Nobody wants their shoes to be slippery unless you are dancing, in which case you would like your shoes to be more slippery, and I will discuss further in the article why.
Dancing in shoes that move smoothly and effortlessly can make your experience worthwhile the investment.
Regular shoes have lots of friction with the floor, making your dancing much harder.
If you don’t want to invest in a pair of dance shoes, there are many ways to make your regular shoes more slippery for dancing with these simple hacks discussed in this article.
10 Ways How To Make Shoes More Slippery For Dancing
- Suede sole kits
You can get suede sole kits online. This kit will come with a suede sheet that you will cut into a small piece and apply on the sole of your shoe.
- Gaffer tape
Gaffer tape is a heavy cotton cloth pressure-sensitive tape with strong adhesive and tensile properties. Not to be confused with duck tape, gaffer tape differs in the composition of both the backing, which is made from fabric as opposed to vinyl or other plastics and the adhesive, which is more resistant to heat and more easily removed without damaging the surface to which it adhered.
The advantage of using gaffer tape to make shoes more slippery is that it is only a temporary solution. This means that you can remove it after the dance session and continue using your shoes for walking, and it is a little harder to remove than suede paper.
Here is how to use gaffer tape to make your shoes more slippery for dancing:
- Attach the tape to sole of your shoes.
- Rub the tape over the shoe sole to even out sole sruface and to stick it firmly.
- Cut the tape when you get to the far edge of the shoe and rub it gently against the shoe sole.
- Repeat these steps on the other shoe as well. You can pill of the tape once you are done with dancing.
- Moleskin method
You can purchase moleskin in the first aid part of your nearest pharmacy. Moleskin is also suitable for reducing friction and can help keep your shoes slippery to dance. This solution will make your shoes slippery and is temporary and very inexpensive, only a few dollars.
- Stick on suede soles
Stick on suede soles is an inexpensive and simple way to make your shoes more slippery for dancing. You can purchase stick-on suede soles of the Amazon by clicking here.
Whether you want to turn your regular shoes into dance shoes or replace worn-out suede soles, this is an excellent solution. These stick-on suede soles give you just enough friction to dance efficiently and comfortably on the dance floor.
Just peel off the protective liner from the self-adhesive backing and apply it to your shoes.
The soles are perfectly shaped, so you don’t have to worry about cutting the right shape out of a sheet of suede. These stick-on suede soles are made to fit most women’s shoes, but if you find them a little bit too big, you can cut the excess with scissors.
- Olive oil method
This method can seem a little messy at first but don’t worry; it won’t be.
To implement the olive oil method, you will need to following items: olive oil, paper towel, moist cloth, and rough sandpaper.
Here are the steps to make your shoes more slippery using the olive oil method:
- Clean your shoes well to remove any dirt or debris.
- Next, brush sandpaper against the shoe sole. Make small rough circular motions, and be very careful as these motions can form a pattern on the shoe’s sole.
- Once you are done with step two, add a little bit of olive oil on a paper towel to clean the rubber shelves from the shoes.
- The final step is to put olive oil on the shoe’s sole. Add olive oil to the shoe sole and rub it well with the paper towel. This will make your shoes more slippery for dancing.
Only use olive oil to make your shoes slippery for dancing. Do not use other oils types.
- Sandpaper method
Sandpaper is the simplest method and the most effective. The purpose of the sandpaper method is to reduce the friction between the dance floor and the bottom of your shoes.
Here are the steps to make your shoes more slippery using the sandpaper method:
- Clean your shoes from all dirt and debris. Use a wet paper towel to remove the dirt, especially from the bottom of the shoes.
- Scrub the sole of the shoe by making gentle but firm moves.
- Put your shoes on and find sandy fields where you can train. If this is not possible, you can rub it with a rough surface.
The sandpaper method works by flattening the shoe treads, making them smoother, resulting in slippery shoes for dancing. A downside to this method is that it yields more permanent results, therefore, is irreversible.
- Nail file
The nail file is an excellent choice if you don’t have sandpaper handy or just want to reduce traction on a specific spot of your shoes.
The steps are the same as the sandpaper method, making your shoes more slippery.
