How to Choose Dance Shoes

Not sure which dance shoes are right for you? It can definitely feel overwhelming to select the best pair for your needs: after all, there are nearly as many types of dance shoes as there are unique styles of dance!

You need to consider fit, durability, flexibility, wearability, fashion, comfort, support, and more when choosing dance shoes – not a short list!

Since how to choose dance shoes isn’t usually taught in dance classes, here’s everything you need to know to find your perfect pair …

Why Choosing the Right Dance Shoes Matters

Your feet are the foundation of your body – and the anchor for your dance technique. What you wear to protect your feet and support your movement is not only essential for delivering your best performance, but also crucial for taking care of your physical well-being. If your feet are uncomfortable or unsupported – or if your shoes are too bulky or flimsy – your performance will suffer, and so can your body.

Understanding Different Types of Dance Shoes

How to choose dance shoes starts with knowing the demands of your preferred style(s) of dance and considering your body’s needs. Here are three core types of dance shoes you need to know:

• Ballet Shoes

Classic ballet shoes come in two traditional styles: slippers and pointe shoes. Pointe shoes are worn by more advanced dancers (usually female), while slippers are worn by ballerinas at all levels of experience.

• Jazz Shoes

These flexible shoes usually have a soft upper fabric (often leather) and a lace-up closure, and offer a little more stretch than regular street shoes, making them ideal for fluid movement. Jazz shoes can feature smooth, full soles, or split soles for additional flexibility.

• Dance Sneakers

Comfortable, supportive, stylish, and versatile: sneakers are revolutionizing the dance footwear market as the #1 choice for dancers who want to look good while elevating their performance! Fuego dance sneakers are recommended by pro dancers, amateur dancers, dance instructors, and competitive dancers alike, because they offer elite comfort, support, durability, and wearability in the studio, on the stage, and in the street.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Dance Shoes

There are so many things to think about when selecting dance shoes: here are a few top considerations to help you find your perfect pair.

Fit and Comfort

If your shoes don’t fit properly, not only will you not be able to perform at your best, but you’ll be uncomfortable the entire time you’re dancing! Fit and comfort are key for any pair of shoes, but they’re especially important for dancing, which requires long hours on your feet.

Make sure your dance shoes aren’t too tight, but also aren’t too loose, as both can cause irritation, rubbing, and blisters. There should be enough room to move your toes, but not so much room that your foot slides around. Also make sure the heel of the shoe is snug enough to grip the back of your foot, but not so tight that it digs into your heel.

Flexibility and Support

Depending on your chosen style(s) of dance, the range of motion can be key to delivering your best technique and executing precise skills. If you need to point your toes and flex your foot, you’ll want a more flexible shoe, probably with a split sole. If your style of dance requires a lot of jumps or movements that demand ankle stability, you’ll want a pair of dance shoes with extra support.

Find a pair of dance shoes that offers your ideal balance of flexibility and support, like Fuego dance sneakers, which are engineered for movement & designed for all genres of dance! For example, Fuego’s Split-sole dance sneakers deliver superior flexibility, thanks to patented soles, an ultra-lightweight design, and a pliable neoprene midsection. Fuego’s High-top dance sneakers, on the other hand, are designed with a little extra ankle support, which makes them ideal for shuffling, breakdancing, and more.

Material and Durability

Dance shoes are an investment, so you definitely want to choose a pair crafted with high-quality materials. Also make sure to consider design elements like reinforced stitching, which can make a shoe last far longer than a product with inferior construction. Fuego dance sneakers are made with premium-quality, water-resistant, mostly vegan materials, and constructed with reinforced stitching and durable outsoles & insoles that are made to go the distance!

Matching Dance Shoes to Your Dance Style

Your preferred dance style is another key factor in how to choose dance shoes. Here are three main categories of dance to consider.

Shoes for Contemporary and Jazz Dance

Contemporary and jazz dance are two interpretative and ever-evolving styles of dance that often include fluid movement and modern technique. Dancers of these two styles should opt for more pliable shoes so they can point their toes, flex their foot, and move smoothly across the floor. Fuego’s bestselling Split-sole dance sneaker offers superior flexibility, so contemporary & jazz dancers can execute precise technique, point & flex their foot, and enhance their performance while enjoying the comfort and support of a sneaker!

