Dancing in High Heels may not be the best idea

[DanceMentor]

When I added ballroom to my activities, after many years as a figure skater (which I also still do), I found I couldn't balance in heels higher than that of the typical skate boot -- about 1 1/2". So that's what I wear on the dance floor also. Fortunately I'm small, as most female pairs skaters are, and have small feet, so I can buy my dance shoes in the upper range of children's sizes where that is the norm for heel height.

Does the reference to tight shoes in the post above mean street shoes, or do some dancers wear tight slippers for security? I'm fairly new at this activity and compete only at a low level, locally. I don't find dance shoes too tight, being used to skate boots which have to be at least a full size smaller than your street shoes to avoid any shifting within the boots putting off your balance on those thin blades. My skating forum constantly deals with people asking for advice re foot and ankle pain. Does the problem arise only with closed shoes, or does it also occur with open sandal styles (which I've not worn so far but have my eyes on a pair I can't currently afford)?

I’m sure there are different views on this but to me if there’s not enough room for the toes and they squeezed together and to compound that you’re dancing like that. It could be pretty bad overtime.

 

[MaggiWrites]

I’m sure there are different views on this but to me if there’s not enough room for the toes and they squeezed together and to compound that you’re dancing like that. It could be pretty bad overtime.

I would think so also. For skate boots, the problem is solved by different brands shaping the toe box differently so you wear the brand that is shaped to fit the shape of your "toe line" without mashing them together or leaving gaps. For instance, my toes slant down sharply in length from the big to baby toes, so Risport boots fit me because they're shaped for what the shoe industry labels "Egyptian feet". (Nothing to do with one's ethnic ancestry; they just label different toe-lines with arbitrary names -- Egyptian, Greek, Roman, etc.)

I've found children's ballroom shoes seem to be more forgiving to the front part of the foot, probably because the manufacturer's are shaping the last to avoid distorting children's growing feet. I can wear just about any brand of those without squeezing or pain. And of course the heels are much lower, so my feet aren't being pushed down into the toe box by gravity.

 

[j_alexandra]

I’m sure there are different views on this but to me if there’s not enough room for the toes and they squeezed together and to compound that you’re dancing like that. It could be pretty bad overtime.

Yup. Happened to me.

 

[opendoor]

..found I couldn't balance in heels higher than that of the typical skate boot -- about 1 1/2"...

It also has something to do with practice and technique. In tango and salsa, you increasingly see followers who sometimes or always wear flats or ball protectors instead of high heels. Nevertheless, they lift their heels 3 to 3.5 inches while dancing, as if they were wearing regular Latin shoes.

 

[MaggiWrites]

It also has something to do with practice and technique. In tango and salsa, you increasingly see followers who sometimes or always wear flats or ball protectors instead of high heels. Nevertheless, they lift their heels 3 to 3.5 inches while dancing, as if they were wearing regular Latin shoes.

We don't do salsa at our studio, but I'll look more closely at the women's feet when I see dancers more advanced than I practising a tango. Interesting!

 

[opendoor]

...Interesting!