Latin shoe dilemma, help me choose !

[RavenDancer]

I'm after a new pair of latin heels and after much deliberation have finaly narrowed it down to my last two choices. The problem now is that i dunno which one to choose ! I was hoping you guys could help me out with some auggestions.

Anyhow, pair no 1 is from Supadance, the style number is 1516. I have worn Supadance previously and find them to be comfortable and durable too.
Pair no 2 is Very Fine dance shoes, style PP204. As i have never worn this brand of shoes before, I have no clue with regards to its quality and comfort factor?

I like both styles so that's why it's such a difficult choice. There is a slight price diff with Supadance being more expensive but i'm willing to shell out some extra cash to get the right pair of shoes. I am open to suggestions and advise, so opinions please! Thanks !!

 

[Twilight_Elena]

I've never worn Very Fine shoes, but from what I've heard they're not the best in quality. Really depends on many things. Are you going to be wearing them in socials or are you competing in them? They don't last long and aren't very supportive, from what I've heard.

T_E

 

[SPratt74]

Both shoes are very pretty. And I think that what you could do is to buy Very Fine and try them out for your social occasions first. This way you could see if you like them or not, and they wouldn't be a waste of money if you only plan to wear them for socials. I like them both though! I need a new pair of silver shoes myself for my costumes! Oh the burden of shoe shopping lol!

 

[Me]

How long have you been dancing?

I ask because... I generally recommend to beginners that they try Very Fine. A beginner is making a small investment in dance via beginner classes, so I think it makes sense to do the same with shoes.

If you are in it for the long term, Very Fine is not a good choice, in that those shoes just don't last long. Well, I've only owned leather Very Fines. From experience, I can say the leather wears out very quickly. A male friend of mine who bought some patent Latin shoes is also displeased with the endurance of the materials. I suppose if you were doing an exhibition piece and needed shoes to match a costume, Very Fine would be an inexpensive choice?

I've used Supadance before, and they seem to be good shoes. I prefer International, but they have switched to, what is to me, an unwearable 'nude' colour. They've switched to this orange/brown fake bake colour. I hate it, because I LOVED the 'Nadia' shoe. Just simply unwearable due to the color. I hope they change this.

 

[latingal]

Hi RavenDancer, I have not tried Very Fine shoes but I have tried Supadance (ballroom and smooth shoes). I normally wear International for latin. Whenever anybody asks me about shoes other than International and Supadance for latin, I recommend that they be very careful about the shank of the shoe. The shanks on International latin shoes are rock hard (steel shank) and give me very good support. Many of the cheaper brands of shoes do not have a really good supportive shank - which is - in my opinion - very important for comfort, performance and durability.

 

[danceislove]

Hi RavenDancer, I have not tried Very Fine shoes but I have tried Supadance (ballroom and smooth shoes). I normally wear International for latin. Whenever anybody asks me about shoes other than International and Supadance for latin, I recommend that they be very careful about the shank of the shoe. The shanks on International latin shoes are rock hard (steel shank) and give me very good support. Many of the cheaper brands of shoes do not have a really good supportive shank - which is - in my opinion - very important for comfort, performance and durability.

Latingirl:
I am curious why you prefer International over Supadance for latin? I have not trued either, but am about to buy some Supadances as I have heard that they are one of the better brands out there. I would love to hear anyone's opinions on Supadance vs other comparable brands!!!


RavenDancer:
I would NOT recommend Very Fines unless you are fully aware that they are sub par and will wear out very fast. If you are ok with that, then go for it! I have had many pairs of Very Fines and they last me 2 months tops. Granted that is dancing 4-5 days a week in them, but still they give out quite rapidly! And they stretch out horribly.

 

[lynn]

I have tried both brands and I personally prefer supadance because they just seem to be better quality and somehow look better in reality as well. Also, I find very fine shoes to be quite narrow for me, if your feet are a little on the wide side, very fine might not fit you.

 

[delamusica]

Latingirl:
I am curious why you prefer International over Supadance for latin? I have not trued either, but am about to buy some Supadances as I have heard that they are one of the better brands out there. I would love to hear anyone's opinions on Supadance vs other comparable brands!!!

