Choosing the right pair of dance shoes can be problematic.
Besides the usual sizing problem, ladies usually look for comfort, straps for
security, a nice design to go with the outfit and, of course, the size of the
heel. Especially when the partner is considerably taller or rather short, the heel
can be a deal breaker when buying a pair.
The ideal heel
height
While the tendency is to get a
stiletto-like the stars in movies seems to be comfortable with, maybe you
should leave those for some other day. Tango shoes usually shouldn’t exceed 5
centimeters for you to be able to dance. Some other Latin dances though, like
salsa, use that dreaded heel of the stiletto. Other types of dancers don’t even
require a heel, usually in the area of hip-hop or street dance.
Take in mind there’s also a correlation
between the size you usually wear and the heel. If you wear a small size, your
heel should be pretty low. However, if your size is higher than average, you
can take a risk and wear a higher heel. Also, if your dance requires you
relying heavily on your partner, a higher heel won’t be a problem.
Stability can usually be reached by
having some straps to keep your feet in place. However, you can’t ignore that
aspect when thinking about heels. There are some heels that are thicker at the
top, but thinner at the bottom, able to provide maybe a bit more stability than
thin heels.
Heel height and
thickness depend on the dancing style and the lady’s previous experience with
heels. Whatever one picks, she shouldn’t forget though to have fun!