Offline dance shoes in London?

[emsalsa]

Hi everybody,

I am new to the UK, I live in Winchester.. where there is no salsa.. hic!
I am dying to buy dance shoes and trainers, instruction DVDs, and other salsa related things... and I can't do it online.. Do you know where to get these stuff in London or Southampton? Which shop should I visit?

One more question: I tried going alone to salsa clubs in London several times.. but feel quite left out.. Would anybody mind to meet up for Salsa the next time I am in London?

Thanksss

[DeeplyDippy]

I live in Winchester.. where there is no salsa

Clubs in Wincester :-

Monday nights

Winchester Civil Service Club
Littleton, Winchester
Hants SO22 6PN

Classes with Iris de Brito (twice UK champ) and Andrea Stewart. 7.30 Doors Open, 8.00 - 9.30 Three classes - Beginners, Improvers with Andrea and Intermediates/Advanced with Iris. Dancing 'til 11.00, £6 all evening, £3 for club (after 9.30)

justdance salsa, Colin: 07986 154 759, http://www.justdance.net


Thursday nights

Winchester Civil Service Club
Littleton, Winchester
Hants SO22 6PN

7.30pm Doors open, 8.00pm Warm Up followed by classes for Beginners, Improvers and Intermediate/Advanced, On2 lessons start 3rd February. 9.30 - 11pm Freestyle dancing to classic salsa and contemporary R&B music. With teachers Rudy B and Andrea Stewart. £6 b4 9.30, £3 after

justdance salsa, Colin: 07986 154 759, http://www.justdance.net


Dance Shoe shops near you :-

Encor'e
37 Cardiff Road
Reading RG1 2JF
0118 9599500

Flash Dance
44 Alexandra Road
Farnborough
Hants
GU14 6DA
01252 512612

Fame, Wokingham
http://www.fame-wokingham.co.uk

[emsalsa]

Deeply Dippy, You made my life here in Winchester!!!! Thanks soooooo much.. and I kept asking and searching and nothin...!

Thanks again and again and again!

Emsalsa

[DeeplyDippy]

My pleasure :D

I dance centred around Reading. I get down to Southampton for Caliente and Chilworth and sometimes Basingstoke.

London - well it's Ealing as I hate trying to find parking and the long drive after.

[chachachacat]

There's a Freed Store on St. Martin's Lane, near the Hotel of the same name, the English Opera, theatre district, & Trafalgar Square.

[Claire_Brummell]

For shoes you want Heavenly Dance Shoes in Watford - reasonable, comfortable and completely custom made.

PM me and I'll send you the details for them :D

[Pacion]

There's a Freed Store on St. Martin's Lane, near the Hotel of the same name, the English Opera, theatre district, & Trafalgar Square.

Funnily enough, I went to Freed myself a few days ago and didn't see much to tempt me, although, I have seen designs on the internet which had me drooling, but weren't in the store. :?

Emsalsa, depending on what your budget is, the look you like and what you want, have a look at website: dancesport.uk.com. Yes, their store is online BUT, it could give you an idea of designs, prices and manufacturers and then it is just a question of finding a shop in London/Southampton that stocks them for you to go in and try them on/purchase. I have done that in the past with shoes that I liked and called the Head Office of the manufacturer to get suppliers in London (when Google didn't work :wink: ) . :D

I know that Claire recommends them, but I have heard mixed things about Heavenly Dance Shoes which was a couple of years ago, so things may have changed.

Bloch has a store in Covent Garden (35 Drury Lane) Website: blochworld.com I was there recently and saw a couple of pairs of latin (as in dancesport latin) dance shoes which looked verrry nice! I think they were made by Supadance? I just had a look on Bloch's website but they don't mention anything about latin danceshoes.

Another place you can have a look at is dance-shop.com (similar to Dancesport UK's website). You can see some of their stock online and their shop is in Norbury, South London. I have bought a couple of shoes from there and the lady was very helpful. Don't know how convenient Norbury is for you though.

If you can get to Reading or even Cambridge, there are sure to be places there where you can buy good dance shoes, again, depending on what you are looking for.

[Claire_Brummell]

have heard mixed things about Heavenly Dance Shoes which was a couple of years ago, so things may have changed.


No probs Pacion :)

I can only go on my own experience and the experiences of the people that I know, and I can honestly say that in the years I've been going there I've never had a bad pair of shoes and have never heard a complaint from the 100s of people who I know use them (not saying that there haven't been any but I've not heard any!)

One thing I will say is that a friend of mine had a slight problem with a pair that were rubbing her heels when she danced - she went back to Sandi and spoke to her and they added some extra padding for her free of charge to make them more comfortable.

As people who know me know I won't recommend anything without trying it first (as the dance survival guys from Pakefield will testify! I insisted on trying all their products before I would recommend them to my students!!!) - and I can only go on what my experiences have been - out of interest has anyone here had any problems with Heavenly - I always like to know these things if I'm recommending them!! :D

[DeeplyDippy]

Hi Claire - yes, I've heard of two people having trouble with them.

One was my ex who found the padding in her dance trainers just collapsed after a while.

But on the whole, this isn't a lot and I'd still guide people in that direction.

[Claire_Brummell]

Ah - I should have been clearer - I would recommend Heavenly for the dance shoes - not trainers - their shoes are second to none in my experience however, I wasn't as keen on the styles of their dance sneakers so bought some Bloch ones from a shop in London (I can find their name if someone needs them) - which again have been great - I can used them as normal trainers and dance sneakers and they've shown no wear so far - FAB! :D