 Dancing is not just an art form for self-expression, it’s also a way to showcase your personal style. Dressing up is a huge part of the performance, it’s the easiest way to get people’s attention. |
Of course, an outfit isn't complete without the perfect shoes. How else would you show off your fancy footwork on the dance floor without wearing your most stylish dance shoes?
Dancing shoes have come a long way. Gone are bland, plain designs that feel excruciating when worn - replaced by glittering, strappy heels that look very much like your regular party shoes. Much like any footwear, dance shoes have evolved both in form and in design for a comfortable fit and better performance.
But with so many options out there, how do you find the right style for you? Which color and design suit your outfit? More importantly, where to find stylish yet comfortable dance shoes? We’re here to help you find your dream dance shoes!
Color
Dance shoes come in an array of colors and as far as finding the shade that compliments your outfit, the possibilities are endless. If you want to make an impression, we suggest going for bold colors such as red, gold, and silver. You can go for the monochromatic look by matching the color of your shoes with that of your outfit or go for a contrasting shade, both ensembles would look equally stunning. If you want to make your legs appear longer, you cannot go wrong with a pair of nude dance shoes! Choose a color that’s closest to your skin tone to accentuate your legs.
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Sparkle and Shine
Dance shoes with lots of sparkles get a lot of attention on and off the dance floor so shoes with a smattering of rhinestones or sequins will look smashing during a performance. Dance shoes made with metallic material are equally attention-grabbing and these shoes would look fabulous especially when paired with dresses in contrasting shades.
But if you want to go easy on the rhinestones, you can get a more subtle sheen with satin dance shoes. These shoes give just a hint of shine to an outfit without going overboard. They’re also perfectly versatile so they’ll suit different outfits, which is perfect if you want a pair of shoes that look good no matter what you wear.
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Heels
How comfortable are you when wearing heels? If you’re newbie, we suggest starting with the lowest heel until you become accustomed to dancing in heels. Avoid heels that are higher than 2.5 inches if you want to dance for an extended period of time. Practice as often as possible until you’ve become accustomed to dancing in heels. Eventually, you can wear higher heels.
When it comes to heel shapes, some ballroom dance shoes have flared heels, others have thin heels. The flared heel is called a Spanish heel. Since the heel is flared, it provides more support to the wearer. However, the shoes can be on the heavy side.
Thinner heels are called a Latin heel. Because of the shape and height of a Latin heel, it will take a lot of practice and experience to dance comfortably wearing these kinds of dance shoes. But the upside is that dance shoes with a Latin heel have a neater foot point. Also, the feet will look extra shapely and the legs, longer, when wearing dance shoes with skinnier heels.
High heels that go beyond the standard 4 inches will be uncomfortable to wear because these shoes put too much strain on the forefoot. Unless you’ve been dancing in stilettos your whole life, the pain will be excruciating if you wear 5 to 6-inch heels while dancing for hours.
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Styles
Dance shoes come in various styles. Here at Yami, we've got booties, lace-ups, strappy, pumps, open-toed dance shoes in a range of materials to choose from. The kind of shoes to get will be a matter of personal preference but some shoe styles work well with certain dance genres, foot shapes, and so on.
For example, open-toed dance shoes are the standard in Latin dance. Latin dance requires the dancer to point her toes and articulate the feet and open-toed shoes provide a neater foot point. These styles perfectly showcase precise footwork too! On the other hand, ballroom dance like the Waltz or Foxtrot requires closed-toe shoes.
T-strap dance shoes are universally loved by professional dancers because the strap secures the foot without the front of the shoes sliding forward. But the design may not work well for those with high arches. If your feet have high arches, the T-strap shoes might only impede your range as you point your foot.
Dance shoes with multiple straps are quite eye-catching, especially when paired with block-colored dresses. But if your toes are not even in length, your toes might end up popping out of the straps during your performance, something that could ruin your look and your routine.
The straps could also cut the skin but this is something that could be easily solved by breaking your shoes in before an important performance. That said, strappy dance shoes provide excellent flexibility, articulation, and range of movement.
Strappier styles offer more flexibility, range of movement, and articulation.
Dance shoes with ankle straps are perfect for beginners. These shoes provide comfortable wear without sliding off your feet.
