Shoes for Dancing

I was reading over at Rik's blog this morning, and found his post about shoes for lindy hopping. I can remember when the choice of shoe for dancing was the topic of SO MANY conversations, with sides taken and arguments over what type of leather or suede was best for shoe soles. If there was ever any doubt that many swing dancers are kind of geeky, those conversations would cement the deal.

I can't disagree with most of Rik's comments - high heels and lindy don't mix. Bleyers are cheaply made and look it. I've never owned any so I can't comment on how they dance, but even several anti-Bleyer dancers I knew changed their minds after Bleyer came out with their wedge-heeled shoes for women.

For the longest time, I lusted after these reproduction vintage wedge-heeled women's shoes produced by a now-defunct company in California. Just as soon as I'd finally made the decision to fork over the money for these shoes, they closed and I missed my chance. That's what you get for thinking it over for a year or more, I guess...

Many dancers currently wear Aris Allen shoes, which I hear are very comfortable. I wouldn't necessarily agree that one must wear Aris Allens in order to be taken seriously as a dancer...particularly considering that many nationally-known lindy hoppers don't wear them.

My shoe of choice has changed over the years. When we first started dancing 10 years ago, I preferred to wear a pair of black mary janes that had really nice slick rubber soles. Not too supportive, but I was, uh, younger than I am now and supportiveness in a shoe was not super important.

I've also worn, over the years, two-tone shoes from Capezio (which I still trot out for special occasions, though they now feel awkward on my feet), character shoes (which I don't trot out, I can't do heels), saddle shoes from the Salvation Army, cheap black sandals (a mistake if ever there was one), vintage open-toe heels from the 40s (for special occasions), and white canvas tennies. And if you know me, you know that the white canvas tennies are my regular choice. In fact, the only time I wear other shoes is when my outfit calls for something dressier.

Why do I like tennies? Simple. Comfort. That's all there is to say about it. They're comfortable.

I have mild fibromyalgia, and I can't stand and dance and walk for the two-plus hours when we're teaching in anything that's not super comfortable. And tennies are super comfortable.

Many dancers who wear tennies have them chromed or sueded, which means they have a cobbler apply chrome leather or suede to the bottom of their shoes (or they do it themselves). Though I've considered doing this, I never have. Because of the second and third reasons I like my tennies: they're cheap and they don't need special care.

I can wear my tennies for outdoor dance events. I can wear them to run and grab a forgotten item from the car. I don't have to worry about damaging the leather soles. I like that. So I settle for taping the soles to add slipperiness.

Feel free to post, here or at the message board, about your favorite shoes for dancing.