Flexible sole ladies' shoes - where are they?

[Blondie]

I'm searching for a new pair of ladies' competitive Latin shoes. This time, I want a short shank shoe with a very flexible sole that will bend with the foot. Supposedly Elegance makes some that do this, but I cannot find a strictly Elegance web site. Other shoe vendors online who advertise Elegance shoes do not designate what is flex-sole or not, so it's pretty much a big mystery. I can't find my hard copy of the Elegance shoes catalog, and am not having much luck searching on the internet. Oh, I did find some skimpy shoes that mostly lace up the front, but I cannot wear that type of laceup design.

Has anyone found the type of shoe I'm looking for? If so, where? :?:

[SDsalsaguy]

I don't really have any experience with this but, hopefully, some other DF mebers (or lurkers...hint, hint, hint! :wink:) may be able to help you out.

Good luck!

[tasche]

Supadance makes paper thin soles on their "supafit" line. You can tell these guys from the regular supadance line by the darker flesh satin Capezios new models the latina and the models they just released as very flexible and dont ahve as long a metal shank as other brands.

[pygmalion]

If you're interested in Elegance in particular, try dancehappy.com I believe they're the preferred online Elegance distributor. Some of the shoes come with the flexi-sole standard; others you can custom order with the flexi-sole. Expensive as all-get out, though. :( What I have done in the past is find an Elegance shoe I like, then google the style name to look for a lower price. That doesn't always work because dancehappy has a huge selection and most other people don't.

I did find backbaydancewear.com that way, though. It's the only place other than dancehappy where I've seen Elegance shoes available for special order, and although selection is relatively limited, the prices are significantly lower than dancehappy's.

Good luck. HTH. 8)

[mamboqueen]

I can actually help with this one. 90% of my shoes are Elegance because their narrow width works well for me. Although, now having tried International shoes, I think Elegance are a little "stiff". In any event, here is their homepage:

w w w.elegance-shoes.com/

They will refer you to a distributor to buy, but this shows all of their shoes.

Good luck!

[10Dancer]

I've been using the Supadance "Supafit" line of latin shoes and have found them to be wonderfully flexible. Also, Dance Naturals are rumored to have the most flexible latin shoe on the market. I have yet to try them though. One of my coaches wears Ray Rose shoes exclusively and she raves about them. But again, I have not had the opportunity to try them.

Just wanted to give you a few more options. I'm not sure if we are allowed to post links on this board :?:

w w w.rayrose.com
w w w.dancenaturals-usa.com
w w w.supadance.com
(though the main seller for Supadance in the US is w w w.showtimedanceshoes.com)

Enjoy! :D

[pygmalion]

Sure. Links for info, no problem. Just not live commercial links. :wink: 8)

[SDsalsaguy]

Yup, as Jenn said, urls are allowed, no problem. We wouldn't really be much use as an information resource if we kept editing out half the information, now would we? :wink:

Seriously, all we request is that active links to commercial sites are only placed in the Ads and Webs forums -- which is what they are there for anyway. Active links to non-commercial sites or non-active urls to commercial sites are always fine.

[Blondie]

try dancehappy.com


Since I first posted here, I communicated with the dancehappy site. I knew they had Elegance shoes, but nothing was designated clearly as flexi-sole. So they were very kind to email me with the exact names of the shoes which do have the flexi-sole. Nice folks!

I've also looked at the other shoes everyone has mentioned here, although not yet the rayrose.
Thanks for all these suggestions, everyone!
:D

[pygmalion]

The supafit are beautiful shoes, too. My local dealer doesn't keep them in stock, though. You have to order them from showtime, which takes about a week. I like them because, in addition to very nice styles, they come in the dark tan satin, which is the color that most closely matches my skin without special dying. (Could probably match a nice pro tan, too. :wink: )

[delamusica]

I usually use International shoes, but lately I've come across a brand called DanceSport International that I've used for my last couple of pairs. They wear out a bit faster, but are cheaper than most other brands, so you end up spending about the same. The soles on every pair I've had from them have been super super flexible, and they come in a variety of widths. The service is also really good - every time I order I recieve a personal email to confirm the size and style. The DSI website is dancesport-international.com

[pygmalion]

Here's another question entirely. I was just at a UK dance shoe site, and apparently, Freed has a new flexi heel shoe for men. Supposedly it absorbs pressure better. It's style #2500, with a flexible, impact-absorbing heel.

Has anybody here tried it? Recommendations? Thoughts?

[mamboqueen]

Help with shoes!!

