I want to buy my first tango shoes

[Lilyad]

I would definitely advise against a website called "Argentina Tango shoes" at argentinatangoshoes.com

Their shoes are of the worst quality ever and their customer service is appalling. I bought a pair of Artesenal shoes from this website and ended up spending over $300 sending the shoes back and forth due to serious defects. The leather of the shoes had flaws, the stitching was atrocious, the heel caps were coming off, and one heel was higher than the other. In the end, I decided it wasn't worth spending another penny on postage to return them again.

 

[sixela]

No, sentenced to wear black and whites for the rest of your life....

Or red and white.

Fortunately, mine look almost exactly like bowling shoes, so at least I don't suffer the brunt of the Curse of the Black and White Shoes (even though they're _really_ conspicuous everybody thinks they are street shoes).

My other pair was black and unconspicuous (also Madame Pivot sneakers) but alas, they're half a European size too small.

There's a merit to dance shoes over "street shoes" in that they don't have a conspicuous welt, which cannot be said of most street shoes, and they tend to be more flexible (and thus more comfortable for dancing for extended periods); that's about it as far as advantages go.

Street shoes in supple and thin leather that you've worn for _very_ long tend to be just as flexible, and I did have some pairs of street shoes that I can comfortably dance with -- sadly, dancing years with them took its toll).

 

[Deimante]

Mine I bought on Vinted app, I really love them, very comfy

 

[Mariab]

Hi Atang,

It's maybe a little late to answer to your question but I know an online shop called "duostyle" which sell beautiful tango shoes for only 79 euros. It's a good deal because the shoes are of good quality.

Good shopping to all the tango dancers!

Marie Baegert and Samuel Paploray
TANGO ATTITUDE PARIS

 

[HappyLilac]

Hi all - I have been dancing since March and I wanted to treat myself to a pair of actual tango shoes. I’ve been using 2.5” Latin heels with a chunkier heel. I had a couple questions about picking tango heels for a beginner

• Does color matter, especially wearing a shorter skirt? If you only had one pair of shoes, should they be skin colored or black?
• Any opinions on Tangolera, Madame Pivot, or Alagolami? I’m looking for shoes with 2-2.5” heels and they seem to have more choices for low heels
• Should beginners have open or closed heel cup shoes? How much of a difference does an extra strap across the arch of the foot make?

There isn’t anywhere to buy shoes in person near me, at least for the next couple months, so any other suggestions are appreciated!

 

[Brummbaer]

I have been dancing since March and I wanted to treat myself to a pair of actual tango shoes.

Which country/continent?

A more significant consideration is leather or suede soles, depending where you dance. Have you used practice/training shoes?

The rest is aesthetics.

 

[opendoor]

• Does color matter...

Yes, quite a lot, don't buy skin colored shoes. In tango, clothing always depends on your shoes, never the other way around.

• Any opinions on Tangolera.. they seem to have more choices for low heels..

Low heels was the best seller in 2023, which is why all retailers ordered low heels. My best friends sell Tangolera, there were never any complaints. So they gave up all other brands. Of course, concerning Tangolera you have to take what you can get, shelves immediately are empty. If you are looking for something specific, your regional salesperson can order models. But it often takes up to a year until the desired design with specific heel height is delivered.

• Should beginners have open or closed heel cup... difference does an extra strap across the arch of the foot make?

It usually depends on your foot not on your skills.

 

[TTanguero]

Any opinions on Tangolera, Madame Pivot, or Alagolami? I’m looking for shoes with 2-2.5” heels and they seem to have more choices for low heels

I hear reasonably good things about Madame Pivot. But Balanceo would be my recommendation – I know lots of followers who have switched from other brands to Balanceo, but none who have done it the other way around. You can choose your heel height.

Balanceo Handmade Leather Shoes and Heels - Balanceo

Shoes for dance and all occasions. Sleek, seductive and elegant. Unique design. Exceptional comfort. 100% Handmade by top Italian craftsmen of high quality leather or suede, cushioned throughout the sole, using a unique method. Sexy, classic and stunning in the current fashion design and colours.

balanceo.co.uk

 

[opendoor]

..more significant consideration is leather or suede soles..

Tangolera only offers suede soles made from leather.

 

[ardix]

• Does color matter....? If you only had one pair of shoes, should they be skin colored or black?

Yes, quite a lot, don't buy skin colored shoes.

• Should beginners have open or closed heel cup shoes? How much of a difference does an extra strap across the arch of the foot make?

It usually depends on your foot not on your skills.

Hi @HappyLilac ! You got some advice from the guys, dancing as leaders...Here is my advice, as a female follower:
- I love skin colored shoes , they go with any outfit and they make your legs look longer ...
- as a beginner but even now I prefer(ed) closed heel cup shoes, with an extra strap - I find them more stable (I did dance in other types so this comes from experience).

