The ideal dance shoe

[pygmalion]

Okay, so here's the deal (thanks for the idea, bordertangoman :D )

Dance forums is getting big and powerful (I hope), and maybe one day, we'll be big enough to commission and have manufactured our own dance shoes. So, if you could design the perfect dance shoe, what would it be? Or does it already exist? Think about everything. What would it look like? What colors would it be made in? Fabrics? Leathers? Sizes/widths? Balance? Heel height?

What do you think?



(Please specify dance discipline and whether you're speaking in unisex or gender specific terms.)

[pygmalion]

Okay. I'll start. It should cost less than US $100 retail.

[Pacion]

Yikes! Perfect dance shoe? One that I can wear from home to the venue, dance in and wear home, just so that I don't have to take many bags/a change of shoes + coat + anyother external clothing that I would have to wear.

[Genesius Redux]

Gum-spilled drink-other nameless sticky floor residue resistant. God, I used the restroom for the first time in the salsa club I've frequented for the last two years (yes, folks, I can hold it), and man was that nasty! And I'm thinking the whole time, what am I gonna do to my soles?????

[Pacion]

You mean you didn't change your shoes before going in there? :shock: :lol: Couldn't resist it :D

[Genesius Redux]

You mean you didn't change your shoes before going in there? :shock: :lol: Couldn't resist it :D

That's not a bad idea.

[pygmalion]

From a woman's perspective. The shoe should be available in every heel height from flat to at least 3 or 3.5 inches heel height, and the customer should be able to choose.

And even for men, there should be a variety of heel heights available. Flat to about 2 inches is probably enough. Right, guys?

[delamusica]

and (for both men and women) available in wide and narrow for all sizes!!!

[ShyDancer]

The perfect shoe....??
Well Id like to think the pair I bought yesterday will be perfect! :lol:

Personally it would be the 2.5" heel , I find it much easier to dance in, it gives me the perfect balance, 3" and over throws me off and I cant seem to bend my knees as effectively, although lower heels arent as comfotable to dance in for some reason :roll: the 2.5 for me seems to give me the perfect balance for Latin.

They would be satin...mainly because I think they look much prettier :D Flesh or brown colored because those colors go with anything (imo)

They would be the T-stap or X strap with an enclosed heel as I feel they give me better support. Open toe because they are more comfortable, I just cannot wear my (professionally fitted!) closed toe ballroom shoes anymore, i feel alot more "free" in my open toes!.

Soles would most definantly have to be suede...even though they are a pain in the rear to care for, I prefer dancing in them because I have better control in them.

They would have the "clip in" system that Very Fine Shoes have on their shoes (I have 2 pairs atm) Talk about a great idea! I hate poking myself under the fingernails while doing up those frustratingly tiny buckles :x not to mention chipping my polish! (heheh dramas of being a girly girl!)

Hmm what else...??

A really flexible sole is always great. And Id like the option of buying this ideal shoes with and without diamantes! :lol: :lol:

Thats all I can come up with for now, probably will think of more stuff to add no doubt!

[dancin_feet]

The only complaint I have about dancing shoes is that all open toed shoes give me blisters. Depending on the shape of the opening, either along the side of my big toe or along the cuticle line of my toenail. I have to tape up my toes every time (looks really attractive when walking around town before class with taped up toes!). :evil:

I have bought some more or less closed toe shoes to give my feet some relief, but they don't look nearly as good on me IMO.

The perfect shoe would not rub all the skin off my toe!

[Jack]

A shoe that can be worn from the car to the dance floor, @ withstand moisture.
A shoe that looks " dressy" too.

Also I like a 3/4 "inch heel.......<later> :)

[Sarah]

Leather, please and reasonably tough, so that they last for years after you've broken them in.

Cheers
Sarah

[cupojoe2]

A shoe that looks " dressy" too.

I'll 2nd that!!!

Ok... I'll make two small confessions -- I spend way too much on shoes... :oops: and I would not be caught dead in most of the dance shoes I see men wearing.

The ladies seem to have a pretty good selection and I have seen several that looked great, but the men's shoes look like so cheap -- like pleather (that's plastic posing as leather).

I don't think I'll ever buy dance shoes, but if I did, I would want a pair that looks as good as all the other shoes I wear everyday.

