11 best dance shoes for women
Inspired by Strictly, we've picked the best shoes for swing, ballroom – and your local gym class
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Your support makes all the difference.The claim that Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did but “backwards and in high heels” is often wrongly attributed to the dancer herself. Nevertheless, it was a line that stuck – despite the fact that Rogers, like the professional dancers on Strictly today, tended to rehearse in low heels, leaving the flashy stuff for filming.
So, if you’ve caught the Strictly bug and are thinking of hitting the dance floor, what sort of shoe should you be looking for?
“Primarily, it must be appropriate to the dance style,” says podiatrist and ex-professional dancer Sonja Cimelli of The Abbey Clinic.“Each style will have its own unique considerations such as the floor surface, the biomechanical requirements, or movement, and the aesthetics of the style.
“For example, trainers work well for hip hop and street dance styles because they have good shock absorbency and the thick rubber sole means that it is can be effective on multiple surfaces, including outdoor surfaces such as concrete. Alternatively, a trainer would be detrimental to styles such as salsa, Latin or ballroom because a rubber sole will grip the floor, which limits the ability to spin and rotate smoothly.”
Of course, in dance, aesthetics are also crucial. “If we look at the heeled shoes worn by the professional female dancers in Strictly, one of the many ways they differ from a standard high heel shoe is that the forefoot region of the shoe is semi-flexible allowing the dancer to point their toes, thus accentuating the length of the leg creating an aesthetically pleasing line,” says Cimelli.
There are other key differences in the way dance shoes are crafted: much thought goes into the shape of the heel, which is often flared for better balance, and the support and padding integrated within the shoe. The leather is often softer than high-street shoes (dancers don’t tend to wear their shoes outside the studio).
For ballroom and Latin, you’ll usually find a suede sole that gives you the right balance of swivel and grip, though rubber and synthetics work well for the acrobatics of street dance or lindy hop.
Buy from a reputable shoe shop, advises Cimelli: “While aesthetics are important, make sure they are comfortable, fit well and that they’re appropriate for your skill level.” It’s well worth trying out the shoes when you can and even dancing a few steps in them in the shop to see how they move.
The products below were tested in ballroom and Latin classes at Simply Dancing Partners, a Strictly-style dance school, which provides clients with professional dance partners, and at events held by London Swing Dance Society.
Rumpf PEBBLE Sneaker split sole white: €47.50 (£42), rumpf.net
This robust dance sneaker is very different from an ordinary trainer: its split-sole feels both incredibly shock-absorbent and flexible. It was a dream to lindy hop and salsa in, but this shoe would work well for most genres of dance, from street dance to aerobics.
Our only word of warning is that the polyurethane soles are a touch slippery straight out of the box, but a bit of wear would soon change that. Overall, this is a very supportive, versatile shoe.
Katya Heather Split – Art Attack! Inspired by Katya: £107, internationaldanceshoes.com
International Dance Shoes supplies the footwear for Strictly Come Dancing and you know you’re in good hands with this pair of practice shoes, which are so comfortable and lightweight it feels like dancing on a cloud.
Inspired by former world champion and last year’s Strictly winner, Katya Jones, this is a vibrant ballroom and Latin shoe that comes in a range of outrageous designs. But if you fancy something plainer, it’s based on the “Heather Split” – an incredibly flexible split-sole shoe with a low heel.
Although the company looks to Italian design for inspiration, this shoe is made in England and packed with gel padding and the crème de la crème of materials (even the suede soles are beautiful). You pay for the top quality, but if you’re serious about dance, your body will thank you.
Bejewelled Buenos Argentine tango shoe: £300 with rhinestones, £77.50 without, dsi-london.com
The company that makes all the sparkling costumes for Strictly Come Dancing, DSI London knows a thing or two about bling. This marvellous pair are an example of rhinestones at their most radiant, but even underneath the sparkle, the red Buenos Argentine tango shoe was our favourite to look at.
Every dancer needs a pair of red shoes, but this pair also comes in black with a gold diamante buckle. The 2.5inch flared heel offers the wearer a stable, comfortable base. This is an incredibly stylish shoe for the Argentine tango, a spot of ballroom or just showing off your bling.
Style 1012: £105, supadance.com
The classic ballroom dancer’s choice, the British company Supadance is well known in the industry and much loved by serious competitors, who generally favour a flesh-coloured satin court shoe for ballroom and a heeled tan sandal for Latin.
A spin around the floor in this bestselling pair of ballroom shoes reveals the secret of the company’s success.
