Marcia's Favorite Dance Shoes
Here's a shopping guide for our go-to dance shoes 🛍️
There's an endless variety of ballroom shoes styles, and it's easy to get lost in the possibilities. As a professional ballroom dancer for over 25 years, I'm cutting through the clutter to present my top three dance shoes in every category - smooth, rhythm/latin, and practice shoes. Enjoy and happy shopping!
Marcia's Favorite Latin Heel - MIA
Years ago the only latin heels available had tiny straps guaranteed to pinch and have toes fall out. When I saw Mia, I knew I was in love. Stable, secure, and stunning - this is my favorite latin heel. Perfect for performances and competitions.
Click here to Shop Mia Latin Heel
Marcia's Favorite Smooth Heel - AMERICAN FLEX
Back in the dark ages of dance, smooth shoes had a straight edge across the vamp, and we didn't know what we were missing. The innovation of elastic was a revelation - suddenly shoes stayed snug and secure. I've worn different brands of smooth shoes with elasticized vamps over the years, and American Flex is my top pick. This smooth heel is excellent for performances and competitions.
Click here to Shop American Flex
Marcia's Favorite Practice Shoe - ARTISTE SS HIMALAYAN ROSE
You know I love a colorful practice shoe, but I keep coming back to this stunning rose gold shoe for it's comfort and enduring style. Plus there are silver metallic lightning bolts on the back - does it get any better? Artiste SS Himalayan Rose is perfect for practice, class, and workshops when comfort is key.
Click here to Shop Artise SS Himalayan Rose
Marcia's Favorite Smooth Shoe - CONTRA PRO
This smooth shoe is a hit with all our guys. Wallace started the trend, and then Brandon tried them and was stunned with how comfortable they were. He'd been trudging along for years in his starter shoes and realized "you get what you pay for". George was next to upgrade his dance shoes to this sleek new look. Contra Pro comes in black leather and patent, but our dancers love the shoe in black nubuck. If you're just starting out - this is the shoe to get; it'll take you from class to competitions, the stage and beyond!
Click here to Shop Contra Pro
Marcia's Favorite Rhythm Shoe - RUMBA
This men's latin shoe with cuban heel is classic. Heels for men?! We know it's an odd concept when you start ballroom dancing, but latin shoes are designed to enhance your dancing and this 1.5 inch cuban heel enables proper footwork and hip action. Most new guy dancers tell me they feel stiff/awkward and they want to learn to move their hips and look smooth. It starts from the ground up. You'll want this latin dance shoe for competitions and for class when you're learning rhythm dances.
Click here to Shop Rumba Latin Shoe
Marcia's Favorite Practice Shoe - TEMPO
I love the sleek design of this practice shoe. The breathable mesh keeps you cool and the sneaker-like support keeps you comfortable dancing for hours. This is a unisex shoe, so of course I own it, and it's my go-to comfort pick. You'll want Tempo for class, practice, workshops and anytime your feet need some love.
Click here to Shop Tempo Practice Shoe
Explore our other blogs for more tips on dance attire and shoes!💡
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