[etchuck]

And even for men, there should be a variety of heel heights available. Flat to about 2 inches is probably enough. Right, guys?

Hmm... I think in ballroom, most standard shoes have 1-inch heels, while Latins are 1.5-inch high. Swing shoes I guess are perhaps 0.5 to 1-inch high, right?

In my opinion, I prefer basic black leather. I recently bought my newest pair of standard shoes, which were patent leather. I also bought my first pair of Latins which are standard leather*. I think there are a couple of shoes that one can buy which are... brown. I guess they're swing shoes, but ... whatever.

* I bought both pair on a tip for an internet sale: buy one pair, get one free... so I got two pairs of dance shoes for $100. I was very happy.

[Vince A]

Gum-spilled drink-other nameless sticky floor residue resistant. God, I used the restroom for the first time in the salsa club I've frequented for the last two years (yes, folks, I can hold it), and man was that nasty! And I'm thinking the whole time, what am I gonna do to my soles?????
That's my BIGGEST fear when I wear suede-soled shoes to a dance ro an event w/o carrying other shoes in a bag with me!

[Vince A]

And even for men, there should be a variety of heel heights available. Flat to about 2 inches is probably enough. Right, guys?
Although I rarely wear flat shoes , other than my dance sneakers, I did try on a pair of shoes this weekend that I truly felt that for once I found a shoes that actually feels comfortable on my feet! If my feet were not already swollen from an injury and too much dancing, I would have bought a pair.

Other than the sneakers, all of my dress/competition dance shoes are Latin/Tango shoes with 1 3/4 inch narrow heels. Hence, during dancing, your feet are forced forward into the shoes - - - wreaking havoc with your toes. The salesperson asked me to try on "these" shoes (I won't mention the brand here-PM me if you need to know), which had a ever so slightly more rounded toe, and only a 1 1/4 inch heel. He even let me dance in them, as long as I stayed on the carpet. I did, and I loved them! My toes did not get scrunched up.

So . . . the perfect shoe, for me . . . should be black leather, slightly rounded toe, suede-covered heels @ 1 1/4 inch, flexible sole (also suede-covered) for feeling the floor, and cost under $100 - $120 to stay competitive!

[borikensalsero]

I want a pair that dance by themselves. A pair I put on and magically transforms me into the dancing queen, I mean king. :P

[Vince A]

I want a pair that dance by themselves. A pair I put on and magically transforms me into the dancing queen, I mean king. :P
I'm certainly glad you clarified that!!!!!!!!!

[pygmalion]

Other than the sneakers, all of my dress/competition dance shoes are Latin/Tango shoes with 1 3/4 inch narrow heels. Hence, during dancing, your feet are forced forward into the shoes - - - wreaking havoc with your toes. The salesperson asked me to try on "these" shoes (I won't mention the brand here-PM me if you need to know), which had a ever so slightly more rounded toe, and only a 1 1/4 inch heel. He even let me dance in them, as long as I stayed on the carpet. I did, and I loved them! My toes did not get scrunched up.

So . . . the perfect shoe, for me . . . should be black leather, slightly rounded toe, suede-covered heels @ 1 1/4 inch, flexible sole (also suede-covered) for feeling the floor, and cost under $100 - $120 to stay competitive!

That round toe box makes all the difference.

[Vince A]

I never realized "the difference" until this weekend!

The shoes felt like sneakers, but looked very dressy!

[Pacion]

I want a pair that dance by themselves. A pair I put on and magically transforms me into the dancing queen, I mean king. :P
I'm certainly glad you clarified that!!!!!!!!!

Pity. :roll: I think I would have liked to see what a female version of Boriken would have been like :wink: :lol:

[Genesius Redux]

I want a pair that dance by themselves. A pair I put on and magically transforms me into the dancing queen, I mean king. :P
I'm certainly glad you clarified that!!!!!!!!!

Pity. :roll: I think I would have liked to see what a female version of Boriken would have been like :wink: :lol:

Well, I for one am very proud to say that I have actually performed (though not danced) in drag and wearing a pair of slides with 3-inch heels! And I can't imagine how you ladies dance in heels. Anymore than I can imagine what it's like to shave your legs all the time--it bloody well itches! Yuk!