 

[HappyLilac]

• Does color matter....? If you only had one pair of shoes, should they be skin colored or black?

Hi @HappyLilac ! You got some advice from the guys, dancing as leaders...Here is my advice, as a female follower:
- I love skin colored shoes , they go with any outfit and they make your legs look longer ...
- as a beginner but even now I prefer(ed) closed heel cup shoes, with an extra strap - I find them more stable (I did dance in other types so this comes from experience).

Thank you! I’ve gotten used to the ballroom-ish sandal with suede soles and a heel cup, so seems like I can look for something pretty similar. I had my eye on a pair of black shoes but I might get a nude pair as a first pair. I’m in the US.

 

[Brummbaer]

NoTangolera only offers suede soles made from leather.

So, not a good choice if you dance on poor floors!

I initially used suede-soled ballroom shoes, as did my wife, but they were a nightmare on poor floors becoming clogged with dirt, talc, etc mixed with spilt drinks (beer and coke). Cleaning/brushing just too much trouble. Leather soles mostly fixed that and easier to clean up.

I found out that you can order leather soles from the Werner Kern group, although their standard is suede.

But Balanceo would be my recommendation

My wife's current preference from amongst several others. I like some Monsieur Pivot 'trainers' with interchangeable suede/leather soles so I'd guess the Madame Pivot are ok.

But, once you've sorted the basics for dance, it's then down to how you want to look. Heel height is, I guess, a personal preference but related both to dance and your height. My wife liked some higher heels once, but sold them on and went back to something lower. (You can, apparently, never have too many tango shoes)

Beware of the fastening buckles! Check you can do them yourself, or take someone to do them for you. Some are very fiddly and ruin an otherwise good design.

 

[ArbeeNYC]

Hi all - I have been dancing since March and I wanted to treat myself to a pair of actual tango shoes. I’ve been using 2.5” Latin heels with a chunkier heel. I had a couple questions about picking tango heels for a beginner

• Does color matter, especially wearing a shorter skirt? If you only had one pair of shoes, should they be skin colored or black?
• Any opinions on Tangolera, Madame Pivot, or Alagolami? I’m looking for shoes with 2-2.5” heels and they seem to have more choices for low heels
• Should beginners have open or closed heel cup shoes? How much of a difference does an extra strap across the arch of the foot make?

There isn’t anywhere to buy shoes in person near me, at least for the next couple months, so any other suggestions are appreciated!

I'll have to let the ladies answer this one, but I have several pairs of men's shoes from Madame Pivot. Well made and good looking. Italian company. They have a large selection of women's shoes, of course.

 

[Miradamiranda]

Decades ago I bought on sale a pair of ordinary-looking closed toe Werner Kerns but ruined the buckle pretty quickly by stripping the leather on the strap by pulling too strongly in the wrong direction. Then I couldn’t fasten them snugly enough to dance in, so I converted them to street shoes. Being tall, wearing high heels was not something central to my coming-of-age years, and shoes were never a priority for me since I wear a large size that’s hard to source (although it’s much easier now than when I was in my 20’s and 30’s because the younger generations are getting taller). Anyhow, using these Werner Kerns as my go-to dressy heels in a non-dance context, I realized how comfortable and well balanced they are compared to trendy strappy dressy heels. When I by accident realized I could run on cobblestones in them, I swore I’d never go back to regular street heels.
Since then, I’ve tried many many brands, especially at vendors tables at festivals, and I’ve had several custom made but was always disappointed. I kept coming back to relatively boring Werner Kerns. I’ve had quite a few over the years. They are predictably quality-built. Can be ordered easily, and the foot doesn’t need to get used to a new fit each time. Sure, they are not exciting-looking, they are not lingerie for the feet, and they are definitely secondary to my outfit. BUT, I see many of my female friends overly obsessed with finding the most beautiful tango shoe, thinking they’ll dance better and get more and better dances because attention is drawn to their beautiful feet. Some of my friends even love to have an excuse to spend big bucks on shoes.
Their really fancy expensive extra high heeled ones are then saved for the special events, and then their feet get so sore they can’t dance. Whereas me, in my well-worn boring but decent Werner Kerns, I’m dancing non-stop for 12 hours a day in the festivals, and am often the last follower still going on at the last tanda - and I was also there for the very first tanda. Life is too short to have sore feet. Closed toe is a non-negotiable for me. Good support with a strap over the foot. 5.5cm heel is my favorite, although I might have gone higher if I was shorter. Good padding for the metatarsal. And well balanced. Good luck.

 

[pianistamediano]

+1 for Balanceo. I've been a customer for years, and all my follower friends who own a pair/multiple pairs hold it in high regard.