Dancers don’t need wings to fly, but good dancing shoes will make your flight more graceful and lighter. On top of being fun, dancing is good for your overall well-being, and it’s not only for professional dancers and kids – it’s for everyone. Dancing promotes better physical and mental health, it’s good for your emotions and for your social life.
But, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned dancer, you need to take care of your feet. High-quality character dance shoes will make you a better, more confident dancer, while keeping you safe and helping you with your balance. Dance floors are made of different materials and can be slippery or sticky, so good stage shoes are a dancer’s must-have.
Comfort and Fit over Style
Character shoes are used for different types of performances, from character elements in ballet, to musical theatre stage performances, competitions, or auditions. They provide flexibility and support, and what’s more, they are comfortable.
Yes, most shoes can be shoes for dancing. However, there is a reason for owning proper dancing shoes. Remember that when you are dancing, you are going to spend hours in your shoes, so good arch support will help your feet withstand.
Both men and women dance shoes have a supportive steel structure, called a shank, between the insole and outsole of the shoe. In men’s shoes this shank goes from the heel all the way to the beginning of the ball of the foot, while in women’s shoes with higher heels it also goes inside the heel.
The front of dancing shoes in both male or female shoes, is softer and more flexible, which allows for a nice point.
Beautiful stage shoe heels are extremely appealing, but comfort is always vital, regardless of the reason for buying shoes. So, when it comes to dancing shoes, style comes in last.
Your feet will feel all the pressure of the dancing. They support and balance your entire body, and when you are dancing even more. Keeping them healthy and pain-free is not only better for the quality of your life, but furthermore it’s extremely important in regards of dancing.
There are some rules for buying regular shoes that apply here as well. For instance, for both there is a general rule concerning the swelling of the feet. The advice is to always buy shoes in the afternoon, because both walking and dancing will swell up your feet.
It’s preferable to try on any shoes before buying, but we know that the internet offers much more options and better prices too. So, if you decide to buy character shoes online, before ordering you should measure your feet after walking or dancing, when they are slightly bigger than usual.
As for the lady stage shoe appearance, it mainly varies regarding colour, the type of the strap, and the type and height of the heel.
Traditional character heels can have single strap, but nowadays there are many different types of straps. Most women dancers prefer the T-strap or the cross-strap. The colours of the shoes are mainly black and ten, so as not to take attention from the dancer. When it comes to choosing the colour of the stage shoes, it usually depends on the kind of performance or the type of dance.
For men there aren’t so many choices. The most typical male character shoes are black, Oxford-style, with shoe laces and with a low heel.
Heel Height for Women Character Shoes
The height of the heels is also closely related to the comfort of the shoe. Choosing the height of the heels depends on what’s comfortable for you, especially for amateur dancers, or the type of dance, especially for professional dancing. Low 2,5 cm heels are suitable for younger dancers, as well as for folk, social dancing, ballroom, and for syllabus.
Watch out when you are buying character shoes, since dancing in heels that are too tall will not only affect your comfort, but also the quality of your dancing. Though high heel character shoes will visually elongate your legs, and they can be all together flattering, don’t rush into buying them. Anything higher than 5 cm is not suitable for beginners, even if they are used to wearing high heels.
If you’re new to dancing shoes, buy shoes that are a little lower than what you are comfortable to walk with. It’s best to slowly progress from lower to higher heels as you advance in your dance skills.
Taking Care of Your Character Shoes
While high-quality character shoes are constructed to endure hours upon hours of dancing, there are certain things you can do to make sure that they last you for a long time.
Only use them for dancing. The leather soles of your new character shoes are meant for studio and stage floors only. Rough surfaces can wear out the soles quickly. Water is also an enemy to your stage shoes. Always keep them dry, out of your damp dance bag and out of the rain. Keep them clean by brushing the dirt from your soles, and by polishing them regularly.
