Watching the men and women dancing in the fast dances especially jive and cha cha I've noticed the men can move faster. I believe the reason for this is the high heels worn by the women, which must restrict movement in the foot especially in and up and downwards motion. This is especially noticeable with the celeb ladies and seems to me one of the reasons why they look so wooden whilst trying to do the fast dances.

no they don't. i couldn't do those dances without them. if i do then i am up on my toes anyway because you get more bounce.

The shoes are especially made for ballroom and latin dancing. I find it so much easier to dance in heels because the latin dances are mainly danced on the ball of the foot, and it is easier to do so when wearing a heel

I take it the OP is not a woman (apologies if you are!!!). High heels are really easy to dance in. Dancing shoes are not typical high heels- they aren't that high!

When some of us were younger { } we lived in heels the whole time, and I used to run for buses in them as well as running up and down the escalators on the Tube. And they certainly don't stop the pro dancers moving. I suspect the zlebs are just not dancing at tempo because they're too busy counting their steps and not getting into the music.

I find it easier to do it in heels, actually. I struggle to do a jive with a flat foot but the heels make it much easier.

I find it way easier to dance in proper shoes than in flats.

Ginger Rogers famously said she did everything Fred Astaire did, but in high heels and backwards. (on the other hand, he created the dances - she didn't.)

Dancing heels are completely different to normal heels - they're incredibly light and bouncy, and they put your body into the correct position. It's much harder to spin in flat shoes, your weight is too far back. You need to be on the balls of your feet.

I only started dancing in January of this year and am definitely not normally a high heels girl!

But I find it so much easier to dance in the high heeled dancing shoes - they force your centre of balance further forward over the balls of your feet, makes it easier to use the correct footwork on your toes rather than flat-footed.

Also they are VERY flexible and comfortable so shouldn't contribute to any stiffness in the feet

I think it all depends - it might be more comfortable for some folk to dance better in 2.5 inch heels rather than 3 or 3.5inch.

(I kinda thought last year Letitia might have found it easier to be a bit more grounded if she'd danced in slightly shorter heels - she always looked quite tiptoey to me, with her weight very forward.)

I agree - I dance in 2.5in heels which is easier for a beginner I think, you don't want to be thrown off balance too much as you lose the control then.
Plus I am 5ft9 already so don't want to be too much taller!

Yip. It's amazing the difference 0.5 inch can make interms of your balance and how easy it feels to move your foot and ankle.

And it's not just women - I've spoken to guys who've bought their first dance shoes with a small cuban heel and have had to get used to the difference and slightly re adjust their posture/balance.

I can't even walk in very high, thin heels, let alone dance.

I do have dance shoes with heels but they are of a sensible height and thickness.

you need the heel, If i dont wear the heels I still go up on the balls of my feet.

I agree with this wholeheartedly (as a 5'10"-er myself! ).

But I do quite like heels to dance in because they give a movement and sway that you just don't really get in flats.

From a female perspective I think that you dance better if you know you look better, and as long as you're not teetering over or whincing in pain then you know you look better in heels

Great thread! I didn't know dancing shoes were different and have often wondered why more female celebs don't have a problem with their heels when dancing.

Heels are cool, absolutely necessary, and not difficult to dance in - in fact, they make it easier, as mentioned in other posts.

Tango shoes deconstructed...

These "shoe autopsy" photo's are specifically tango shoes..but it's quite interesting to see how they are constructed....ah but what a waste

That's really interesting thanks

Never thought I'd be saying that about the construction of a shoe!

Who cares? They make them look hot.

Question for ya...

If they are so great then why don't the blokes wear them too?
It would show off a heel lead better and if it enhances your drive and attack so much then what do the guys wear?

Do they have lifts in theirs?

The important thing is to get the right height of the heel. Someone with a large foot - size 7 for example - can wear 3inches with ease, whereas someone with a small foot needs a lower heel.

I only take a 3.1/2 shoe, and find that a 2.1/2inch heel is more than high enough; anything higher and I'm virtually on tip-toes and it becomes impossible to get the right foot & ankle action.

My friend also has size 3 and a half shoes, but she's pretty fond of a 4 inch heel for comps!

i can't walk in heels - but proper ballroom / latin dance shoes are a totally different kettle of fish. as others have said, they put you in the correct body position, make it easier to get the heel down in latin as you don't have to put your foot flat down. Also, if you compare latin dance shoes with "starppy sandels" from shoe shops you will discover that most open toe shoes have an open heel, ie ZERO support. Dance shoes have a closed heel - equals lots of support.

If you do ballroom / latin dance its well worth investing in proper shoes - although I agree 3 - 4 inches doesn't suit everyone. I prefer two inch but do have some 2.5 inch.

enjoy