General Purpose Shoes Suitable for Dancing on Concrete?

[DWise1]

The situation leading to this question is this: I've been participating in a series of dance classes sponsored by a local mega-church's singles group. They've historically held them in a large short-nape-carpeted room but have frequently run into scheduling conflicts with the church's other events/conferences/etc. So this time around, Country Two-Step, they decided to do it in an open-air pavillion on a concrete surface. Because all my regular shoes have rubber soles, I've found it rather difficult to dance with them on this surface. But the very thought of using dance shoes on such a surface is an abomination.

Question: are there general purpose shoes that would be suitable for dancing on concrete or other non-dance floors? And what would the recommendations be?

I would assume that any leather-sole shoe would work better, but how well would they work? And how well would they hold up to the punishment?

Jazz sneakers come to mind, but I'm not familiar with them and don't know how well they would work or hold up.

And, no, I'm not a cowboy-boot type of person, but informative recommendations might be helpful.

[lynn]

I usually wear leather-soled shoes if i'm not dancing on hardwood (ie, designed for dancing) floor for the fear of wrecking my $150 shoes. That said, the only reason i don't like rubber-soled is that they tend to be sticky (not sure if it's the case with all the rubber soles). I guess it all comes down to what you feel comfortable in - maybe go to the place and bring a couple of shoes with you and try dancing there before the big event :wink: ???

[DWise1]

The problem is that I would have to buy the shoes before I could give them a try. Except for my dance shoes, all of my shoes even my dress shoes (Navy issue) have rubber soles. Since I dislike shopping for shoes even more than shopping for clothes (which I dislike a slight bit less than poking myself in the eye with a stick), I was wanting to get a fairly good idea of what to look for before I went in to shop in order to minimize the agony. Besides, I'm dancing every night of the week and Sunday afternoon and practicing every Saturday afternoon, so there's not much time to browse.

But I was assuming that leather soles (which still have rubber heals, BTW), would be a good general-purpose solution, since there are also some dance floors around here that are so bad that I wouldn't want my dance shoes anywhere near them either. Or even just to be able to walk in anywhere and be able to dance without having to always pack my dance shoes with me.


------------------------------------------------
One of my favorite lines from "King of the Hill", he's shopping in a WalMart type store (from memory):
"There's something about being able to buy spark plugs and underwear in the same store that just appeals to a guy."

[lynn]

i know some people actually wear leather soled shoes as opposed to suede soles (lasts longer?? not sure) so i'm sure it's a viable solution. I seriously don't know enough about rubber shoes - my only rubber-soled shoes are my runners - and they're definately not dancing friendly.

Hmm, guess you're not a shopaholic then?? do you have a pair of old dance shoes? i know some ppl re-sole their old dance shoes with leather soles and wear them for everyday use...

[Sagitta]

I just wear a pair of regular dress shoes.

[kansas49er]

I have a pair of Florsheims with regular leather soles that work very well for nonhardwood floor surfaces. I know a few people that also use shoes by Stacy Adams that have leather soles.

[fascination]

dance sneakers...the kind made by freed...I wear them in my garage...wonderful

[jon]

Either hard leather-soled dress shoes (or boots, since this seems to be a country dance in part), or bowling shoes may work. The chrome leather will still get cut up some by the concrete, but the shoes are a lot cheaper than real dance shoes. Stay away from spins and slides and such; high friction surfaces and spins are a recipe for sort knees, at best. Knee problems are aggravated by a surface having no spring to it, too, so thin-soled dance shoes are at another disadvantage. Finally, outdoor + concrete + friction may result in your soles getting painfully hot, if you're not careful.

[lynn]

...... Finally, outdoor + concrete + friction may result in your soles getting painfully hot, if you're not careful.

socks might help :lol: !

But seriously, i injured my knees doing pivots/spins while wearing runners with rubber soles (anti-slip, no less!) - so plz be careful....

[pygmalion]

Since I dislike shopping for shoes even more than shopping for clothes (which I dislike a slight bit less than poking myself in the eye with a stick),


------------------------------------------------
One of my favorite lines from "King of the Hill", he's shopping in a WalMart type store (from memory):
"There's something about being able to buy spark plugs and underwear in the same store that just appeals to a guy."