- Sandy surfaces
Sandy surfaces are a great choice if you don’t need too much grip taken off. You can walk on a hard surface with sand or rough sediment coating.
- Give your shoes to professional
If you are unsure how to do these steps or do not dare because you are worried that you will ruin your favorite pair, I suggest bringing your shoes to the Shoeman.
This method will cost you more than all these methods I have mentioned before, but it will also give you peace of mind and it will give you better results.
- Purchase dance shoes
I left this option for last if all other options fail. Many people want to alter their regular shoes for dancing because they don’t want to invest in a pair of dance shoes. However, in many cases investing in a good pair of dance shoes is worth it and will pay off in the long run.
Dance shoes have many other benefits, including slippery soles. For example, Ballroom and Latin dance shoes are flexible, comfortable, and provide enough grip and traction for better performance on the dance floor while providing extra safety.
If you need suggestions on what kind of dance shoes you should buy, please check out this page.
What If I Make My Shoes Too Slippery
Ok, you overdid it, and with all of these techniques, how to make shoes slippery for dancing I have mentioned earlier, and now your shoes are too slippery. So, what now? Can I reverse the damage?
When you are working with these methods to make your shoes slippery, there is always a possibility of going too far.
Luckily, there are a few solutions to reverse the “damage.”
- Use hairspray. Spray the soles with hairspray. This is an old trick but comes in handy now and then. Simply spray the bottom of the shoes with hairspray, let it air dry for a little while, and gently tap it with your fingers to create more texture.
- Traction spray. Traction spray is easy to apply and is not permanent. You can get it off Amazon for a very affordable price. To check it out, click here.
- Grip pad. A grip pad is another temporary solution, which means you can put it on when you are not dancing and take it off when you step on the dance floor. You can get a grip pad off the Amazon by following this link.
Whether you want your shoes to have more grip again to use it for walking or you went overboard on one spot with sandpaper, you can use these options to regain traction.
If you want to learn more about making your shoes less slippery for dancing, please follow this link.
Why Do You Need Shoes To Be Slippery For Dancing
Slippery shoes will help you get better traction on the floor and allow your footwork to be more fluent. The texture of dance floors, such as wooden floors, is designed not to be slippery or too rough.
It means that it is easy for dancers to feel the floor, and they are still slipperier than a regular floor, which allows for more effortless movement in turns and pivots.
There will always be some residue left over from the manufacturing process when purchasing brand-new dance shoes.
Those residues could be finishes and oil that could prevent friction between your feet and the shoes.
The combination of sweat may cause skin irritation, such as the formation of calluses and blisters.
The leading reason dance shoes are not meant to be worn outside the dance floor is that they are too slippery for walking.
What Kind Of Soles Are Good For Dancing
If you have decided to go with my recommendation # 10, which is purchasing dance shoes, I would like to discuss what soles you should be looking for.
I would recommend two types of soles you should be looking for:
- Suede soles
- Leather sole
Suede sole is an excellent choice for Ballroom or Latin dance styles. Suedes soles allow the shoes to glide across the floor with just the right amount of grip. Shoes not intended for dance have a rubber sole to help with grip and durability.
Traction and grip are the last things you want while dancing!
Leather soles glide smoothly on wooden floors, and most dance floors are made from wood. The soles are very flexible that you can bend them both ways where both ends touch each other.
The sole at the ball of the foot has to be smooth so that the dancer can perform pivoting, while the arch (also called shank) connects the heel, and the toe needs to be very stiff and flexible the point of interaction. The shoe sole needs to be smooth and slim but firm, and that’s why the leather sole dance shoes are the best for Argentine tango.
Argentine Tango shoes need to be flexible and allow dancers to pivot. A leather shoe sole comes in handy for pivoting, and a leather sole is the best for pivoting while dancing.
Final Words
Dancing is a fun way to socialize and get exercise, and you need proper footwear to have the whole experience. Your shoes need to be slippery enough so you can slide, glide and spin without having too much friction with the floor. If you don’t want to purchase dance shoes, follow these DIY methods to make your regular shoes slippery for dancing.
Happy dancing!