My foot is just narrower than I thought. I bought the International Melissa's in narrow and they're not going to last me long at all. Is there anything I can do to the top of the shoe to tighten them up??? I'm probably going to have to get the ones with the little buckles from now on. Even the Eckse narrows were like a medium width for me.

Sheesh....I lose a few pounds and it comes off my flippin' feet!

[jamaicanspice]

you know....I've never bought 'dancing shoes'. I just wear what I have..as long as they are comfortable and flexible enough to move in I wear it. But I'm reading ya'll's posts and am wondering if I am SUPPOSED to dance in dancing shoes :?

[pygmalion]

Dance shoes make life a lot easier, if you're dancing ballroom. The jury's out on salsa dancing, but a lot of salsa dancers in the US, at least, do buy ballroom shoes for dancing. The reason is that they're balanced differently than street shoes, and have the weight toward the front of the foot, which is much better for spinning and quite a few other things, IMHO. Hmm.

[jamaicanspice]

hmmmm...never thought about it like that before.....need to check it out then. THANKS

[pygmalion]

Anytime. Ballroom shoes are a bit high when compared to street shoes, but I've never regretted spending the money. There are a few threads around that can give you ideas on how to get a good deal, if you decide to buy the dance shoes. Take a look at the dance shoe thread at the top of general dance discussion. :wink: 8)

[SDsalsaguy]

Just to follow up on Jenn's point, I'd have to say that even in the U.S. the salsa connection depends a lot on what style of salsa you dance. ballroom shoes seem more suited to LA & NY styles than to Cuban which tends to involve less spinning, etc.

[mamboqueen]

I actually even bring along dance shoes when I'm just "goin' out dancin'" with my friends. They think I'm nuts, but I just can't get used to dancing in regular street shoes.

[CC]

I'm the same way - I take older dance shoes that I'm not so concerned with the soles. I dyed a pair of tan shoes black just for that purpose. They're actually more comfortable than most shoes I would wear out anyway.

[Vince A]

The right shoe for the type of dance you do . . . IS IMPORTANT!

Personally, I cannot Waltz in anything but low-heeled shoes, yet can manage a Waltz in Evening Star dance boots with a 1 1/2 inch heel, don't know why . . . guess those boots give you confidence???

Swing, Cha Cha, Salsa, NC2S, etc., I only use Latin shoes or Dance sneakers.

Speaking of dance sneakers, most dances can be done in dance sneakers . . . for practice and for social dancing . . . I wouldn't wear them for competitions.

Dance sneakers are so comfortable that I have replaced all of my daily sneakers (Nike) with Blochs DRT mesh . . . by the way . . . thanks SD for showing those sneakers to me . . . they are just comfortable for all-around wear.

However, the best all-around shoe that I have found for practice, play-dancing, and can be used while out dancing to change into when you feet are just killing you - is the thin, cheap, Jazz shoes. They are so flexible that you can just throw them into your shoe bag with your other shoes - they take up little room in the bag.

Try those too! Get the split sole kind . . . you can feel the floor better with those versus the full sole kind . . .

[SDsalsaguy]

Dance sneakers are so comfortable that I have replaced all of my daily sneakers (Nike) with Blochs DRT mesh . . . by the way . . . thanks SD for showing those sneakers to me . . . they are just comfortable for all-around wear.
:lol: ...glad you like them Vince! :D

[pygmalion]

So have any of your guys tried the flexible heel shoes? I'm really curious. I'll have to google and see if they're available for direct purchase in the states. :?

[dansa]

im seeing this thread is very old, so im very curious if some more people maybe could recommend really flexible shoes?
i need to buy a pair and i have no idea which ones to go for!
also i wonder if i have to buy a shoe a bit too small so that the toes come out a bit , i heard that you get better grip like that, or i am totally confusing it?

[BasicsFirst]

I've heard of ladies with a favorite pair or style of shoes having the sole peeled back and a section of the steel shank removed... just for that - flexibility.

Too small?? Only if you want/like your toe touching the floor. Some ladies have to have that... my DP does not. Personal preference.

[danceislove]

i also want a flexible shoe, but i have wide feet which limits my options even more :-/ any suggestions?

