I've always wanted to buy salsa dancing shoes, but I've never gotten around to it. You may have thought about it too.
Do you wear dress shoes when you play basketball?
Like a football, basketball, or baseball player, you need the right type of shoe for the sport.
You still might be able to perform, but certainly not at your best.
As a beginner, you may not want to get dance shoes right away. Shoes without a rubber sole will do just fine for now.
However, if you've been dancing for a while and know that you'll be dancing for a long time, its a good idea to invest in these.
So off I went ....
Recently, I went to Evelyn's store in Bensalem, PA to look for shoes. I chose to buy my shoes there because I was recommended by a friend and heard that Evelyn will take the utmost care of you.
She has a little shoe shop and all of the shoes are priced just right.
Here's the salsa dancing shoe that I bought.
Even though I've been dancing for almost 6 years, I've never bought salsa shoes.
At first glance, it may look like an ordinary shoe, but take a closer look.
Notice the heel and sole. The sole is very thin and the actual body of the shoe is made of soft leather.
When you look at the bottom of the sole, you can see that its definitely not an ordinary shoe. The whole sole is covered with suede.
The soft suede will allow you to spin freely and effortlessly, and the thin sole will allow you to have a better connection with the floor.
Shoe accessories
Since the bottom of the salsa dancing shoes are suede, it will collect alot of dirt.
If you buy these shoes, you'll need to buy a Suede Sole Shoe Brush to clean them off after each dance session.
Wire Shoe Brush
This particular brush reminds me of a doggy brush, but the bristles are much thicker and closer.
There was another one that I could've bought. That one reminded me of a BBQ grill wire brush, but a much much smaller version of it.
I suppose you could buy a BBQ brush, but why would you want to wield such a beast?
Shoe Bag
Another thing you might conside is a salsa dancing shoe bag. This bag is big enough to hold two pairs of shoes.. When you are going to an unfamiliar place, its a good idea to bring two pairs of shoes.
If the floor is rough like cement, you may want to use your dance sneakers. Rough concrete will ruin your salsa dancing shoes.
If the floor is smooth, your salsa dance shoes would be the best bet !
Shoe fit and break-in
Your shoe should be snug and should gently hug your feet. You don't want to get anything too loose because the shoe needs to conform to your feet.
Since the leather is suptle, it will conform to every curve and will eventually feel like an extension of yourself..
The break-in period may be a little uncomfortable in the begging, but as they mold to your feet the shoes will feel great !
Remember these are dance shoes not walking shoes
Take care not to walk around on the street with your dance shoes or you'll ruin the suede bottom. Also, try not to step in any liquids.
I'm really excited to wear my salsa dancing shoes to dance class tomorrow. I'll come back and update you on how they are wearing in and how they help me in dancing.
If you are ever in the area, come visit the
Dance Shoe Boutique
at 2133 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020. Evelyn's phone number at the store is 215-639-5670.
Be sure to let her know that you found her on this website Salsa Dancing Addict !
Where to Buy
The first place I would recommend is Exotic Salsa Shoes.
Check out their salsa shoes by clicking the banner below !
Here are some shoes that you might want to buy as your salsa dancing shoes.
Sometimes you don't want to wear your suede bottom shoes because you are dancing on a rough or dirty surface. The answer ? Dance sneakers (or dansneakers). Here's a cool split sole Dance Sneaker for you. These dance sneakers are unisex - for men and women.
And of course, I can't forget the women... Here are a couple ballroom dance shoes that you can use as your salsa dancing shoes.