Don’t be deceived by the 2.5 inch contour heel – there is so much support and stability in this shoe, you’ll barely notice it. Note the cushiony inner sole and the delicate oval diamante buckle. This is another pair where every single detail has been carefully considered.
Style 1012 comes in flesh or white satin, or flesh sateen leather, and you can pick from different heel shapes and heights. And if you want to go the extra mile, you can buy it made to order, too.
Pure Knit Jazz Shoe: £45.50, capezioeurope.com
Don’t be misled by the humble appearance of this nifty little split-sole jazz shoe from Capezio – it’s hugely versatile and could be used for more or less any genre of dance. We practised the lindy hop in it, but it would also work nicely for ballroom and Latin beginners.
What’s surprising about it is, though it’s low, the heel plays a bigger role than you might think.
Plus, the engineered knit upper means your arches and metatarsals feel well supported. The knitted mesh, in flesh or black, is as lightweight and breathable as a sock and the silicone anti-slippery strap meant we didn’t slip in it at all. It might not be as eye-catching as some of the others, but this shoe has a strong personality.
Ladies JS11-03-BLBW: €79.80 (£71), jingashop.com
Inspired by Brazil, the land of bare feet and beaches, Jinga shoes are outstandingly lightweight and flexible.
Weighing less than 375g, the idea behind this polyurethane and mesh trainer, which started out as a dance and capoeira shoe, is to allow you to move as freely as nature intended.
There’s no elevated sole or high heels that can cause the calf muscles to thicken. In fact, the sole is so fine and light that the foot can bend and flex easily.
There’s even a “spin spot” on the ball of the foot meaning turns are a dream. No wonder salsa dancers love this shoe, as our tester did.
It would also make a great choice for Zumba or any Latin dancercise class. In honour of its country of origin, it also boasts a vibrant colour palette.
Bleyer Lindy Hopper: £52, lindyhopshop.co.uk
A German dance shoe company that’s been going since 1954, Bleyer started creating shoes for swing dancers in the 1960s.
The company’s genius is in combining a smooth synthetic sole that you can easily spin on with the stylish two-tone leather uppers beloved by swing dancers the world over.
This bestselling two-tone flat is as comfortable as a trainer but a lot dressier – and dressiness is very important in swing dance. Buy it in white and red, or white and black.
Bleyer Suzy Q: £77, lindyhopshop.co.uk
Another classic from Bleyer, the Suzy Q is a delight, combining vintage style with extreme comfort. The soft leather fitted like a glove straight away with none of the usual rubbing or blisters you get from breaking in a new pair of shoes and the Cuban heel is enough to give you a bit of a boost without feeling any discomfort.
It comes in three colour combinations, though the monochrome was our favourite.
Hull Swing shoes, €99 (£88), rumpf.net
Made in Italy, the Hull swing shoe is part of the new Premium Line at Rumpf, the German company that’s been making shoes for the theatre and the stage for more than 50 years.
There’s something irresistible about the delicate vintage design of these blue suede (and leather) shoes, which also come in black.
Not one for beginners, it’s more of a party shoe with a 5cm heel and charming ribbon lacing. You won’t find a prettier pair, but this shoe was a little shallow for our tester’s feet and needed to be tied tightly.
As everyone’s made differently, it’s one to try before you buy. If all else fails, use them to pose on the edge of the dance floor warning people, “You can do anything…”
Alegra Emmy dance shoe: £43.95, movedancewear.com
The closed-toe Alegra shoe has an understated sophistication with elegant cross-over ankle straps and a neat quick-fasten buckle. You don’t really feel the 2.77 inch flared heel when you dance and the soft polyurethane upper and cushioned insole make it comfortable as well as stylish.
Though it’s a shoe that could be used for ballroom or Latin, the closed toe might make it a better choice for the former. At £43.95, it’s also very good value.
Freed Laura Ballroom & Latin shoe: £47.30, movedancewear.com
Freed of London is one of Britain’s leading dance shoe manufacturers, known for its “made in England” craft and for creating shoes for prima ballerinas worldwide from Sylvie Guillem to Tamara Rojo.
An excellent choice for social dancers, the Freed Laura shoe combines the qualities of a ballroom and Latin shoe, with the open-toe of Latin and the flesh-coloured satin of ballroom, making it easy to swap between the two.
The lower 2 inch-heel also makes it a good stable pick for beginners, and the straps can be secured around the ankle or the under the foot, with a buckle fastening for a secure fit.
The Verdict: Best dance shoes
The right dance shoe for you will depend on the style and your level of experience.
For versatility and excellent value, the Rumpf sneaker and Capezio jazz shoe are good picks, but all the other brands are well worth a look according to your tastes and budget.