| One of the most basic beginner
questions, the most concise answer is that ballroom
shoes are footwear that is made for the activity.
Like running shoes or basketball shoes, they are
designed for the movement involved in dance. |
| Compared to street shoes, there
are several structural and design differences.
|
| A ballroom dance shoe is designed
to help support the foot and promote balance in
the shoe, even when it is a strappy little latin
number. It puts you in the proper posture (up
and forward) and when properly fitted, the shoe
will support you throughout the foot by conforming
to the shape of the foot. |
| A dance shoe has a steel shank
in the arch for support, some street shoes have
this - many don't. The heel is cut under the foot
further than many street shoes so that the point
of balance is more under the foot rather than
at the back of the heel. The suede outer soles
of ballroom shoes give better traction on a wood
floor, but you can still turn and spin on it. |
| A smooth leather sole is too
slick with insufficient traction and a crepe or
rubber sole has great traction, but you can easily
twist your ankle in spinning in the shoe. The
sole of the shoe has greater flexibility throughout
the entire vamp compared to many street shoes
so that you can "move your foot through the
step". |
| Simply put, dance shoes are for
dancing. |
 |
