I must have gotten 100 messages about my dance shoes this week. What brand shoes do I wear? Are they a specific dance brand or regular shoes? Do I get them made? Do I alter the soles? Taps? Leather? Resin? Heel height? Weight of shoe? Recommendations?
So many questions! I was a little overwhelmed on how I’d respond to you all. So I decided to write a little post here on what I wear and some links to shoes I’ve tried out and can recommend.
I have a huge selection of dance shoes. I like to experiment with them all the time. Having said that, of all the pairs of shoes I own, it’s always the same 1 or 2 pairs I go back to. So much so, that they’re getting so battered and torn that not even the cobbler can work his magic on them. I know loads of dancers in this same boat! I very seldom buy “dancing shoes”. I prefer to buy regular shoes and adjust them to my liking. I like to add resin, fibre glass, wood or cabon fibre. I’m not a fan of taps and their sound and I don’t like leather as it weighs down my my shoe. Some regular shoes I don’t adjust at all and use them as they are.
When I am performing I always bring about 4 pairs of shoes of different weight and sound with me to test out on the floor I will be dancing on.
My favourite shoes are a regular pair I bought from Schuh.ie which are very light and comfortable with a hard resin sole on them. I had my cobbler add to the height of the heel by adding a wooden sole to it. He also raised out the inner heel slightly so I can click my heels together effectively.
The most important things for me in my shoes are:
Light weight, even sound and that they look pretty!
(Schuh – For Irish people buying shoes from Schuh website, you can avail of a 15% discount using code EDWINA GUCKIAN at checkout, recommended from a friend section. )
Here are a selection of shoes online I would recommend:
- https://www.schuh.ie/womens/red-or-dead-rosie-tan-flat-shoes/1374086220/
- https://www.schuh.ie/womens/red-or-dead-jolly-burgundy-flat-shoes/1374633220/
- https://www.schuh.ie/womens/red-or-dead-rosie-ii-navy-flat-shoes/1373655820/
- https://www.vaughanshoes.ie/p/marco-moreo-rebecca-laced-brogue—baby-pink/h901babyp1
- https://www.laredoute.com/ppdp/prod-350176637.aspx#shoppingtool=unknow
- https://www.laredoute.com/ppdp/prod-350141282.aspx#shoppingtool=unknow
- https://www.laredoute.com/ppdp/prod-350140607.aspx?docid=729019#shoppingtool=unknow
Hope that’s of some help.
Happy shopping!
Edwina
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