Many people think that Ballroom and Latin dance shoes are the same. These dance styles are different in many ways, so it is no surprise that shoes differ too. Dance shoes are made with purpose, and they are made specifically for each dance style. This article will reveal the main differences between Latin and Ballroom dance shoes and how to choose them wisely.
What is the difference between Ballroom and Latin shoes? The differences are in the fit, style, material, and the shoe’s sole. The main difference for ladies’ shoes is that the Ballroom dance shoes have an open toe and Latin dance shoes have a closed toe. For men’s shoes, the main difference is the heel height.
How To Choose Ballroom Dance Shoes For Women?
Ballroom shoes have a suede sole, just like Latin dance shoes. However, Ballroom dance shoes have a closed-toe. A closed-toe for ladies is very important for doing a back step in Ballroom dance. For example, it is tough to do a back step in Waltz dance with open toes because the back step will hurt your toe. You won’t have that issue with closed-toe shoes because your toes will be protected with shoe material.
Suede soles allow you to move freely across the dance floor while giving you enough traction.
The arch’s construction allows for a significant amount of flexibility in pointing and moving with the foot, allowing the dancer to feel the shoe is working with them while still providing stability.
Ballroom shoes are very light, so you can wear them for a very long time and dance comfortably. Also, Ballroom shoes are very flexible, so you can feel the floor better and move your feet freely.
Choosing a proper heel height is crucial, especially if you are a beginner. You should choose the heel height that you are most comfortable with. Ballroom heel high ranges from 1″ to 3″ so I would recommend not to get the heel higher than 2″ as a beginner.
Generally speaking, open-toe shoes are designed for Latin fast-paced dance styles such as Salsa, Rumba, Bachata, etc. These dance styles require better presentation of the feet and more toe pointing. On the other hand, closed-toe dance shoes are designed for smooth traditional dance styles such as Waltz and Foxtrot because these dance styles require a classic look, and it is easier to perform dance moves with a closed-toe shoe.
If you are an absolute beginner, like me, and want to experience different styles and don’t want to invest too much money into shoes, I suggest purchasing open-toe shoes because you can dance more dance styles in them.
Bloch Dance Women’s Split Flex Character Shoe is a perfect example for the ladies Ballroom shoes. They have a classic look that typically represents Ballroom dance shoes. These shoes are made of high-quality leather and are very durable, flexible, and comfortable.
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How To Choose Ballroom Dance Shoes For Men?
Typical men’s ballroom shoes resemble dress shoes, but the difference is in the sole that is made of suede. The heel height is 0.5″ and is typically worn for dance styles like Waltz and Foxtrot.
Ballroom dance shoes should be chosen for support, comfort, and performance. Men’s ballroom dance shoes should be treated as a piece of safety equipment to prevent injuries while dancing and ensure the best performance.
The main difference between men’s Ballroom dance shoes and regular shoes is in the sole. The sole is made of leather or suede, which allows you to glide across the dance floor freely while providing just enough amount of traction.
The men’s Ballroom dance should offer the perfect fit, which means they shouldn’t be too tight or too wiggly. It can result in an injury if the shoe is too tight because you will lose flexibility. On the other hand, if the shoe is too loose, it will throw you off the balance because it may not perfectly grip your feet.
Bloch Dance Men’s Jazz Oxford Leather Sole Character Shoe is a typical example of men’s ballroom dance shoes. These shoes have a leather sole that provides enough traction on the dance floor while allowing you to move freely. They are very comfortable, durable, and flexible for dancing.
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How To Choose Latin Dance Shoes For Women?
When it comes to Latin dance shoes for ladies, it is hard to choose the perfect fit and styles because there are so many options. The demand for Latin dance shoes has increased in the past decade, so the manufacturers have stepped up by improving the quality, styles, and fit to meet the market and benefit all dancers, including beginners and professionals.
I have mentioned this in a few blogs previously, but you have to think of your dance shoes as a piece of safety equipment because many Latin dance styles involve fast turns and spins, so you have to have proper shoes to prevent injuries.
Unlike Ballroom dance shoes, Latin dance shoes are constructed so that when standing in them, you will feel your weight shifted slightly forward towards the ball of the foot.
These shoes have been made to meet Latin dancing requirements where the dancer’s weight tilts forward.
The best fit for Latin dance shoes is having your toes at the very edge of the shoe when standing because Latin dancing involves moving forward with your foot.
In Latin dancing, dancers ground themselves to the dance floor with toes inside edge and ball of the foot.
There are many different shoe styles in Latin dancing, such as:
- T-strap
- ankle strap
- strappy vamp
- under arch strap
To learn more about these styles and shoe recommendations, check out this page.
Professional dancers prefer higher heels. However, if you are a beginner, I would suggest not to wear a heel higher than 2″. If you are not used to wearing heels, make sure that you have strengthened your feet and ankle to the shoe during dance sessions to prevent injury.
Latin dance shoes most commonly come in two fabrics, leather, and satin. I like choosing nude shoe color because it makes your legs look longer.
As with Ballroom dance shoes, Latin dance shoes come in two different heel types: flared and slim.
The flare tip reduces the thickness towards the end but flares out again as it reaches the floor. And slim heel also reduces the thickness towards the end, narrowing as it reaches the floor.
Flared heels offer more stability, but when it comes to choosing the style, it is up to personal preference.
Capezio Latin dance shoes are my absolute favorite among all Latin dance shoes! They are made of high-quality material and are durable, flexible, and fit like a glove. The heel height of 2″ is perfect for someone who likes to wear heels but is not entirely comfortable in them, aka me.
Click here to check the price on Amazon.
How To Choose Latin Dance Shoes For Men?
Typical men’s Latin dance shoes have higher Cuban heels and might not be comfortable to dance Ballroom styles because they are specifically made for Latin dance.
Like ballroom dance shoes, Latin dance shoes have a suede sole that allows you to move easily on the dance floor while providing enough traction.
You should ensure that the shoes you buy will allow the most considerable freedom of movement. That’s why dance shoes tend to be much lighter than the average street shoe, and they are also a lot more flexible because of their soles manufactured from leather or suede.
Additionally, this kind of design does wonders for when you want your heel to remain firmly in place – and the rest of your foot to retain freedom of movement.
Turn execution is very important in Latin dance. The specific shoe you choose greatly depends on the dance floor. For instance, a shoe with a suede bottom will be great for a wooden dance floor.
Suppose you are interested in Latin and Ballroom dance but don’t want to invest too much money. In that case, I suggest purchasing Ballroom dance shoes because only professional dancers would wear typical Latin dance shoes with Cuban heels.
Here is an example of the professional Latin dance shoes with the Cuban heel. However, very few social dancers would wear these shoes to a Latin dance lesson or a social event. If you like to dance Latin only socially, the Ballroom dance shoes would be fine. Not many men like to wear shoes with the heel “this high.” So wearing Oxford dress shoes or regular Ballroom dance shoes would be a great choice.
Click here to check the style and price on Amazon.
Final Words
I trust that this blog has helped you shed some light on the main differences between Ballroom and Latin dance shoes. Although there are many similarities between shoes for these two dance styles, there are a few distinguishing and very important differences that you should know when choosing proper dance shoes.
