Salsa Column #1: Dance Shoe Or Not Dance Shoe?

As you know, shoes are crucial to good dancing. Although we are quite proud of our flashy shoes, in the end it's not about what they look like. It's how they feel and what they do. Countless dancers are being held back in their dancing (and perhaps even their social life) by inadequate footwear. Many of you have asked me recently about how/where/what to buy. Here are my latest thoughts:

1. You can choose between "dance" shoes, and shoes that just work well for dancing. My best pair yet in over ten years of searching and at least $1,000 spent are black leather men's dress shoes made by Sandor, not designed for dance at all. These may be an exception--or maybe not....

2. Shoes don't have to be light, but it may help. Slightly heavier, like my Sandors, actually gives me a nice solid anchor for spins, but if you feel a drag in your step, they're too heavy. I can usually look at beginning dancers and can tell by the clunkiness of their step if their shoes are of a proper weight or not.

3. Women. Unless you have been walking in heels for much of your life, buy the lowest ones you can find, or no heel at all. Most of you (and I emphasize most--there are exceptions) are fooling yourself to think you'll dance better in them when you can't even walk in them.... I certainly can't. (Of course, you could always don them and strut around your closet for a few months until they feel more natural and you can balance through a triple spin.)

4. Unless you are an expert hip hop/break dancer, tennis shoes are generally worthless. Clogs, boots, Tevas, Chacos, Crocs, hi-tech mountain tennies, etc. are in the same category. However:

5. Flip flops, Uggs, and certain other shoes that have smooth soles will function in a pinch--don't buy them for dancing, anyway, but they do give you that special casual look as you glide across the dance floor. Dance sneakers are a mixed bag, and not always great for partner dancing, but they're good for odd feet (a cobbler friend of mine swears there are no such thing as standard feet), as a back-up pair, and for classes.

6. Dancing on pavement, on the other hand, poses special challenges. You're on your own there, just you and your old Nikes, the ones you don't mind tearing to shreds....

7. Most important are the following: first--the sole: it has to slide--but not too much. Different venues or studios have different floor textures, and you may need shoes for different occasions. Leather soles are the best in my opinion, but suede is a little grippier, which is very important for me at the Caspar Inn with its pseudo-skating rink floor. Second, consider the way a pair feels on your feet--sometimes your best only last half a night of dancing, but they're still ripping shoes, so don't complain and bring another pair. Third, consider how they look. We are vain. It's true. First impressions are made by twinkling eyes, firm handshakes, honest introductions, and, of course, unique shoes. Of course, we dance teachers are always telling people to stop looking at their feet, but if you must look, at least there should be something good to see.

8. Finally, where to buy. It's difficult to get a good fit online, but it is possible, and it often is your only choice. If you go this route, make sure there is a return policy. If you are looking for real dance as opposed to dress shoes, try dance wear stores. Unfortunately, all but the best, from Tokyo to San Francisco, tend to stock the same four or five brands, which may work for you, or may not. There are some connections out there to get custom-made shoes, but they are often expensive and this is a risk as they don't always fit well. My Sandors were procured at a thrift store in Seattle, unworn, for $20. They fit like a mummy bag, make me a perfect platform for turns and slides, and, best, I can wear them all night with no chafe or blister anywhere.

9. Oops. One last thing. Don't judge your pair too harshly on its first night of dance. You don't buy a new pair of hiking boots and expect them to get you eight miles up a trail with soft feet. All shoes need to break in, so help it along with a little moleskin. On the other hand, if they don't feel somewhat comfortable at first, they may never. It's a risk that, if you're a serious dancer, must be taken. Just check that return policy and get a credit card with a 0% introductory APR....

Happy dancing!