Whether you’re an experienced dancer or you want to be more like JLo on the dance floor, people around every corner of the world are clamouring to know how to dance in heels.
It’s classy, empowering, and boosts your confidence, so it’s no surprise that so many people want in on the action.
Here, we’re heading over the basics of how to slay dancing in heels to help take you from beginner to Beyonce.
Is dancing in heels always uncomfortable?
Dancing in heels might be uncomfortable for people, especially those who are not used to wearing heels in the first place!
But if you want to be a better dancer, you have to tutor yourself to dance in heels effortlessly.
The thing is, not everyone is an expert like Beyoncé who seems to be born wearing heels while dancing!
To dance in high heels, the ankles and legs must persist stably to maintain balance.
Why does Wearing Heels while dancing get uncomfortable?
One of the reasons why high heels are so uncomfortable to wear while dancing is the way they shift the body weight to the balls of your feet.
This weight shift puts more pressure on the forefoot and the discomfort is intensified on the pad of the feet because of the peak impact every single moment you take a step.
The pressure causes the shape of the foot to mold into the narrow shape of the shoe and this may cause discomfort while dancing.
How to Dance in Heels Longer without any discomfort?
Gladly, there are ways to tackle discomfort while dancing in high heels!
To save your feet from intense forefoot pressure and make you dance in heels smoothly and elegantly, try these tips:
Choose Your Shoes Wisely
There is a reason why dance high-heel shoes were invented, these shoes are designed specifically for dancers and performers.
Unlike regular heels, dance shoes like Latin dance shoes are meant to make dancing less stressful and less uncomfortable to the feet.
The design and factors are inferred to optimize freedom of movement while showing some moves without any discomfort.
For instance, dance heels could be customized according to shape and size to fit wide or narrow feet for more comfortable wear.
The materials are flexible to minimize contraction and increase movement. The soles are prepared from suede or microfiber so you can execute your performance like a pro!
Heels that include laces and settle above the ankles are a great selection so that you can fix them as necessary and will give you extra comfort and support.
For novices, you might go for a chunkier, lower heel when you’re in the first stage of learning how to dance in heels.
But to give your legs a nice look, the purpose is to eventually be able to dance in a four inch stiletto heel.
We know it seems scary – but with enough patience and practice, you’ll get there soon!
As it is said that it’s important for you to feel secure and ready to groove with confidence, so grab a heel that’s just right for you!
Walking in Heels
Learning to walk in heels is the primary step toward learning how to dance in heels.
Feeling sexy, confident, and powerful in your walk is absolutely essential – and it’s not going to be as easy as it looks but practicing is the key!
Let’s get it with a basic exercise: Starting in a bevel, make an “S” shape with your body by moving your hips. Step ahead onto a turned-out foot, toes pointing out at a 30-degree angle. Try to concentrate on relaxing and letting your hips and shoulders move naturally.
Your posture is important
Posture plays an essential part, so while standing on heels, roll your shoulders back and pull the core in and up. As they say “When you pull up from your center,” there’s less pressure on your knees.”
The biggest mistake women in heels make is when they are hunched forward and their knees are bent.
Use your wrists and your core for dancing
Remember to keep your core straight up and sit into your hips while they move.
Dancing is just changing poses to the music. The solution is just to find your transition to the next pose.
When you’re transitioning in your poses, add movement of your wrists.
You radiate so much more feminine vibes and energy when you know how to use your wrists and whatever you’re doing, just be comfortable and confident with it.
Go for the Extra Padding
Dance heels with built-in padding are perfect for dancing for long hours because of the extra padding.
Since high heels shift the body weight to the pads of the feet, the forefoot might experience some discomfort.
The built-in padding helps to spread the body weight evenly. The extra padding also soaks up peak impact so every movement doesn’t feel like fire on the feet.
The insoles are made of hypoallergenic microfiber so the shoes do not develop bad smells despite the hours you spend on the dance floor.
Check Your Foot Shape
Comfort is most important when choosing any kind of shoes. You will need a perfect pair of Latin dance shoes that are designed especially for your foot shape.
Before buying a pair of dance shoes, don’t forget to check your foot shape.
Whether you have a narrow or wide heel or high or low arches; or your toes are thin and long or short, all these factors will come into mind when it comes to wearing dance shoes.
Have fun and relax your face
Even if you’re wearing the hottest, tallest heels you can find, most people will be watching your face.
Expression is the key and it’s important to be aware of your expressions.
As long as you maintain your core strength and your legs straight throughout the performance, your feet will be a lot more comfortable and your face will look a lot less stressed.
Different Types of Dance Shoes
For different dance forms, there are different kinds of dance shoes.
The choice of dance shoes can also rely on the type of floor that will be performed on.
The types of dance shoes are —
Ballroom shoes:
Ballroom shoes can be classified as ladies’ and men’s ballroom shoes or classical ballroom and Latin American ballroom shoes.
Classical ballroom shoes hold a low heel that allows the weight to be circulated evenly across the foot.
Latin American shoes carry higher heels that put impact onto the toes.
Ladies’ classical ballroom shoes are generally court shoes with two-inch heels whereas Ladies’ Latin American ballroom shoes have up to 3-inch heels, strapped and open-toed.
Tap shoes:
Tap shoes consist of metal taps attached underneath the toe area and heel.
These metal taps make a loud sound when whack against the hard surface during the performance.
Dance sneakers:
Dance sneakers are lightweight sneakers with reinforced rubber on the toe portion of the shoe.
In this way, a dancer can stand and dance on their toes in a ballet manner.
Foot thongs:
Foot thongs cover the foot partially on the ball area to allow less friction.
They are just flesh-shaded slip-on when dancing barefoot.
They protect foot skin from wounds and make turns effortless.
Ghillies:
Gillies are popular and used in Scottish highland dance, Irish dance, and Scottish country dance.
Ghillies are delicate shoes, made of leather that sets to the shape of the foot and includes criss-cross laces.
They are often black and are the same as ballet shoes.
Ballet shoes:
Ballet shoes are also soft shoes prepared out of leather, canvas, or satin including full or two-part leather soles.
The sole is wider at the heel and ball part and thinner at the curve part for flexibility.
They are ensured by elastics at the top of the foot.
Pointe shoes:
Pointe shoes are utilized when ballet dancers have to perform pointe work.
These shoes are formulated as a need of ballet dancers to seem weightless, light-footed, and elegant while jumping and look lightweight like defying gravity.
Characteristics of ballet pointe shoes are a box, two ribbons and an elastic band, a shank, a sole, a fabric cover, and other accessories.
Flamenco shoes:
Flamenco shoes are usually used by flamenco dancers and have the potential for percussive footwork.
Female flamenco shoes include a heel whereas men’s flamenco shoes are short-heeled.
These shoes keep nails inserted in the heel and toe space to generate sound.
Jazz shoes:
Jazz shoes are utilized in jazz dance.
These shoes carry a short heel, two-part sole, laces to secure the foot, and a suede patch for a nicer turning.
Jazz shoes can also be tried in other dance forms like acrobatic rock’n’roll and acro dance.
Conclusion
The way you stand, walk, and dance is transformed the moment you wear dancing heels.
Certainly dancing in heels takes a bit to get used to but consistent practice makes everything perfect!
Of course, it compensates to invest in high-quality heels that are made for dancing, like Latin high heels or ballroom.
Check out our girls heels dance shoes which are guaranteed comfortable, so comfortable that you could dance in them longer than in other heels.