seen many men around 5'6" or so who absolutely love it when a girl who is 5'8" wears three inch heels. But most of them have bad habits of breaking frame with their heads! :wink:

[pygmalion]

Side note: I go for my preliminary bronze checkout tomorrow night! (in 2-1/2 inch heels! :lol: ) Wish me luck!



Best of luck! :D You're gonna knock em dead! 8)

[jenibelle]

Ahhhh noooo!! I've been lazy I guess and have practised in my oh-so-comfy jazz sneakers for the past few months (I even wear them out to the clubs!) and in a few weeks we're performing in dresses and heels. Am I doomed or should I just live in my heels for the next little while!? I just find them kind of scary, especially because in our routine we have a few tricks and drops and stuff so I feel more secure in sneakers. :?

Jeni

[pygmalion]

Get into those heels as fast as you can. The biggest mistake I ever made was to wear my practice shoes until a couple days before a performance. I felt wobbly all night. :(

[squirrel]

:oops: :oops: :roll:
gals, I usually tell my students to avoid any sort of sneakers... I think dancing in high heels is far better! you get used to such shoes and never have problems in them!
but the sneakers... some girls do come in sneakers to the class and they spin on their heels! and I keep telling them it is all wrong...! what to do...? :? :?

[pygmalion]

Do they wear sneakers to class, then go out dancing in heels? Or do they wear sneakers all the time?

[squirrel]

some wear them for practicing, others all the time... I know how comfy they are (have danced in them myself...) but I do not like it when they get bad habits 'cause of the shoes!