You are so funny. :lol: :lol:

[DWise1]

In one co-ed conversation where shopping came up, I offered the suggestion that it might be evolutionary. In hunter-gatherer societies (where we and our ancestor species spent millions of years), the men go out to hunt down game, but most of the food actually comes from the women's gathering activities. It appears to me that the browsing through merchandize for the more desirable items matches the prehistoric gathering activity that women evolved to do well (and to enjoy doing, or at least get satisfaction from it). OTOH, assuming that my own feelings are typically male, I want to know what I'm going in for and where it is and I want to get in fast, take the objective, and extract out of there fast, taking no prisoners along the way. Like the ancient hunter, game is game and one animal is pretty much as good as another, meat-wise, and if I'm able to catch it then that's good enough. For the ancient gatherer, the quality of what they gather varies more widely than fresh meat does (eg, ripeness, spoilage), so they need to be able to discern quality and pick through many options in order to get good quality. The hunter tracks down his prey, planning out where it will be; the male shopper wants to be able to track down where his shopping item will be rather than to go from store to store looking for it. The gatherer probably looks forward to the challenge of going from store to store to find the item she seeks and feels satisfaction in finding it. That does not mean that a hunter can't do gathering -- he will when survival dictates -- , but he's not as well suited to it and is unlikely to get much satisfaction out of it.

Just some idle philosophizing and speculation between dance classes.

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol: :lol: So it's an evolution thing, huh? :lol: :lol:


I guess we'd better not fight nature. :roll: :lol:

[DWise1]

Now if we could just figure out an explanation for Carrie and all those shoes.

Myself, I'm completely baffled by it.


Then also, I was standing there when a salsera friend of my "dance buddy" opened the trunk of her car and there was a whole row of dance shoes in front of a whole row of purses to match the shoes.

Me, I'd buy myself any color of shoe, just so long as it's black. And I don't care whether it matches my wallet or not (which just happens to be black).

[Ms_Sunlight]

Do not attempt to understand the mystery of women and their shoes, for it is beyond male comprehension :wink:

As for dancing on concrete, if I must do such a thing, I wear something with shock absorbtion properties. I like my Vans Old Skools. (I'm not a skateboarder but I love the footwear!)

The other half doesn't wear dance shoes for salsa but rather regular mens' leather-soled dress shoes and he finds they do very well. They also look very good with a suit when he needs to dress up, far more so than something with rubber soles.

[Vince A]

Dancing on concrete, eh?

Wear anything that cushions your feet . . . like sneakers!

In fact, go purchase a pair of Bloch's dance sneakers . . . you can wear them anywhere . . . they'll last a very longtime, and you'll be surprised how well rounded they are for dancing!

[Yliander]

I have a pair of leather soled bloch character shoes that I use for teaching on carpet and also for on concrete or other our door type surfaces.

these are dance shoes that have great support - don't know of anything similar in a dance shoe for guys - but would suggest that any pair of dress shoes with leather shoes would work well - as the leather sole is likey to be the same

[Twilight_Elena]

I'm with sneakers on this. Always comfy, and will protect your feet and knees from the strain. Blochs are very good. Also heard great things about Freed's sneakers.

Twilight Elena

[Medira]

I'll add my vote to the dance sneaker group. I've worn Leo's and I've got a pair of Blochs now and both were very good.

[DWise1]

Actually, an ulterior motive is to have a pair of street shoes that would function well enough if I were to stumbled upon an opportunity to dance. Walking around all day in dance sneakers just seems odd to me, so leather soles looks like the way to go.

Finally had an hour free to try looking for shoes, so I stopped in the Sears where they happened to be having a sale. I could find only one pair of shoes that had leather soles -- all the rest had rubber soles -- and it was four sizes too big.

Next window of opportunity is in one week.


It would be so much easier if there were an Air Force uniform shop nearby, so I could just go in a buy a pair of low-quarters. Assuming that they still have leather soles like they did when I was "in the war."

[macha]

As DWise said, all of your department stores have an abundance of shoes, but none have leather- some have partial leather soles, and THEN, where you need it most, across the ball, it's rubberised.

Women don't have it much better. Strappy, stiletto whore shoes with a grippy bottom.

I finally had to just cheat and get a pair of SAS "nursin' shoes"- that's what they look like, anyway, in taupe, because they have a textured bottom, but would slide well enough on blacktop while still offering some stability.

I wear a 7.5 or 8 WIDE, and it's hard to find the right ones :(

[lynn]

i've heard someone mention that when dancing latin, it's best to wear shoes with heels, is this true?? i'm guessing in that case, sneakers may not be the best choice??

[macha]

That's what I've always gathered, but if you're walking around a "Downtown After Dinner" thing on the street, heels can be rough. I use heels when I take lessons and go to socials and stuff, but not on pavement. Nooo way. The bigger we is, the harder we falls.

[cornutt]

I second the vote for dance sneakers (jazz sneakers, they sometimes call them). The sole isn't quite as hard as a leather sole, but it's quite a bit harder and less sticky than, say, a gym sneaker. I find that the only thing I can't do in them is really slidey dances like bolero.

