How much do you pay for dance shoes?
- Thread starter pygmalion
- Start date
SDsalsaguy
Administrator
Too much! :lol:pygmalion said:
DanceMentor
Administrator
One reason is the most popular brands worn by the top professionals are imported from Europe...and exchange rates are not very favorable right now.
peachexploration
New Member
Looks like anywhere between $100-$200 for a good pair depending your dance and/or competition. Especially, if there are hand made and not on sale :shock: . Even a dance sneaker could run up to $115. I've tried purchasing cheaps, with my high insteps, doesn't work. :evil: Have to go for the higher priced hand-mades. Oh the woes of a dancer.... 
:lol:ballroomboilergirl
New Member
Did someone say "shoes"?
Jen, you know me too well :lol:
I am probably (ok, I AM) guilty of overspending on shoes. I think I have seriously convinced myself that I need a large number of shoes in order to be a good dancer. "I need a pair of Latin, a pair for smooth, a pair for social dancing, two different pairs to practice in, and while I'm at it, I may as well get a pair for Argentine Tango, swing, and that neato pair of gold lame Latin sandals that would be PERFECT to go along with my Hustle outfit. Aw what the heck, I'll buy a backup pair of Tinas in case something happens to the other pair...and I'm gonna need a pair of Supadance Latin shoes as well for when I want more flexibility. I wonder if those Freed Romas are on sale...?" This is typically what runs through my head EVERY DAY as I browse through countless shoe websites and catalogs. I won't even get into my obsession with shoe accesories, dance clothes, videos, music, etc. :shock:
In my humble opinion, dance shoes cost a lot because they have a lot more specifications than regular shoes. Regular shoe manufacturers basically just have to make sure their shoes are suitable for walking and standing; dance shoe manufacturers have to worry about whether or not people can spin, turn, jump, hop, chasse, kick, flick, slide, etc. in their shoes. And its not like you can just throw a pair of dance shoes together from whatever you have laying around the factory; they have "special" soles, and are made of "special" material, and women's heels have to have a "special" shank in them...everything that dance shoes are made of is out-of-the-ordinary, and we all know that uniqueness = expensiveness. In addition, dance shoes are constructed in such a way that they support the foot for DANCING. This requires a lot more precision, calculation, and craftsmanship than regular shoes. Heels must be placed differently, insteps must be taken into account, toe and ankle straps must be strengthened. And all of these things make it IMPOSSIBLE to make dance shoes "assembly-line" fashion, or by machine. A surprising amount of work must be done BY HAND. This requires additional time, capital, and labor (sorry, my econ is kicking in) which added up = a higher price for the producer to make the shoes, which in turn = a higher price for the consumer.
Anyway, I admit to spending A LOT on shoes. I have been known to thrown down up to $160 on a pair of shoes without batting an eye. But I don't do so carelessly; I spend months shopping around and researching before I settle on a pair. I started investigating my Tina's back in October...I asked other people on my team who had them, I checked various websites to compare prices, I tried on a pair at a competition and talked to the Freed vendor about them, I asked my coaches if they were suitable for the type of dancing I wanted to do...it was basically like I was an employer running a background check on a prospective employee. You want to make sure you're getting your money's worth and won't get any unpleasant surprises down the road. I think its definitely important to look around for the best prices...I ended up saving quite a bit (think in the neighborhood of $20) on my Tina's. One website was charging $130 for them; another was charging $117; I got mine for $107, plus I got free shoe bag. It's all about doing your homework :wink:
Its also important to TAKE CARE OF YOUR SHOES!!!! You spend a pretty penny on them; why not make them last a long as possible? Invest in heel protectors, insoles, shoe cream, replacement soles and heel tips, elastic straps...whatever extends the life of your shoes a bit longer. Dance in them only when you have to, but also keep in mind the reason you bought them in the first place: DANCING. Everything is a balance.
As for bargains, I'm willing to name-names as to who is good and who is not-so-good. I find freedusa's prices to be a lot lower than showtime's, but they don't have as large a selection of sizes, colors, etc. Supadance is about the same price everywhere, maybe a mite cheaper than usual at backbaydancewear. ckdanceshoes is also a bit cheaper than the norm. danceshopper is a bit more expensive.
Jen, you know me too well :lol:
I am probably (ok, I AM) guilty of overspending on shoes. I think I have seriously convinced myself that I need a large number of shoes in order to be a good dancer. "I need a pair of Latin, a pair for smooth, a pair for social dancing, two different pairs to practice in, and while I'm at it, I may as well get a pair for Argentine Tango, swing, and that neato pair of gold lame Latin sandals that would be PERFECT to go along with my Hustle outfit. Aw what the heck, I'll buy a backup pair of Tinas in case something happens to the other pair...and I'm gonna need a pair of Supadance Latin shoes as well for when I want more flexibility. I wonder if those Freed Romas are on sale...?" This is typically what runs through my head EVERY DAY as I browse through countless shoe websites and catalogs. I won't even get into my obsession with shoe accesories, dance clothes, videos, music, etc. :shock:
In my humble opinion, dance shoes cost a lot because they have a lot more specifications than regular shoes. Regular shoe manufacturers basically just have to make sure their shoes are suitable for walking and standing; dance shoe manufacturers have to worry about whether or not people can spin, turn, jump, hop, chasse, kick, flick, slide, etc. in their shoes. And its not like you can just throw a pair of dance shoes together from whatever you have laying around the factory; they have "special" soles, and are made of "special" material, and women's heels have to have a "special" shank in them...everything that dance shoes are made of is out-of-the-ordinary, and we all know that uniqueness = expensiveness. In addition, dance shoes are constructed in such a way that they support the foot for DANCING. This requires a lot more precision, calculation, and craftsmanship than regular shoes. Heels must be placed differently, insteps must be taken into account, toe and ankle straps must be strengthened. And all of these things make it IMPOSSIBLE to make dance shoes "assembly-line" fashion, or by machine. A surprising amount of work must be done BY HAND. This requires additional time, capital, and labor (sorry, my econ is kicking in) which added up = a higher price for the producer to make the shoes, which in turn = a higher price for the consumer.
