Clothing and shoes tips for a beginner

C

cos

New Member
Hi,

I'm a beginner - in the sense I know only the basics of waltz and some latino dances, but taking classes to learn more - and need some advice regarding dance clothes and shoes.

I have been wearing jeans and sport shoes at practices but I've started to become somehow restricted by them while dancing - and would also like something that I could wear at social events.

Regarding clothing, I'm guessing any dress pants and dress shirt would do. Is that right?

Regarding shoes, it seems it's a bit more complicated. The simple answer would be to just get some dress shoes but I'll probably only use them for dancing I was thinking of getting a pair of dance shoes - the ones for standard look more appealing that the high heeled one for latino. Could you give me some advice on where I could buy a pair of decent ones and what should I look for?

So, I'm not looking for any competition stuff - just basic garments for a beginner. I'm now in the Chicago area - originally from Romania - so advice for both US and Europe can help.

Also, I'm trying not to get overboard with the spending on this so I would prefer less expensive stuff.

Thanks!
 
cos, welcome to DF.

I definitely suggest real dance shoes. You can spend anywhwere from $55-300 or more, but for first pair of shoes, I'd probably look around $100. If you can get downtown, a great place to try on shoes (not sure about their prices though) is Russian Pointe on Michigan Ave just south of Wacker. If memory serves, when I talked to owner she said they had mroe than 20 different pairs of men shoes in stock at all times. So can definitely try different brands, models, etc, and see what works best for you. I do agree that you should start with smooth or standard shoes though.

As to clothes, yes, dress pants and dress shirt is perfect. or even khakis and a polo.
 
Chicago Dance Supply in Andersonville carries Very Fine and Stephanie (and maybe other brands, too). Last time I was there, they had a pretty large inventory in stock.

There's also Motion Unlimited downtown on Wabash. Never been there but I know they do carry ballroom shoes.

Chicago Dance Supply: chicagodancesupply.com
Russian Pointe: russianpointe.com
Motion Unlimited: motionunlimiteddancewear.com
 
I would really suggest getting dance shoes if your going to do both standard and latin. dances you should get both a pair for standard and latin.

The dance shoes really make a difference compared to your regular shoes or sports shoes, the flexibility it in the sole makes it easier to point and in Latin the heels make it easier for you to do heel leads. At the same time the suede soles in the shoes prevent damage to the dance floor.

Look for a soft flexible sole and a good sturdy suede sole :-)
 
in the mean time, the key is to have a shoe that has very little traction so you can slide your foot if you need to...dh used his lether bottomed wing tips for a very long time and they worked just fine...there seems to be a concensus that jeans are just restrictive...most of the men I see at socials are in business casual...dockers and a golf shirt....some have more flair than that but that gives you a ballpark
 
Funny I have never felt restricted in jeans, but I definitely do note the advantages to slacks. As for a top, honestly, I would say anything not loose or baggy would be fine. No need to go buying more shirts. For the shoes I would say start with a standard heel, it can at least be used for both styles initially. Or you can just invest in a slippery floor :lol:
 
Then I guess you can wear loose shirts :D. I just figured tighter shirts allow a person to see their body position better, and also that fingers and hands would be less likely to get snagged in clothing.
 
hahaha. Well, shirt depends on the person, how much you move, etc. :)

But yeah, had forgotten Motion Unlimited. Now that we have Russian Pointe across the street from the studio, and sell shoes in studio itself, it slips my mind. ;) I got my first pair of shoes there though, and still wear them occasionally. They had Very Fine then, but not their lower quality lines, they sold the better ones. My particular shoes were from Party Party line.
 
I suggest getting a pair of dance shoes. The suede soles will give you just enough grip so that you don't slide on the dance floor, but also allow you to move swiftly without getting stuck. They make a difference, not only in how the dance feels, but in my opinion, dance shoes actually make you look better while dancing.
 
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