And Lynn: Yes, optimally, a man should wear Cuban heels (1" to 1-1/2") for Latin dances. But on concrete, you have to make compromises. I wouldn't expect anyone, man or woman, to dance in heels on concrete. That's just asking for a foot injury.

(I have a pair of Cuban heels, but I generally only wear them for comps or exhibitions. Men aren't supposed to do smooth/standard in heels, and at a social dance where they mix up the music, it's too much trouble to keep switching back and forth.)

[kansas49er]

Actually, an ulterior motive is to have a pair of street shoes that would function well enough if I were to stumbled upon an opportunity to dance. Walking around all day in dance sneakers just seems odd to me, so leather soles looks like the way to go.

.

I bought my Florshem loafers on sale at Pennys. They work well for the arts/entertainment district walk around where you might come upon an opportunity to dance. They also carry Stacy Adams and Hogans, both of which feature hard leather sole. I also have a pair of Johnson brothers pair of wingtips, which work well also, but are heavier and stiffer than the Florsheims

[lynn]

well, that's interesting! If you don't mind answering this: why is it that men aren't supposed to wear shoes with heels in standard/smooth?? If i remember correctly, i think my group lesson teacher wears the same pair of shoes for teaching both standard & latin (i could be wrong, of course - i've never actually asked him to lift up his foot so i can see his shoes clearly!).

[tsb]

Dancing on concrete, eh?

Wear anything that cushions your feet . . . like sneakers!

In fact, go purchase a pair of Bloch's dance sneakers . . . you can wear them anywhere . . . they'll last a very longtime, and you'll be surprised how well rounded they are for dancing!

unless you need arch support - the lack thereof causes me to pronate & i get pretty bad heel spurs.

[macha]

If i remember correctly, i think my group lesson teacher wears the same pair of shoes for teaching both standard & latin

It's probably a case of your teacher going for comfort and personal preference over "what's right", and in this instance, it's ok. They have to bounce back and forth and in between dances, so it would only stand to reason that they want something on their feet that won't hinder them.

It's like I SHOULD ride with a helmet and boots, but most often I don't ride with either, because I hate them both for their restrictive qualities.

[DWise1]

Actually, an ulterior motive is to have a pair of street shoes that would function well enough if I were to stumbled upon an opportunity to dance. Walking around all day in dance sneakers just seems odd to me, so leather soles looks like the way to go.

.

I bought my Florshem loafers on sale at Pennys. They work well for the arts/entertainment district walk around where you might come upon an opportunity to dance. They also carry Stacy Adams and Hogans, both of which feature hard leather sole. I also have a pair of Johnson brothers pair of wingtips, which work well also, but are heavier and stiffer than the Florsheims

Thanks for the lead. There's a Penny's more or less on the way to the dancing-on-concrete class tonight, so I'll leave early and give it a look-see.


PS
Pardon the question, but it just occured to me: Are you near Lawrence? We have some family history there, 1856 to 1863.

[kansas49er]

[quote="DWise1

Pardon the question, but it just occured to me: Are you near Lawrence? We have some family history there, 1856 to 1863.[/quote]

No, quite a ways from there. I'm near Wichita, in the southcentral part of the state. Lawrence is more Northeast.

[kansas49er]

Hmmm. WHat did I do wrong on the quote part?

[kdogg]

You forgot to close the first square bracket.

[cornutt]

well, that's interesting! If you don't mind answering this: why is it that men aren't supposed to wear shoes with heels in standard/smooth??

Mainly a style thing, I think. Smooth/standard attire is based on a more classic, formal style of dress in which men don't wear heels. However, there could also be mechanical/technique reasons. As I understand it, one reason for the Cuban heels in Latin is that it helps the man achieve a better Cuban motion. (Since our hips don't work that way naturally, every little bit helps.) On the other hand, in smooth/standard, the leader has to take a lot of heel leads. If you try to take a big humungous heel lead in a Cuban heel, it may skid. Admittedly, the woman has the same problem, but the follower doesn't have to take a heel lead nearly as often as the leader does. Having said all this, I will say that I have done silver waltz and foxtrot in my Cuban heels. You do have to be careful with the heel leads, but for the most part it works, and heel turns are actually easier. But my instructor frowns on that. She says I'll learn bad habits from it.

When I do comps, my shoe choices go like this:

Standard/smooth: Patent leather dress shoes (might change to a natural leather pair for foxtrot, if I have time and depending on what I'm wearing).

Latin/non-swing rhythym: Cuban heels (except for bolero; for that I wear smooth shoes).

Swing: Dance sneakers.

[kansas49er]

You forgot to close the first square bracket.

Thanks. I missed it.