Dancing shoes!

What to look for?

• Leather sole. In some cases the sole can be replaced by a leather one before the shoes are worn.
• No Platforms.
• Stable heel– if you choose to dance with heels, make sure they fit the hight and are balanced under the centre of your heel.
• Your foot should not move around the shoe- strap or shoe laces.
• Longevity– good solid materials, no visible glue, strong streps and closures.
• Fit– your foot expands as you are dancing, but so does the leather of your shoe, up to half a size.
• Inside your shoe- a good dance shoe should have padding under your sole, in case it  doesn’t, one can be purchased.
• Support your arch! Make sure there is no gap between the shoe and the inner centre of your foot.

Pro Dance Shoes:

Pro Danse– located at Alte Schönhauser Str. 16, 10119 Berlin
Other known good brands: Capezio and Bloch.

In case you want to go all vintage inspired pro dance shoes:
Remix Shoes

St. Savoy

You might have noticed they are more expansive…

Non Dance Shoes:

Keds– amazon is your best friend! 20€-90€.
Model “Champion” is with the thinner sole and is known as blues/lindy favourite. Now they are not particularly slippery, but somehow became the go to shoes of the vintage dance community. Same goes about Vans.

Marco Farino– located at  8, Alte Schönhauser Str. 7, 10119 Berlin

These are just two examples, but you can obviously find other shoes that you like and in some cases replace their shoe sole with a leather one, in cases they were never worn before. “Oxford” style shoe is the typical, but not the only one.

*In case you dance on a non dance floor, don’t bother with leather soles, they will get destroyed.
*Choose the shoe that fits you. If you like feels of them, go for them. If you prefer flat shoes, than that’s the one! You are much better dancer when you are comfortable!!