I always prefer International over Supadance, for both standard and latin. But I know plenty of people who wear Supadance and love them.

It's just an individual thing - shape of foot, the way you use your foot, personal preference for feel of the shoe.

If you found one you like, give it a try. They're both good shoes. If they're not perfect, then you'll know to try another brand next time. Most of us go through a whole pile of shoes before we find the ones we love.

 

[latingal]

Latingirl:
I am curious why you prefer International over Supadance for latin? I have not trued either, but am about to buy some Supadances as I have heard that they are one of the better brands out there. I would love to hear anyone's opinions on Supadance vs other comparable brands!!!

Hi danceislove! Actually I totally agree with delamusica, it's all about how the different brands/models fit your feet and your dancing. When I discuss shoes with all my friends that dance latin or rhythm, I mainly hear four manufacturers that most people are satisfied with the quality of, they are; International, Supadance, Dance Naturals and Ray Rose.

As I progressed in dancing latin I found out through experience that I; have a wide forefoot, prefer a flexible ball of foot to allow for pointing my feet, have very little natural arch, drag the tips of my toes when doing rumba/paso, get pressure marks from crossed straps over my ankle, have a bunion on one side, and prefer the balance of a flared heel that is farther on the back edge of the heel.

Each factor demands a different feature from my shoes. Given that, International had a wider selection of models and widths that might fit the specfics of my feet and style of dancing. I would try either Supadance or Dance Naturals if I felt they had a model that would work for me (Ray Rose suppliers seem to be too scarce).

And, as delamusica mentioned, I too went through a very large, very expensive pile of shoes in different sizes, widths and models before I found two International styles that work with my feet well.

Good luck!

 

[RavenDancer]

Thanks so much everyone for your replies, i'm definitely getting the Supadance pair after reading through everyone's comments. I've been dancing for almost 5 years now and have been competing on and off. Am definitely looking for a pair of latin heels that would see me through hours and hours of practise each week.

Thanks again for all the great feedback !

 

[delamusica]

Just to throw another out there, I've really liked shoes I've had from a company called Dancesport International. Comfiest, most flexible shoes I've ever had. They're a little cheaper than most, but for me they last long enough to be worth it. Just one more brand to check out.

 

[mamboqueen]

And, as delamusica mentioned, I too went through a very large, very expensive pile of shoes in different sizes, widths and models before I found two International styles that work with my feet well.

Good luck!

*nods in agreement* I have about 10 pairs of shoes sitting around that are of no use to me. One of these days, I'll hook up with some college student and just donate them....

Internationals are great for the narrow-footed dancer. I actually have found them to be the only brand that carries XXN in stock. Eckse also makes a good shoe, but for me to get the right fit, width-wise, I had to wear a shoe that was so small, it did not fit right in the rest of the foot and I wasn't getting enough support.

You should find a place where you can try on every brand conceivable (going to a competition helps...as the vendors usually have a big selection of brands). And if you try some out by ordering them to your home, just be sure to test drive them on carpeting as they have to be in near-perfect condition in order for you to return them.

 

[delamusica]

It'll change as your dancing changes, too.

For my first two years, I always wore the same style/size of International shoe. Then I changed the size. Then I had to change styles altogether. Now I find most International shoes aren't working for my feet. But it's been a couple of years since I tried them, so maybe I should try some on again sometime.

So yeah - as your dancing changes, so will what you're looking for in a shoe.

(And the guys wonder why we have so many shoe threads?! )

 

[Medira]

Latingirl:
I am curious why you prefer International over Supadance for latin? I have not trued either, but am about to buy some Supadances as I have heard that they are one of the better brands out there. I would love to hear anyone's opinions on Supadance vs other comparable brands!!!

I've had a pair of those exact shoes since last October and worn them CONSTANTLY. I dance between 20-40 hours a week. Despite all of the abuse, the Supadance shoes are still VERY comfortable and stable. I love them!

The Internationals that I have are also great shoes. A bit narrow in the toe, but I think the issue is more that they're still very new and I haven't broken them in properly yet since they're to be worn in competition and that's it for now.