Anyway, I admit to spending A LOT on shoes. I have been known to thrown down up to $160 on a pair of shoes without batting an eye. But I don't do so carelessly; I spend months shopping around and researching before I settle on a pair. I started investigating my Tina's back in October...I asked other people on my team who had them, I checked various websites to compare prices, I tried on a pair at a competition and talked to the Freed vendor about them, I asked my coaches if they were suitable for the type of dancing I wanted to do...it was basically like I was an employer running a background check on a prospective employee. You want to make sure you're getting your money's worth and won't get any unpleasant surprises down the road. I think its definitely important to look around for the best prices...I ended up saving quite a bit (think in the neighborhood of $20) on my Tina's. One website was charging $130 for them; another was charging $117; I got mine for $107, plus I got free shoe bag. It's all about doing your homework :wink:
Its also important to TAKE CARE OF YOUR SHOES!!!! You spend a pretty penny on them; why not make them last a long as possible? Invest in heel protectors, insoles, shoe cream, replacement soles and heel tips, elastic straps...whatever extends the life of your shoes a bit longer. Dance in them only when you have to, but also keep in mind the reason you bought them in the first place: DANCING. Everything is a balance.
As for bargains, I'm willing to name-names as to who is good and who is not-so-good. I find freedusa's prices to be a lot lower than showtime's, but they don't have as large a selection of sizes, colors, etc. Supadance is about the same price everywhere, maybe a mite cheaper than usual at backbaydancewear. ckdanceshoes is also a bit cheaper than the norm. danceshopper is a bit more expensive.
I couldn't have said it better myself.
My cheapest pair of dance shoes, a pair of International court shoes, cost $29 on clearance at Showtime. My most expensive pair -- $180 Argentine tango shoes. How's that for a price range?
My view is don't pay too much, and as you said, do your homework. I never buy shoes... NEVER... without researching the web (several sites), any catalogs I have, asking friends, calling my local shoe retalier. You bet.
Also, when I pick a style I like, I google on that specific style name to see if I can find a cheaper price. Supadance -- usually not much cheaper anywhere. With other shoe makers, I have found many a deal. You just have to shop for it.
My cheapest pair of dance shoes, a pair of International court shoes, cost $29 on clearance at Showtime. My most expensive pair -- $180 Argentine tango shoes. How's that for a price range?
My view is don't pay too much, and as you said, do your homework. I never buy shoes... NEVER... without researching the web (several sites), any catalogs I have, asking friends, calling my local shoe retalier. You bet.
Also, when I pick a style I like, I google on that specific style name to see if I can find a cheaper price. Supadance -- usually not much cheaper anywhere. With other shoe makers, I have found many a deal. You just have to shop for it.
peachexploration
New Member
pygmalion said:
$29? How lucky is that!
I've been watching that site for the last year and couldn't get any luckier than $89. I guess size 7 is the most popular shoe size.MadamSamba
Member
29 bucks, excellent buy, Jenn and fabo advice BBG! Who can resist a pair of nice shoes, tell me? 
The cheapest I've gotten shoes for are $150, for a pair of Supadance latin shoes. That's pretty much the average down here though at one supplier the other day, I saw a bunch of latin and modern shoes going on sale for about $100.
Mind you that's ($150) the starting figure for latin. Ballroom shoes start at about $170, but again that varies markedly depending on whether it's Supadance, Freed, Flamingo, International Dance Shoes etc. and whether you buy it from one of the smaller distributors or a huge, over-priced chain like Bloch where the same shoe can sell for about 60 bucks more.
You guys should come down here and buy up on shoes. $150 is $150 to me, but to the Americans and Brits it's only $US 113 and $64 GBP. Cheap as chips!
The cheapest I've gotten shoes for are $150, for a pair of Supadance latin shoes. That's pretty much the average down here though at one supplier the other day, I saw a bunch of latin and modern shoes going on sale for about $100.
Mind you that's ($150) the starting figure for latin. Ballroom shoes start at about $170, but again that varies markedly depending on whether it's Supadance, Freed, Flamingo, International Dance Shoes etc. and whether you buy it from one of the smaller distributors or a huge, over-priced chain like Bloch where the same shoe can sell for about 60 bucks more.
You guys should come down here and buy up on shoes. $150 is $150 to me, but to the Americans and Brits it's only $US 113 and $64 GBP. Cheap as chips!
SDsalsaguy
Administrator
Any leads out there for cheap BLOCH dance sneakers? I've had jazz sneakers from 3-4 brands by this point and I just don't understand why anyone (aside, perhaps, from fitting issues) would go with anything but BLOCHs.
peachexploration
New Member
pygmalion said:
Yes, but they never have what I'm looking for.
:cry: