How long do dance shoes last?

[pygmalion]

Okay, and since we're talking shoes, this came up in the Latin shoe thread last night, so now I'm curious. How much do you dance, and how long do your shoes last? Is there anything special you do to preserve your shoes?

[Danish Guy]

After 9 months of dancing, I got a hole in the leather sole of my first pair of dance shoes. :shock:

[pygmalion]

My practice shoes, which I used 5 - 10 hours a week, lasted a year. I got new ones for xmas, though. :D

[Swing Kitten]

I got new ones for xmas, though. :D
:lol: were you suprised?? ;)

[Dancer's Life]

I dance 6-7 days a week and my shoes take a beating! My leather ballet and jazz shoes seem to wear out every 3-4 months and there isn't anything i can do about that. My tap shoes last a lot longer. The taps get loose but i just tighten them with a screwdriver and everything is good again. It seems as though the shoe itself wears out before the tap does. Hip-Hop and Jazz tennis shoes wear about the same as normal tennis shoes. So they wear out every 1/2 year -year. Pointe shoes wear out fast but it depends on how often you use them. Last but not least, character and ballroom shoes wearout on the bottoms even if they still look brand new on top. I take all of my shoes out of my bag once i have gotten home. This helps them air out quicker, instead of trapping the heat and moister which will wear out your shoes a lot faster.

[socialdancer]

Invest in a good pair, spend a few extra bucks. It's not fun working in new dancing shoes every few months

[dlgodud]

Welcome to DF Socialdancer!

[Br0nze]

It all depends on two facets: (a) how long you dance, and (b) the quality of the shoe. For example, if you spend 2 - 3 hours a week dancing, your shoe can last for a year or more. If you spend 4 - 8 hours a week, it'll be slightly less. For the extreme example, if you spend 4 - 8 hours a day, your shoe may only last anywhere from 3 to 5 months.

On average, I'd say that replacement time for shoes is 6 - 8 months if you take proper care of them. Of course, it's best to buy multiple pairs (start with two) -- one for practice and another for competitions (and maybe even an extra pair just to keep in their box in case one of the aforementioned gives out).

Of course if you spend no time dancing in your shoes, they can last for years! I have the perfect example: six years ago bought a pair of Standard shoes, only to find out I couldn't afford Standard lessons after about six months of doing it. So I put them back in their box, and invested in Latin shoes. Recently, I got a job teaching Smooth at a studio, and busted out the old pair of Standard shoes. They were good as new... having spent five years in a box... but I didn't have to go out and buy a new pair. So, you never know... ;)

[Spitfire]

I have a question to add to this, what can one expect to pay for a good pair of dance shoes?

[suburbaknght]

I bought my first pair of dance shoes, capezio men's ballroom shoes, for $95 on sale. They lasted two days before they needed their first repair (the suede hadn't been properly affixed to the bottom). After that, they lasted me about three years with regular suede repairs before finally giving up the ghost. I later got a pair of $150 Supadance Latin shoes that have held up amazingly well and, two years later, are still going strong. When it came time for new shoes for smooth, I went with Supadance as well, these for nearly $160. Though time has yet to take its toll, I couldn't be happier with them. They're pricier but the amount I save in repairs is more than worth it.

[dancingirldancing]

For the extreme example, if you spend 4 - 8 hours a day, your shoe may only last anywhere from 3 to 5 months.



AHA ! Sounds like me and DP :)

[socialdancer]

Thanks for the welcome everyone

[dlgodud]

AHA ! Sounds like me and DP :)

The same here!

[Br0nze]

I bought my first pair of dance shoes, capezio men's ballroom shoes, for $95 on sale. They lasted two days before they needed their first repair (the suede hadn't been properly affixed to the bottom). After that, they lasted me about three years with regular suede repairs before finally giving up the ghost. I later got a pair of $150 Supadance Latin shoes that have held up amazingly well and, two years later, are still going strong. When it came time for new shoes for smooth, I went with Supadance as well, these for nearly $160. Though time has yet to take its toll, I couldn't be happier with them. They're pricier but the amount I save in repairs is more than worth it.

Having recently bought a pair, I must say that Supadance makes an excellent pair of shoes, and is worth every penny one pays. Arguably the best and most comfortable shoe one can purchase.

I'd purchase a pair from each manufacturer (Capezios often can be cheaper) and split their usage: SD for competitions and Cap for practices. That, and a pair of dance sneakers for practice as well... hours in dance shoes hurt like nothing else. Dancers have to be kind to their feet :p