Tips on selecting the right shoe by Ray Rose
General Tips:
Shoes should be pleasing to the eye, comfortable, flexible and obviously well-made.
The heel tips should be made of rubber, chrome-suede or a material that is non-slip.
The suede on the soles should be soft to the feel (for flexibility) but firm (for durability). The surface of the suede soles needs a certain amount of "nap" to grip the floor (nap is the equivalent of the pile of a carpet), but it should not look too furry.
The height of the back of the shoe should not be too high or it will hurt the back of the ankle when you point your foot.
The back of the shoe should fit snuggly in order to support the foot.
The shoes must feel light on the foot and balanced, i.e. the dancer should not be too aware of their shoes when dancing. The shoe should act as an extension to the foot and move with the foot.
The foot should not have to move in order to accommodate limited movements in the shoe. The foot movements must not be restricted by poor design. If the shoe restricts the foot in any way, then the dancer cannot perform to their optimum.
In closed-toe styles (ladies and men?s), the toes should be as close to the end of the shoes as is possible without actually rubbing. In the sandals, the toes should completely cover the soles of the shoes and it is preferable if the toes actually "hang over the edges" of the shoes just a bit (up to 1/4 inch). When the shoes begin to stretch enough to allow your feet to slip inside them, invest in a pair of foam inner soles and use them. The more your feet can move inside dance shoes, the faster the shoes will stretch, become misshapen and wear out.
Be sure to polish leather shoes regularly to keep them from looking scuffed and brush the suede soles of your shoes to keep them free of wax and dirt build-up from the dance floors. The wax causes soles to wear faster, since dirt particles cling to the wax and then grind into the soft suede soles, causing them to wear away. Use a silicon oil or polish to keep patent shoes from sticking and cracking. You should never wear your dance shoes outside as long as you will be using them as dance shoes.
Ray Rose uses only the finest materials in their products which provide excellent fit, comfort, flexibility and durability.
Last but the most Important!
Please try on your shoes on a clean, soft surface to prevent soiling of the suede soles. Shoes with soiled soles or shoes which have been worn on a hard surface cannot be returned for credit or exchange. Try both shoes on as one foot is normally a different length and shape than the other. Dance shoes are generally worn smaller than you would wear your regular street shoes. They must fit snugly without hurting so you maintain proper balance on the dance floor. This means that all parts of the shoes should be covered by your feet. If your feet move easily inside the shoes, you cannot properly control your balance or your dance posture.
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