Ballroom shoes for children and adults: the size, how to choose the right one

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of the right choice of shoes for dancing. People who are professionally engaged in dancing, understand this perfectly. To achieve mastery, they have to spend a significant part of their time in training. And if the sharpness of the movements of the body and hands depend on the zealous repetition and fixing, then for the good work of the foot correctly chosen shoes are needed. Ballroom dancing is an amazing world that has nothing to do with everyday life. In dance shoes it is inappropriate to walk along the street, just as it is impossible to technically perform dance steps in the everyday model.

Ballroom shoes are a specific tool by which a dancer creates his art, since skilfully matched dance shoes can enhance the feeling of sex, allows harmoniously and beautifully carry out the transfer of the body.

How to choose the right shoes for ballroom dancing?

Shoes for dancing should not only be beautiful and comfortable, but also meet the established requirements. Choose it in accordance with the age and intentions of the dancer. Usually, due to the growth of children's legs, large shoes are selected for children on one size.

Ballroom dancing for adults involves the acquisition of two pairs - for European and Latin American programs, as the technique of performing these dances is different. In the standard European program begins with the movement of the heel, and in the Latin American - the sock. Therefore it is necessary for each dance to use special shoes.

Ballroom dances dictate for children and adult dancers a rule that under no circumstances can not be violated - the acquired dance shoes must necessarily be comfortable.

When buying during fitting, you need to shoe more than one leg, and try on just a couple, completely buttoning. After that it is recommended to execute a few pa. During these actions, shoes should not be strongly reaped, but it is especially important that it does not hang out.

The top of dance shoes is made of such materials, which over time stretch and sit on the leg as needed. Usually these are leather and satin products. Therefore it is not terrible, if at purchase it will be found out, that the new footwear shakes. It's bad if the dance shoes are too loose on the foot - eventually it will hang out. The right choice of dance shoes will minimize the risk of injury.

About the types of dance shoes

Initially, a novice dancer can do with universal footwear with a wide low heel and a closed toe.

But after a while the trainer will advise you to buy shoes for ballroom dances separately for European and Latin American programs: for "standard" - closed, and for "latina" - resembling sandals.

Their flexible sole will improve the quality of the foot, more confident move and balance, performing the nuances of dance movements.

Dance shoes can be of several types:

- Rating child. Ballroom shoes for girls are characterized by the presence of a relatively high (3-3.5 cm) heel, in shoes for dancers, boys, it should be 2-2.5 cm.

- Women's shoes for the Latin American program ("latina") are usually produced with a heel length of up to 8 cm.

- Women's shoes for the European program ("standard") - 5.7 cm.

- Men's shoes "Latina" usually have a heel length - up to 4 cm.

- Men's shoes "standard" - 2 - 2.5 cm.

About buying competitive shoes

Having reached the first stages of mastery, usually dancers strive for recognition. The road to fame is through participation in all kinds of competitions, which require the purchase of another, additional, competitive shoes. The competitive couple should be beautiful, clean and fresh - after all it is addition of a scenic image of the dancer.

Women's shoes "standard" - a classic elegant boat with a sharp or round toe, with a low (up to 5-6 cm) heel, allowing the legs to less tired. Material of manufacture - different colors soft satin, which can be modified (painted in the tone of a suit or decorated with appliqués) on its own.

Men's shoes for European dances are classic elegant shoes with a wide, steady heel. Top - usually leather, satin, synthetic or varnished. The latter is not for beginners dancers - "sticking" of the varnished surface can lead to the development of the wrong technique. The lacing must be parallel, the material for the laces must be non-slip.

Women's shoes "latina" - usually with a closed "union" - a web that supports the foot. The most popular is the shoe, which has an "ally" of intertwined thin membranes. There may be variants with knots and buckles. It is necessary to have a jumper consisting of several little straps in the upper bow. Solid is stiff and does not allow you to properly pull the sock. The lintel with the straps is more flexible.

Often this model has a long strap that can be wrapped around the ankle or foot. In this case, it is necessary to have a soft strap attachment on the back of the shoes, which allows you not to rub your feet.

The sock of female shoes for "latina" is usually oval, but there may be other options. Fingers should not "fall out" on the floor, but there should not be a significant "stock" near the thumb.

Men's shoes "latina" - usually black, suitable for black pants, with a heel resistant, but slightly higher than for the standard. Lacing is parallel, in five holes. The oval of the toe must conform to the shape of the foot. There should be no seams - they can later rub their feet.

How to choose a dance shoes for a child?

These shoes are specially designed for orthopedic standards. Ideally, the child should not get tired of the legs. Such shoes provide the necessary position of the legs in the dance and the correct development of posture.

Specialized children's shoes are necessary to achieve decent results.

Shoes to grow to buy is not recommended, it is better to buy a model that has a regulator of completeness. The material of manufacture should correspond to sanitary-and-hygienic norms: natural and artificial leather, brocade, satin, shoe mesh.

The heel should be low, ensuring an even distribution of the load.

For the youngest, it is better to buy not matte, but bright, with sparkles shoes that would stand out on the floor. In children's competitions, among other elements, the foot's work is evaluated, and the legs in the bright shoes will be visible from afar.

Reality often destroys stereotypes, so it is with children's dance shoes: despite the established opinion about the need for rigid fixing of the ankle in children's shoes, it should be remembered that children's dance shoes should be flexible enough to allow you to pull the sock.

It is not necessary for a child to buy expensive imported shoes, you can choose and domestic high-quality shoes.

Ballroom Shoes for Girls and Boys

For children-dancers, at first one pair of shoes is enough. For the older pupil it is necessary to purchase shoes "latina" and "standard".

Children-dancers are suitable for a stable low heel. The heel in shoes for girls under 12 must be up to 3.5 cm, over 12 years - up to 5 cm. It is more convenient to learn the technique of dancing in low-heeled shoes.

Girls should wear dance shoes only during training sessions and speeches, in no case should they be worn in everyday life, as this can damage the development of the skeleton (a heel of 20.5 mm is above the permissible norm).

Ballroom shoes for boys should be elegant and comfortable and suitable for training and performances. If the dances have become a serious hobby for the child, you should buy him shoes made of genuine leather. If he just starts dancing, you can buy inexpensive shoes made of artificial leather. For good adhesion to the floor, the sole must be natural. The top is usually black, matt or varnished. There may be a flickering effect, but without sparkles.

Heel height - 20-20,5 mm. The sole should be: for the "standard" - solid, rigid, for "latin" (if the preparation allows) - separate. You can buy shoes for a boy-dancer with a small margin of up to 50 mm, a significant stock can hurt the foot.

How to determine the size of shoes for dancing?

Dimensions of ball shoes often do not match with metric ones. Avoid mistakes when buying or customizing the instructions to determine the correct size:

- it is necessary to put a foot in a thin toe on the sheet of paper lying on the floor;

- using a pencil, outline the foot attached to the sheet (keep the pencil perpendicularly);

- Using a ruler to make measurements of the foot. The length of the foot is the length between the thumb and the heel.

When communicating your data by phone to the seller, you should specify the length of the foot, and the specialist will orient and select the required size.

In addition, you can orient yourself to the buyers by using the table of correspondence of sizes. The modern market of footwear has several dimensional systems: metric, stihmassovoy, European. Knowing your parameters on one of the systems, you can translate them into another if necessary.

So, read and take into account all the recommendations, and the new shoes gently squeeze the foot, shines with varnish or sequins, the sole gently touches the floor, evenly distributing the dancer's weight along the entire length of the shoes. Everything is ready - now the music will play and the magic of incredibly beautiful movements will begin. Good luck and easy parquet!