Your best foot in
As mentioned in a previous post, part of the joy of dancing is the dressing up. And that includes wearing the right shoes. Each dance, of course, require different types of footwear. For women, we all know that we can never have too many shoes. Men can learn from that mantra when it comes to dancing. It is possibly the only time it is acceptable for men to wear heels — Cuban heels, that is — with exception (perhaps) of the current French president.
When I began learning Argentine tango (almost 2 years ago now), I realised that this is best done with heels. I am, of course, addressing that to women, but then if there are men out there who would like to try it then that is totally up to you! It is somehow ironic that for a dance that requires very good balance, dancing with heels is the best way to experience it. However, I have realised that you cannot take any good ol’ heels that you’ve got in your closet. Believe me, I’ve scoured my own and there was only one amongst the lot. It was a pair of Mary Janes from Laura Ashley. So, I began making the investment.
Dancing shoes — a proper, good pair — does not come cheap. Tango shoes, as expected, are best bought in Argentina. Great if you live there. But for us lot who are ocean’s away, we rely on either dealers who put a huge margin on the price or pay for shipping costs, which could be as high as the mark up put on by distributors. To me, I opted for the latter as I reckon it comes out cheaper.
Why go through that trouble and/or money? Because it makes so much difference dancing. For tango, the heels are solid and stable. The insole is padded for comfort especially when you are almost always have your weight on the balls of your feet. When it’s the right shoes, you literally can dance all night without killing your feet. Paying the extra for the shipping or the mark-up will cost less than constantly having to go to a chiropodist.
Most people don’t wear their tango shoes outside the dance floor. This is mainly for longevity. If you use your tango shoes as you would like your other shoes, then you are going to wear them out quickly. Of course, there is nothing stopping you from using them a girly night out of partying and cheesy dancing. Nonetheless keep them indoors for as much as you can.
(Credits: Image by me. To see my other tango shoes, click here.)
