Salsa dancing shoes

Salsa dancing gives your muscles, joints, and bones a really good workout. It can help delay osteoporosis and arthritis.

Salsa dancing shoes should be stylish ( of course), lightweight, comfortable, flexible, made of real suede and/or leather, and extra cushioning in the sole.  

The foot should have more freedom of movement while  keeping the heel “locked” in place. 

Leather/suede soles to give enough amount of slip-and-grip while allowing your foot to pivot freely. Avoid rubber-soled shoes.

The dance shoe size should be the same as your street shoe size. If your foot is narrow, you should go down 1/2 a size. If your foot is wider you should go up 1/2 a size .

Gentlemen typically wear suede or leather shoes with a low heel. For Latin Ballroom the heel should be slightly higher. 

For ladies, an open toe heel or strappy sandal is best for the Latin and Salsa dancing. This allows greater movement of the toes, while giving balance and creating a clean leg line.

Traditional Ankle Strap provides the least amount of foot security.  X-Strap (around arch) are great for newer dancers, this strap style anchors your foot to the arch of the shoe, avoiding ankle twisting and providing an ideal amount of support and stability

Heel sizes can be as low as 0.5″ or as high as 4″. The most common heel sizes are between 2″-3″. Higher heels give more shape to the leg.  For beginners, it is recommended to start with a 2.5″ heel height. 

The skinny stiletto heel cause more pressure to the ball of the foot and less balance.  Cuban heels are the lowest and thickest heels and distribute weight over more of the foot.   The flare heel has a skinny center with a slightly flares out out the bottom, providing a bit more stability over the stiletto heel. 

Source: stepintosalsa.com

Rolando Melendez, DPM in Jackson Heights, NY was the experience and knowledge to keep you dancing. Because we want you to keep doing all the fun things you like to do without having pain in your feet!