Salsa Shoes For The Salsa Dancer

Salsa shoes are like the tires of a finely tuned sports car. With a set of good sticky race tires, the driver of the sports car can take stick the turns and perform at its maximum potential.

Likewise, with the right type of salsa shoes, your dance can go a long way ! You'll be able to dance your best and you too can take the turns like you've never before !

Why can't you just use ordinary shoes for dancing ?

The quick answer is, you can. But if you are an athelete, you know that the you need the right type of shoe for the right sport.  You wouldn't wear bowling shoes while playing basketball, would you ?  You'll probably end up falling flat on your face as you slip and slide across the floor.

Wrong Shoes

Here are some examples of the wrong type of shoes to wear. You can end up hurting your feet, your ankles, or your knees.

Tennis shoes  - These are great for walking and for playing tennis, but they do not really belong on the dance floor.   With their rubber sole, they are too sticky for turning. Because of this, you will end up putting stress on your knees and ankles. Can you say ouch ?!

Sneakers - Same as tennis shoes.  You may be able to get away with them on slick dance floors, but in general, you are just asking for it.  Virtually no salsa clubs will let you dance in sneakers unless you a buddies with the owner.

Flip Flops - You will see some women dance in flip flops, but these people are not serious dancers. Let them dance in flip flops.  Dancers in flip-flops are a dead give-a-way that they are beginner dancers. 

Bowling Shoes - They are nice a because they are slippery, but the shoe is not very flexible, tends to look ugly, and frankly, they are too slippery.  Not recommend for salsa dancing because you may end up injured by falling.

Right Shoes

Here are some example of the right type of shoes to wear.  Make your feet happy !

DanSneakers - They are like sneakers, but with a split sole.. The sole is made of rubber, but it does not grip like a regular sneaker.  You can use these for indoor or outdoor salsa dancing

Dress Shoes - Dress shoes with a leather or non-rubber sole are good to wear.  Although they feel heavy and bulky. You may not notice the bulk because you are used to it.

Boots - No.. We aren't talking about moon boots, but regular women's boots. I suppose men can wear cowboy boots, but wouldn't that be better for country line dancing ?

Salsa Shoes - Ding! Ding! Ding!  These are the best shoes to wear.

Dance shoes are very lightweight, flexible and have a suede sole. Care should be taken not to wear them outdoors, on cement, or wet surfaces. You're sure to ruin them that way.

For women, shoes should have a strap or straps that hold your foot in place as you dance.  You do not want the flip-flop effect or you may end up getting blisters, or worse, losing your shoe on the dance floor !

For all dancers, the dance shoe should be a little snug when new. The leather will stretch out with each use and mold to your foot. Then they will literally fit you like a glove ! Women do not need to wear socks with the strappy shoes. But men should wear thin socks when trying on your shoes.  

Make sure to leave room for your toes ! You do not want them to be scrunched inside your shoe.  

Find your salsa dance shoes

Exotic Salsa Shoes has a fine selection of men's and women's shoes.  

While E.K. Clothing has a good selection of women's shoes and now they offer men's shoes and dance sneakers !

Find out more about e.K. Clothing

Return from Salsa Shoes, to Salsa Dance