[liz]

Having tried every shoe you can think of, I am totally commited to Dance Naturals I think they are style 2x... The have the most flexiable soles that I have found.. I have tried Ray Rose in different styles, Supa Dance the supafit styles,,, and just about any other type of shoe I have heard someone talk about... I wear a 9 in american and I order a size 38 in these shoes.. My toes have exactly enough over hang at the end.. they have a square heel which really works great for me... I have abit wider front of the foot with a smaller heel.. these are exactly perfect... they are around $200 but, the way I see it I have spent all this money the wronge shoes that I will never wear that hurt my feet, that aren't flexiable and I don't have good balance in... Now that I have found the right ones for my feet, I would pay double if I had too.

[Yanou]

hmmmm. I started with International, then discovered Freed of London. I thought Freed of London shoes were just right for me. Then, I found Ray Rose and thought they were perfect for me.

Dance Naturals... I've heard lots of good things about their shoes but they are pricy.... But I kinda see myself ordering them next year when my current Ray Rose pair need to be replaced.

[dancerman]

i also want a flexible shoe, but i have wide feet which limits my options even more :-/ any suggestions?

Stephanie Professional Series- the Stephanie men's and ladies have more room and have great cushioning. I have a 4E width and the men's are perfect for me. In addition, the sole of the ladies is incredibly flexible. You can actually roll the forward portion of the sole without doing damage. Having just returned from the Yale competition as a vendor I had this conversation with a customer several hours ago.
One example is their 92011-75. You can see it on Stephanie's site or ours.

[BasicsFirst]

My DP's FAVORITE Latin shoe for WIDE feet are Supadance 1618's, now available in 'dark tan satin' as well as flesh satin. This shoe features a double adjustable vamp strap with jeweled buckles. Multiple strap positions allow for narrow or wide widths. Supplied with short and long feed-through straps so you can wear as single ankle strap or under the arch strap.

Onto her 4th or 5th pair of this model and she's never complained about their flexibility.

[skipper]

Any ideas for smooth/standard??? The front of my foot is wide in proportion to the heel.
It is always a problem and nothing quite fits.
Thanks

[dancerman]

My DP's FAVORITE Latin shoe for WIDE feet are Supadance 1618's, now available in 'dark tan satin' as well as flesh satin. This shoe features a double adjustable vamp strap with jeweled buckles. Multiple strap positions allow for narrow or wide widths. Supplied with short and long feed-through straps so you can wear as single ankle strap or under the arch strap.

Onto her 4th or 5th pair of this model and she's never complained about their flexibility.
This is a very nice shoe and they FINALLY make it in dark tan satin. The only issue for some is that Supadance has priced this higher than any other shoe they make for women. Although some may not mind, many do not want to pay 189 for a Latin shoe. Comparable shoe on a Stephanie at retail is 116. The downsides on Stephanie are the buckle is no longer jeweled and dark tan is not available.
Trade offs no matter what you choose I guess?

[dansa]

I think i decided to go for the Aida "Karina Smirnoff" shoe, as i have seen it on her in many videos and read about in another thread here on DF and they seem perfectly flexible. Plus always "fun" to try something new...

[dansa]

By any chance, anyone knows how Freed "Sylwia" shoe is? Is it very flexible? How are freed in general? thanks

[dansa]

Does anyone know if T-bar shoes in general makes the foot less flexible to point?

[klg]

I've used Freed Sylvias w/ 2.5 inch heel. They were not my favorite: the heels were not particularly stable and the soles were a bit thicker than I like.

(As a side note, Freed was my favorite pointe-shoe maker when I used to dance ballet.)

I currently use Supadance 1401, a T-bar sandal, w/ 3 inch heels. The shanks match my arches very nicely, resulting in a fairly even distribution of weight throughout my foot. Different feet need different shoes, though.

I don't find the T-bar restrictive. I like to flatter myself, though, that after years of pointe work, I have fairly strong feet.

My one complaint would be that the sandal is a bit too narrow for my wide metatarsals, and my toes pop out between the straps. Now that I've developed callouses on my little toes, though, I appreciate the extra grip and traction, especially when dancing on slippery floors. ;-)

[dansa]

Anyone can help me with this one;

I think im gonna go for Rayrose as they seem to be flexible and stable at the same time! But i dont wanna get Cyclone because the pinky toe will keep falling out, so im thinking of getting Drizzle.
Anyone that tried Drizzle? Or eaven also Cyclone and can compare them?
Is drizzle flexible? Good shoe?

Thanks for your help!!

[klg]

If you're really worried about your little toes falling out, get Ray Rose Carmen. Several followers I know swear by them. Be forewarned, though, that Ray Rose shoes run rather narrow, so unless you have narrow feet, you may need to use a shoe tree to stretch the shoes before you can wear them. I've never bought Ray Rose shoes because they're too narrow for me to even try on. My feet are certainly wider than average, but I wouldn't say they're abnormally wide.

