Established 1998.
Copyright © 2012 Steve Shaw.  All Rights Reserved.

SHOES FOR DANCING

WHERE TO BUY AND REPAIR SHOES FOR DANCING

Here are a few stores to start your search for salsa dancing shoes, which are basically ballroom and/or jazz shoes.  Call first to check for addresses and stock (these stores tend to move from time to time, or to discontinue certain shoe lines).  Remember that many salsa dancers dance in regular street shoes, especially the men.  This is a topic of disagreement, with some dancers saying one must absolutely wear professional dance shoes and with other dancers saying that, as long as your shoes are comfortable & supportive and have the proper sole, you can dance very well in street shoes.  It's really just a matter of personal preference.

Regarding the sole:  Depending on the dance surface, you will need different soles on your shoes, ranging from slippery to sticky.  Hard smooth leather is the most slippery, suede is somewhat "medium", and rubber with a design in it is the most sticky.  Most serious dancers have several pairs of shoes with different soles so they can be prepared for any surface, and many also bring along baby powder for very sticky floors and stick on pads or a wire brush for very slippery floors.  Shoe repair shops can easily change the sole of any shoe.  An old trick for a too slippery dance floor is to pour a little bit of Coca Cola or other soda on the edge of the floor and then soak the soles of your shoes in the Coke.  It makes the shoes a bit stickier for a little while. 

Where To Repair Shoes -   Here again there is a difference of opinion as to whether you should have dancing shoes repaired at a specialist or at just any neighborhood shoe repair.  If you want a dance shoe specialist, there are probably a number of shoe repair places specializing in dance shoes, but this is the only one I know of.  He's been there for years, is trusted by dancers, and has somewhat above-average Manhattan prices.  Please note:  This list was put together in the early 2000's, so be sure to call places to make sure they're still there.

On Stage Dance Shop - 197 Madison Avenue (between 34th and 35th Streets), NYC.  212-725-1174 and 866-725-1174.   www.CapezioNY.com .  They have a full time, expert shoe repair who specializes in dancing shoes (he even customizes the Radio City Rocketts shoes).  This store also sells many different brands of dance shoes (eg. Capezio, Freed, Vert Fine, Bloch, Sancha, etc.) in addition to the shoe repair shop.  15% discount if you mention www.SalsaNewYork.com or take in our Discount Coupon.  This is a family owned business which has been running for more than 25 years.

If you don't want a dance shoe specialist, then just choose a good quality local shoe repair place.  I have often gone to the following shops with good results (no guarantees, though, about price and service).

Men's Fashionable Shoe Repair - 196 Seventh Avenue (between 21st & 22nd Streets), NYC.   212-675-0718.  Downtown Manhattan.

Alex Shoe Repair  -  616 W. 207th St. (between Broadway & Cooper St.), Inwood.  212-567-2705.  Uptown Manhattan.

Special Stick-On Sole For Sticky / Slow Dance Surfaces -  Soles2Dance is a high-tech, dual-material stick-on sole that is exactly designed to resolve the problems of sticky or other high-friction dance floors;  it even works well on concrete and asphalt.  These soles are unique because they reduce resistance (friction) to pivoting by a lot, but resistance to linear sliding only a little.  The selective reduction of resistance is desirable because it allows dancers to pivot with ease, without significantly increasing their risk of slipping and falling. This special sole is designed & distributed by a dancer who is also a fitness instructor & engineer.  You can see pictures, pricing & ordering information at www.Soles2Dance.com .

 

Where To Buy Dance Shoes - Stores 

Bloch Dance Shoes - Bloch is in international maker of dancing shoes.  Their local company store is Bloch New York Store, 304 Colombus Avenue, New York, NY  10023.  Phone 212-579-1960.   CLICK HERE and enter your zip code to see all the local NYC area dealers where you can see and buy these shoes.

Capezio Dance-Theater Shop - 1650 Broadway (at 51st Street), 2nd floor, NYC.  212-245-2130.  See the Capezio Web Site. 

Capezio - 1776 Broadway (at 57th Street), upstairs, NYC.  212-586-5140.  See the Capezio Web Site. 

Capezio East - 136 East 61st Street (at Lexington Avenue), NYC.  212-758-8833.  See the Capezio Web Site. 

Capezio East Uptown - 1651 Third Avenue (near 93rd Street), 3rd floor, NYC.  212-348-7210.  See the Capezio Web Site. 

Capezio Factory Outlet Store -   1651 Route 23 South, Brentwood Plaza, Wayne, NJ.  07470.  973-633-7001.  Fax 973-633-7027.  Call first to ask if they have the shoe model and size you need.  More info by clicking on Factory Outlet .  Also see the Capezio Web Site .

