Ladies Ballroom Dancing Shoes

Information & tips for choosing comfortable womens' dance shoes that are functional & gorgeous too!

Do you need help choosing ladies ballroom dancing shoes? Womens' dance shoes come in so many different styles it's truly mind boggling if you don't KNOW what you are looking for.

There are literally hundreds of dance shoes for women! Ladies ballroom dancing shoes come in every color of the rainbow, high heels, low heels, sandals, pumps....

Swing dance shoes, practice dance shoes, latin dance shoes, tango shoes, ballroom sneakers...

No wonder we feel overwhelmed at times!

The best way to start is by identifying your needs.

The info and resources on this page will guide you quickly and easily through the mysteries of ballroom dancing shoes for ladies!

There are lots pictures of dance shoes online here as well, for all you kindred dance shoe addicts!

No, you don't need four pairs right now! Okay, well maybe.....they are just all so beautiful!

Basic Anatomy of Womens' Dance Shoes

Ladies Ballroom Dancing Shoes are constructed to meet the specific needs of a lady dancer and have the following characteristics:

• Steel shank for added arch support.
• Chrome-tanned (suede) soles for optimal grip and slide on typical hardwood floors.
• Light weight construction to help reduce foot fatigue.
• Fast and easy snap closures on buckles.
• Extra foot pad cushioning for dancing comfort.

Ladies Latin Dance Shoes

There are different designs to match the different styles of ballroom dancing.

Open toed shoes or sandals are specially designed for Latin or Rhythm dances, while the closed toe variety are better suited for Standard or Smooth dances.

The typical ladies latin dance shoe is an open toed sandal with a 2-3 inch heel.

The shoe is constructed to be horizontally flexible to facilitate the movements of latin dancing technique. (Jive, Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba etc.)

They are available in all sorts of colors and styles, with black still being the most popular.

You might also consider a flesh tone as this will lengthen the look of your leg on the dance floor!.

It would be best to choose a lower heel if you are not accustomed to wearing heels for long periods of time.

A sandal with a heel cup will also provide extra foot support! Sandals with a T-strap will provide even more support and are therefore great for new dancers.

Ladies Standard Style Pumps

Pumps are made from satin or leather and are typically worn for standard dance styles, such as the Waltz, Foxtrot, or Tango.

They are vertically flexible like a flip phone, providing the proper support for standard technique.

The heels are generally lower than those of a latin dancing shoe.

Flesh tones are the most common colors, but others are also available!

Some styles also have an ankle strap for added support and also to keep your heel stabilized within the shoe.

Ladies Smooth Style Pumps

This style of ladies pump, is open on the sides, thus supporting the movement style of the American Smooth dances.

These shoes offer more support than a sandal, but less than a standard pump, making them quite versatile.

You will see these pumps worn for all types of Ballroom and Latin Dancing.

If you are looking for your first pair of ladies ballroom dancing shoes, these would be an excellent choice!

If The Shoe Fits...

Being a lady myself, I know that we tend to be easily influenced by a gorgeous looking pair of shoes, regardless of their practicality or comfort!

When it comes to ladies ballroom dancing shoes, this temptation can lead to painful mistakes!

To avoid these mistakes, select shoes that fit your feet properly, even if you have to order wide width ballroom dancing shoes, narrow ballroom dance shoes, or custom design dance shoes.

Latin dance shoes should fit snugly, with your toes right at the edge of the sole. Some dancers even like their toes to overhang the sole a bit in order to better feel the floor.

Closed Toe Pumps should also fit snugly with just enough room to wiggle your toes.

If your shoes are too tight, your feet will feel cramped and sore. If they are too loose, you may trip and cause injury to yourself or others.

Learn how to measure your own feet and follow the guidelines of the dance shoes manufacturer to ensure a good fit.

Think like Goldilocks, they need to be just right!

By the way, did you know that subscribers to our newsletter, the Ballroom Bytes, get exclusive ballroom dancing tips delivered right to their inboxes? You can join our learn-to-dance community too by entering your details below!

How To Care for Your Ballroom Dancing Shoes

If you have invested in ladies ballroom dancing shoes, you will want to take good care of them! Implementing the following tips will help to extend the life of your shoes:

• Brush the chrome-tanned (suede) soles after each use with a wire shoe brush.
• Never wear your dance shoes outdoors.
• Do not allow your dance shoes to get wet.
• Steam shoes made from suede or nubuck to clean and refresh.
• Always use heel protectors to prevent uneven wearing of the shoe heels.
• Store your shoes in a shoe bag to prevent accidental damage.

You might also be interested in....

• Dance Shoe Accessories
• Practice Dance Shoes
• Ladies Ballroom Dancing Shoes
• Mens Ballroom Dancing Shoes
• Wide Dance Shoes