ballroom shoes

[precious12]

Hi, i have several pairs of dance shoes and they are all opened toe, but my instructor just told me today that i probably need a pair of closed toe of ballroom, but i just do not think closed toe is that comfrontable, but do i have to have closed toe for ballroom or is open toe fine too, just wanted to know, because i have a big event coming up where i have to do waltz, and i want to look good. :D

[Chris Stratton]

A proper backwards step from a lowered position in a dance like waltz would ideally involve sliding the actual end (almost to the top) of the toe of the moving foot on the floor. If you do that in open toed shoes, especially ones where the sole stops short of your toe as latin shoes are popularly sized, you may risk substantial toenail damage.

But there's another issue too: proper technique also involves developing the cycle of each toe-heel step so that there's a point where your entire weight will be balanced on the back edge of the heel of one foot. The closed toed shoes are usually equipped with heels designed to permit this, wheras the opened toes shoes generally are not. There are some exceptions though - unfortunately, there's a few closed toe shoes made with the same heels used on open toe latin shoes.

Those are the long term issues. I suspect in the short term you may be under pressure more because of the look of something that "just isn't done". I don't think that by itself is a good reason for buying a second pair of shoes, but if you are interested in improving your waltz and related dances, you will hopefully end up working on the kinds of movement methods that will eventually require them. There are a number of brands to choose from, and also the choice between satin and leather construction.

Also, if your competition is within a week or two, you might not want to make any last minute changes.

[waltzgirl]

Do you do standard or smooth? Smooth shoes have a closed toe but open sides in various ways. You might like the look of those better than the completely closed standard shoe.

One of the reasons closed toe shoes are not as comfortable is that they are pointed and mash your toes together. Contrary to the usual advice to buy dance shoes smaller than your street size, I found that I had to go up a size from my street size (where I never wear pointed shoes) to get a comfortable fit where my toes could lie straight in the shoe. Before that, I always had pain and was working on a bunion from the way the shoe bent my big toe to the side. I wear shoes with an ankle strap so my foot stays back in the shoe, while my toes have a little wiggle room and I can actually use them when I dance.

[chachachacat]

Wow, toes lying straight in satin court shoe? Lucky you!

[waltzgirl]

One size up. That's all it takes.

[Chris Stratton]

I always wondered why they don't make shoes biased more to the inside. Is putting the point in the middle purely a style thing, or does it actually serve some necessary purpose?

[waltzgirl]

I think it's just a style thing. But I'm not sure it would be an advantage for dancing to have a point more toward the inside. I think that might tend to encourage rolling toward the outside when you roll back onto the foot after pointing it back.

[Chris Stratton]

Interesting thought. I don't think you'd be inclined to do that if the shoe exactly matched your foot, but various sorts of mismatch could cause it.

On the other hand, the majority of fully lowered backwards steps will be step 1 actions with CBM, which does in part manifest as an initial placement of the outside edge (with actual body weight then immediately going through to the inside edge)

[meow]

If you are competing, then you would have to wear closed ballroom shoes for ballroom and Latin shoes for Latin. At least, that is how it is here.
But, I know several people who don't compete and wear one pair of shoes (open toe) for all styles.

[chachachacat]

But, good thinking, Chris!

Why don't they put padding on the inside edge, up the side of the shoe a bit???
Oh, a piece of satin between my poor big toe callus and my bunion and the hard, cold floor? thanks.

:?

[Peaches]

I always wondered why they don't make shoes biased more to the inside. Is putting the point in the middle purely a style thing, or does it actually serve some necessary purpose?I've wondered the exact same thing about my court shoes many times.

Are latin sandals as straight as court shoes, or are they "biased," as you put it, to the inside? (I know my AT shoes are very biased. And so comfortable b/c of it.)

[biggestbox]

Obviously depends on your level of technique. With proper standard technique, you absolutely need closed toe. If you are not there yet, open toe is perfectly fine. Also there is a difference between standard and smooth shoes, again a personal choice, although pro standard dancers will NEVER wear a smooth shoe.

[Chris Stratton]

Why don't they put padding on the inside edge, up the side of the shoe a bit???
Oh, a piece of satin between my poor big toe callus and my bunion and the hard, cold floor? thanks.

I think actual padding might interfere with the foot-floor interaction.

Something you might consider though is a silicone toe spacer to keep your big toe more aligned (help it in the battle against the shoe)... the lady in the shoe store recommended them when fitting my first pair of dance shoes years ago, but I didn't want to be "dependent" on something so I declined. Finally tried them later, and it really seems to improve my ability or at least willingness to concentrate my entire weight at the base of the big toe, without being worried that I'm damaging my foot. I can still dance if I forget to bring them, but am usually happier the next day when I've remembered.

[precious12]

That really helps, i dance standard if that helps any, but i have tried closed toe, and my foot is so cramped, and it can get painful, so i usually stick with open toe, which i never have any problems with, but i do want to try and maybe go up one size on the closed toe shoes, and see if it feels any better.

[samina]

Hi, i have several pairs of dance shoes and they are all opened toe, but my instructor just told me today that i probably need a pair of closed toe of ballroom, but i just do not think closed toe is that comfrontable, but do i have to have closed toe for ballroom or is open toe fine too, just wanted to know, because i have a big event coming up where i have to do waltz, and i want to look good. :D

precious, fwiw, when i got my first pair of closed-toe (court) shoes for dancing standard, i was amazed at the difference they made and how great they felt. "cinderella shoes" was how i described them. i find them very comfortable. the ones that fit my feet so well are supadance 1008s round, which are round-toed & elasticized. but everyone's feet are different.