A lot of people have asked me about the ballroom & Latin dance shoes worn on Strictly, so I asked former champion Camilla Dallerup for the low-down : http://wp.me/p124B5-Ui

I really hope it helps and please let me know if you have any other questions.

Camilla is right about Latin shoes usually having a higher heel than ballroom, but she fails to mention that it can make a difference on the size of the foot.

Someone taking a size 5 upwards can easily cope with a 3 1.2" heel, but someone like me, taking only a size 2 1/2 shoe, would be tottering around on tiptoes in heels that high, and a 2 1/2" heal is more than high enough.

I am currently looking to buy my first pair of dance shoes...feeling somewhat overwhelmed

I've always wondered why most ballroom/latin shoes are so unattractive. I know that's what stopped me buying a pair years ago.

Unluckily I can't even think about wearing a shoe with a heel at the moment (busted ankle, no end in sight) so atm, I'm jealous of anyone who wears any kind of heel.

I've seen some more attractive versions - when the Latin shoes are black, for example, or any other colour that goes with the outfit. Sometimes they have fancy buckles on them and sometimes a bit of glitter. I think it's open to interpretation as long as the shoe is totally an extension of the foot and not an attraction in it's own right.

I would suggest going to try some on and see what you like. If you try to buy them online then you may not like them when you get them.

As someone else said heel height varies, and its better to be taller if you want high heels, styles vary dependent on colour and also colours vary!

last time I went to get some I went intent on getting dark tan ones and came away with light tan ones as they looked better in the style I liked!

Also most people that sell them have a good idea of what will look good on your foot- that sounds strange but I have bony feet and the women suggested styles that would suit me and she was better at picking them out than I was- and they are my feet!!

There are lots of styles of dance shoe and different manufacturers shoes do feel different. I would recommend going to a dance shop and trying on the shoes they have in stock.
If you have wider/narrower feet you may find you have to order shoes in anyway once you've decided on a style. Otherwise some styles have adjustable straps across the front.
Some shoes have multiway ankle straps too - you can either wear them crossed over the arch of the foot or crossed round the ankle, others are just straight ankle straps.
Often designs for wider feet have a t-bar strap. Sometimes I've heard of poeple taking a different dance shoe size to normal shoe too. I've heard of latin dancers going down half a size so that their toes reach the end of the shoe!

Unlike the article, I think most people going to get the shoes from a shop will find that the shoes are made with 2.5" heels as standard. Often the manufacturers stick on a surcharge if you want them with a smaller/larger heel.
I totally agree with Kaycee that shoe size and heel heights make a difference. I wish the ordinary shoe manufacturers would think about that as well! I have a 2.5" heel and that is more than adequate for me as I only take a size 3.5.

I hope that helps a bit...

Thanks for the advice - I was looking online as I'm restricted in budget, but it is probably too risky until I know exactly what I need - I have size 8 feet and not all shoes seem to be available that big. Also I am over 5'8 tall so although I like higher heels for the look I probably wouldn't be doing myself any favours...not to mention I am a beginner and mustn't be too ambitious

I can vouch for that - my Latin shoes are a 4.5 (and even then, I have 2 slightly different sized feet so my left foot doesn't quite reach the end and there's not much I can do, even though I know it's supposed to!) and my ballroom a size 5.

I'm 5ft 4 and I've got a 2.75" heel for Latin (2.5" for ballroom) as any higher and I'd feel more at risk of overbalancing, and I don't have enough time to learn routines as it is to have that worry as well!

If you are a beginner, even at 5'8" tall, don't be tempted into a 3" or 3 1.2" heel unless you are really used to wearing that height as an everyday shoe (and I mean everyday, not just a posh evening wear). 2 1/2" will probably suit you fine.

As for buying budget priced shoes online, you should remember you get what you pay for. But 'good' dance are astronomical in price, and as a beginner you won't be as hard on the shoes as - say - someone practising 3-4 hours a day! If you want to send me a pm I can give you the name of one on-line company, I have some experience of. They are not cheap-cheap as such, but I've found them to be a safe and reliable company to use, and maybe worth your while looking at.

Good luck with your dancing; hope you are having lots of fun.

yes, good luck LegsLaBelle. Don't be put off by how hard it seems right now. The best advice really is to go into as many shops as you can and try everything on. Seek advice from the staff who are often knowledgeable. I come across many dancers who think that they simply will never find a shoe that will fit them, look good and feel comfortable. So they just accept an ill-fitting shoe and it's only when they become part of a company and have, say, a specialist shoe supervisor giving them advice that they see the other options.

You can end up buying online if you are on a budget, but nothing beats trying on as many pairs as you can in the flesh, as it were !

I hope that helps & look forward to hearing your progress - I'm sure your endeavours will help other people too...