Different styles of shoe by a given manufacturer are usually very similar in terms of quality, flexibility, and heel stability.

[dansa]

If you're really worried about your little toes falling out, get Ray Rose Carmen. Several followers I know swear by them. Be forewarned, though, that Ray Rose shoes run rather narrow, so unless you have narrow feet, you may need to use a shoe tree to stretch the shoes before you can wear them. I've never bought Ray Rose shoes because they're too narrow for me to even try on. My feet are certainly wider than average, but I wouldn't say they're abnormally wide.

Different styles of shoe by a given manufacturer are usually very similar in terms of quality, flexibility, and heel stability.

Ok so finally my Rayrose Carmen arrived /after 3 weeks!
I must say they feel soo steady! Amazing! You can really feel that they have done something clever cause it really feels easier to dance and i feel super balanced!!
However i must have a wide foot then cause they are a tiny bit too narrow for me, but ill manage anyway, not too bad. hoping that they will stretch a little bit too? anyone knows?
however dont think that they are as flexible as i would like my shoes to be, but i was prepared on that. Bought carmen mainly because i need a good stable shoe since im sort of a beginner... however my next shoe will be something more flexible.. like cyclone, if its not too narrow for my foot!

Anyway so i have 2 questions regarding dancing shoes,
I got the 3inch heel and i normally dance better in very high heels.. Anyone that tried 3.5 inch heel and can tell me if its worth buying or not? I really think it would suit me better that size, but i dont want to become too unstable.. However im used to wearing really high heels normally, and 3.5inch is not so much for me.. However i dont know how it is combined with a very flexible dance shoe? Any feedback?

Also, i got my current shoe (carmen) half size to small i think, as its fitted very tight on the foot (but in a good way! not painful), and my big toe is hanging over a bit by a couple of millimeters..
However when i point my foot i get a flap of the shoe, which really bugs me.. How is it for you, do you get a flap as well on your shoe`? When i ordered the shoe i was really concerned that i wouldnt get a flap when i point thats why i got it a bit too small, however i still get the flap and it annoys me... How small shoe do i have to buy to avoid it? or Should i maybe cut the front of the shoe?

[Bella]

I like Supafits. I just bought a new pair in the T-strap and I looooove them, surprisingly better than the vamp straps. I have narrow feet so they fit very snug. Haven't tried Ray rose yet, but I want to! I've heard nothing but amazing reviews!

As far as the flap goes, I think that's inevitable. Unless your shoes are sooo flexible they literally mold to your feet.

[dansa]

I like Supafits. I just bought a new pair in the T-strap and I looooove them, surprisingly better than the vamp straps. I have narrow feet so they fit very snug. Haven't tried Ray rose yet, but I want to! I've heard nothing but amazing reviews!

As far as the flap goes, I think that's inevitable. Unless your shoes are sooo flexible they literally mold to your feet.


But dont you feel that the T-bar strap is making the shoe less flexible?
Me i had a T-bar strap on my Carmen and i cut it off, cause it was making the shoe less flexible... much better now, i must say!

[sprifty]

Ok so finally my Rayrose Carmen arrived /after 3 weeks!

Anyone that tried 3.5 inch heel and can tell me if its worth buying or not?

How is it for you, do you get a flap as well on your shoe`?

I've used 3.5 inch heels for about two years now and I'm also the type of person that is used to running around in 5 inch heels. And I've loved them. I feel taller, sexy on the dance floor and a lot more matched to my partner. HOWEVER, my current coach hates them and made me swear to get rid of them. The reason is if you have a smaller foot (Mine are about 6.5-7 american) the higher heel inhibits the amount of flexibility you will have in your foot. To test it out, point your foot forward and do a rhumba walk onto it. You'll notice with a 3.5 inch heel, your heel will come slamming down onto the floor a lot faster than if you have a shorter heel. This means that all of the wonderful foot action you want to have will no be a lot harder to achieve. So..I'm making a compromise with my coach and going down to a 3inch. I've been experementing a lot and he has a point.

For the second question, I've always had the flap. I'm pretty sure there is another shoe thread on the forum about the same thing. It's all very scientific. If you want more info about why it happens, just do a search on the forum. As for cutting, i've never done it because after spending $150 I'm too scared to possibly ruin my danceshoes but i know a number of dancers who have. The only problems is that 1) it can't be undone and 2) it tends to fray after awhile.

Hope that helps!