Capezio of Long Island -    318 Sunrise Highway, Rockville Center, NY.  516-764-1199.  Web site   www.capeziorvc.com   .

Freed of London - 21-01 43rd Avenue, Long Island City, Queens, NY.  11101.  718-729-6104 or toll free 800-835-1701.  Subway:  E or V train to 23rd Street/Ely Avenue Station.  Web site:  www.FreedOfLondon.com which has travel instructions (click on About Us).  Email:  USsales@freedoflondon.com . 

LaDuca Shoes -  534 9th Avenue (between 39th & 40th Streets), midtown Manhattan, NYC, 10018.  Phones - 212 268-6751.
 212 268-6561 (fax).  Web site:  www.LaDucaShoes.com .  Email:  laducadanz@aol.com .

New Image Comfort Shoes & Dance Supplies - 43 Westchester Square (@ East Tremont & Frisby Avenue), Bronx, NY. 
718-319-0829 .

On Stage Dance Shop - 197 Madison Avenue (between 34th and 35th Streets), NYC.  212-725-1174.  www.CapezioNY.com .  Sells many different brands of dance shoes (eg. Capezio, Freed, Vert Fine, Bloch, Sancha, etc.) & also has a shoe repair shop.  10% discount if you mention www.SalsaNewYork.com .

Piel Canela Dance Studio Shoe Store - Operated by mambo instructor and performer Joe Burgos of Piel Canela Dancers and Piel Canela Dance Studio in New York City, also available mail-order.  Click on Shoe Store for shoe samples, store location and ordering information.  See their web site at www.PielCanelaDancers.com .

World Tone Shoes - 580 8th Avenue (between 38th & 39th Streets), 2nd floor, NYC 10018.  212-691-1934.  Toll free 866-983-2623.  Web site www.WorldToneDance.com .  Email info@wtdance.com .  Popular among dancers for their wide selection of different styles and brands, and somewhat lower prices.  Has shoes for salsa and also ballroom and theatrical dancing.

Custom Made Dance Shoes -

Special Stick-On Sole For Sticky / Slow Dance Surfaces -  Soles2Dance is a high-tech, dual-material stick-on sole that is exactly designed to resolve the problems of sticky or other high-friction dance floors;  it even works well on concrete and asphalt.  These soles are unique because they reduce resistance (friction) to pivoting by a lot, but resistance to linear sliding only a little.  The selective reduction of resistance is desirable because it allows dancers to pivot with ease, without significantly increasing their risk of slipping and falling. This special sole is designed & distributed by a dancer who is also a fitness instructor & engineer.  You can see pictures, pricing & ordering information at www.Soles2Dance.com .

Where To Buy Dance Shoes  On The Internet -

Burju Shoes  -  Well established company for shoes for women & men mambo dancers and other types of dance, founded by choreographer and performer Burju Perez.  Web site www.BurjuShoes.com .  Phone 978-965-4498.  Has sales representatives locally, nationally and internationally.

www.DancersWarehouse.com  -  Large selection of inexpensive ladies dance shoes and clothing.

www.DanceShoesOnline.com -  Large selection of men's and women's dance shoes.

www.DanceShoesStore.com  - Latin dance and ballroom dance shoes.

Magic Dance Shoes - New York distributor is fellow salsa dancer Kazu - Click Here for information.

www.LatinDanceStore.com  - Men's and ladies' shoes for performing & social dancing, plus ladies' clothing, costumes, accessories.

www.OnStageDanceWear.com  -  Local NYC store and online seller of many brands of men's and lady's dance shoes and dancewear.

Showtime Dance Shoes - Web site:  www.ShowTimeDanceShoes.com  .  Has several brands of ladies', men's and children's dance shoes with pictures,  plus other related information.  Products can be ordered over the internet or by phone.

Special Stick-On Sole For Sticky / Slow Dance Surfaces -  Soles2Dance is a high-tech, dual-material stick-on sole that is exactly designed to resolve the problems of sticky or other high-friction dance floors;  it even works well on concrete and asphalt.  These soles are unique because they reduce resistance (friction) to pivoting by a lot, but resistance to linear sliding only a little.  The selective reduction of resistance is desirable because it allows dancers to pivot with ease, without significantly increasing their risk of slipping and falling. This special sole is designed & distributed by a dancer who is also a fitness instructor & engineer.  You can see pictures, pricing & ordering information at www.Soles2Dance.com .
 

STREET SHOES OR DANCING SHOES  -  Which Shoes For Different Dance Surfaces?