 

Shoes for Ballroom and Latin Dance

Ballroom and Latin dancers traditionally wear high heels (female dancers) and dress shoes with smooth soles (male dancers) in order to perform fast footwork, spins, and intricate partner moves. In recent years, however, with the exploding global popularity of ballroom and Latin dance, more dancers are wearing non-traditional shoes for these styles, and prioritizing comfort and support.

Fuego dance sneakers are now available in a chic Wedge style, so ballroom and Latin dancers have a supportive, protective, cushioned alternative to flimsy high heels!

Shoes for Hip-Hop and Street Dance

Sneakers have always been a way for hip-hop and street dancers to express their unique sense of personal style while performing their boldest skills. Today’s high-fashion sneaker culture has origins in hip-hop and street dance, as well. While hip-hop and street dancers can be found sporting almost any style of shoe, Fuego’s iconic Low-top dance sneakers are inspired by streetwear, and are a top pick for dancers who want to make fashion part of their performance.

Choosing the Right Size and Fit

Only you can determine which dance shoe is the right size and fit for your needs. You may need to go up or down a size, depending on the brand you choose: here are a few things to consider.

Signs of a Good Fit in Dance Shoes

So you found your ideal style: they look great, feel supportive, and are pretty comfortable. But are they really your best pair? Here’s what to look for:

1. Your toes don’t hit the end of the shoe – just barely! Make sure there’s a small amount of room so you can wiggle your toes a bit, without having a bubble of space in front, above, or around your toes. 

2. The heel should NOT slip: if it does, they’re too big. On the contrary: if the back of the shoe digs into your heel, it’s too small: try going up a half-size. 

3. Don’t just walk in them: DANCE in them! Taking a few steps in the shoes you're considering in order to try them out just won’t cut it: you need to move around a bit more to decide if they’re right for you. Try some basic moves – spinning, pivoting, pointing your toes, quick-stepping, flexing your foot, etc. – while wearing the shoes before you purchase them, and consider how your foot feels as you execute each movement.

Dealing with Common Sizing Challenges

Dance shoe sizing can be tricky: every brand fits a little differently, and sizing can vary depending on the country in which the shoes are manufactured. Pay very close attention to international sizing, read product reviews, try on as many sizes as possible if you are shopping in-person, and if buying online, never hesitate to reach out to customer service in order to determine your best size: Fuego’s team is always here to answer any questions you have about product sizing & fit!

Brands and Budget Considerations

How to choose dance shoes that fit your budget? You don’t have to break the bank in order to get a high-quality pair that meets your needs. Aim to find a brand that is affordable with the best construction and durability, and if you can, choose a style that you can wear for more than one type of dance, or even every day …

Fuego dance sneakers are engineered for dancing – with elevated details like dual pivot points for spin ability & premium cushioned insoles for elite comfort – but they’re also 100% ok to wear to school, work, errands, taking a walk, date night, and more!

Not all dance shoes are made for indoor and outdoor wear like Fuegos, and many are intended ONLY for use on specific dance flooring, so make sure the pair you choose not only fits your budget, but also suits your lifestyle.

Caring for Your Dance Shoes to Extend Their Life

Now that you know how to choose dance shoes, you need to think about how to take care of them so they last as long as possible. Here are a few simple ways to keep your dance shoes in top form: 

1. Put them away after wearing them.

Don’t leave your dance shoes in the middle of the floor where they can be stepped on, get dirty, or become your pet’s chew toy! Store them on a shelf or in a closet away from sunlight so their color does not fade.

2. Pay attention to care instructions.

Depending on the material of your dance shoes, you may need a special cleaning product in order to care for them. If you choose Fuego dance sneakers, simply wipe them with a damp cloth – easy as that! Whatever you do, DO NOT put dance shoes in the washing machine or clothes dryer. Not any pair – not EVER!

3. Wear socks (when you can).

Not every style of dance shoe is meant to be worn with socks (pointe shoes, for example), but if you can wear socks with your dance shoes, you definitely should. It will prevent the shoe from absorbing moisture and odor from your foot, and will help them stay like new for much longer. 

How to choose dance shoes isn’t a common topic in the larger dance community, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an important topic! Always consider fit, comfort, support, and dance style first, then make sure the pairs you’re comparing offer the flexibility you need to perform at your best, and the versatility you need to make your dance shoe investment worth it!