Don’t Mess With My Shoes
By Lorraine Jacquard
Okay, I admit it. I’m the Imelda Marcos of dance shoes. I’m not going to tell you how many pairs I own. Let’s just say they’ve taken over one whole closet and leave it at that. I can’t dance in anything else now. How did I become addicted to dancing in these particular shoes anyway and why am I determined to get every dancer I know, male and female, in them?
It started with the very first pair I bought – Capezio character shoes. The moment I put them on my feet and stepped onto the dance floor, I was possessed. The difference between dancing in a pair of suede soled, soft upper dance shoes and a pair of rubber soled, stiff upper street shoes is hard to describe. It’s kinda like the difference between swimming in the ocean in a wet suit vs. sweat suit; writing with a gel pen vs. a quill pen.
Dance shoes grip just enough and glide perfectly; they flex when and where you need them to and have just the right amount of support. And then there’s the fact that they come in a huge variety of great styles, colors and materials: from flats to 3 inch wide or narrow heels; black, nude, animal print, silver, gold and glitter; suede, leather, satin, mesh. The choices are endless.
In addition to being good for your feet, dance shoes are good for dance floors. A good, smooth dance floor is a dancer’s paradise. Street shoes can be hazardous to a dance floor’s health. Hard soles or patterned rubber soles that house little bits of gravel will wear the finish off a hard wood floor in no time. I personally think it’s a matter of respect. By dancing in suede-soled shoes, I’m respecting the floor and the studio owner who has invested a considerable amount of money to provide me with a great dance floor.
Every Pro-Am competition has at least one shoe vender where you can try on various styles and buy them on the spot. The next competition in this area will be the International Grand Ball in San Francisco in July but if you can’t wait that long for shoes, there a couple stores in the Bay Area, and several companies can be reached by phone or Internet. I prefer checking the websites for the styles I like but ordering by phone so I can ask questions about the shoes and get pointers on which style is best for my big, wide feet. Another thing to consider when ordering by phone or Internet is that most dance shoes are European so be sure to tell them your ?American size? so they can make that adjustment for you. Most companies will accept returns as long as they’re in immaculate condition - you haven’t danced in or soiled the shoes or the suede soles. Dance shoes are a bit pricey but it’s a great investment — even if you dance only half as much as I do. If you don’t already own a pair, don’t waste any more time — buy a pair today!
Shoe Resources
Local
Jackson’s on Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz carry a limited supply
Ballroom Connection
1111 W. El Camino Real, Suite 219
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
408 773-8832
www.ballroomconnection.com
Ballroom Dance Supply
46 E Campbell Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008-2006
408 871-1895
Internet
www.eleganceshoes.com
www.dancenaturals-usa.com
www.dancevision.com
Lorraine Jacquard is an instructor a the Palomar Ballroom. Please contact the ballroom to arrange private lessons if you are interested.
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