You go to the Copa, it's so slippery you almost fall.  You go to other places, the floor is very sticky, uneven or rough, or an outdoor event has dancing on pavement, grass or Astro-Turf.  What shoes are best to wear?  The answer is "different shoes".  Experienced dancers have shoes with different bottoms for these different dancing surfaces.  If the floor is sticky, you need smooth leather or maybe suede bottoms.  If the floor is slippery, you'll probably need some kind of rubber bottoms on your shoes.  If it's pavement, like at an outdoor event in the summer, you don't want to use suede bottom dance shoes (eg. Capezio) because the pavement will ruin the suede bottoms.  For that matter, so will walking in the street, especially in wet weather.  That's why you'll see some dancers wearing their street shoes to get to a club, and then changing to dancing shoes once they get there.  The one shoe that seems to be good for all surfaces, and can be worn in the street, is the Capezio dance sneaker, which comes in different colors.  Great for classes, practicing, outdoor events, and studio parties, it is unfortunately not really dressy enough for more dressed-up events and clubs.

Some people like to wear genuine dancing shoes out.   Others use certain street shoes which they've found are good for dancing.  You have to experiment and find what suits you and your dancing style best.  Most dancing and dress shoes come with leather soles which may be too slippery for certain dance surfaces.  You can get a very thin rubber layer put onto the soles of your shoes which prevents them from slipping on a slick dance floor (such as the Copacabana or some studios).   The rubber has a grid pattern for adhesion, and is either glued or sewn onto your present leather soles by a shoe repair shop.  Because it is thin, your shoe's sole stays almost the same thickness, so that it is almost as flexible, and it doesn't get a "bulky" look to it.  One brand is called "Sole Guard", but there are others as well.

These can be put onto dancing shoes that are slipping.  They can also be put onto street shoes, for those of you who don't like to wear dancing shoes out to a club.  Although nothing beats dancing shoes for comfort, flexibility,  lightness and quickness, street shoes are often almost as good, and are tougher for wearing on the street, especially in bad weather, to and from the club or salsa event, and often blend better with the rest of your  outfit.  Remember one thing though:   since these rubber bottoms are designed to prevent you from slipping, they also prevent you from spinning as well.  For the ladies, if you want to do double and triple turns on a dance floor that's a little rough or sticky, these rubber bottoms would not be good.  An alternative is to tell the guy not to spin you multiple times and for you to do walkaround turns.  For the guys, if all you do are single or 1 1/2 turns, you'll be OK with these;  but if you do multiple spins or axle turns, these rubber bottoms will make it very difficult.  As I mention above, professional and serious dancers often have several shoes each with different soles, and choose which shoe to wear based on the floor surface where they'll be dancing. 

These thin rubber layers can be gotten at most shoe repair shops, at prices ranging from $14 to around $20.  The important consideration is that they be as thin as possible.  I get mine at Men's Fashionable Shoe Repair, 196 Seventh Avenue (between 21st & 22nd Streets), NYC.   212-675-0718, at a cost of $14.  They can also be gotten at Pete's Theatrical Shoe Repair at Capezio (see above);  these come thicker, but replace the original half-sole, and cost more.

And here are three emergency measures for slippery dancing conditions.  1)  Many shoe repair shops sell a little stick-on pad that you apply to the bottoms of your shoes.  One brand is called "Shur-Grip".  The pads have a gritty surface, so they prevent slipping.  They only last a little while, probably a few nights of dancing.  You could buy a few of these and keep them with you for certain occasions.   I've only seen them in women's sizes, although these small pads could be used on men's shoes and would still be helpful.  2)  A small stiff wire shoe brush can be bought in most shoe stores, such as World Tone .  If you find yourself slipping, you can scrape the soles of your shoes with the wire brush, and they'll stick a little better.   3)  The sticky soda solution:  Get some soda like Coke, 7 Up, ginger ale, etc., and pour some on a napkin or the floor.  Then dab your shoe soles in the soda;  if they are leather or suede, let the leather really soak up the soda.  Because the soda has sugar and/or syrup, it makes the shoes more sticky temporarily, at least for a few dances.  Keep the soda around so you can keep applying more as the shoes get slippery again.

Special Stick-On Sole For Different Dance Surfaces -    Soles2Dance is a high-tech, dual-material stick-on sole that is exactly designed to resolve the problems of bad dance floors; it even works well on concrete and asphalt.  The stick-on sole patch has 1 section that is sticky which helps you to dance on slippery floors, and another section that is slippery which helps you for sticky floors.  These 2 sections are built into one overall patch which you stick onto your shoes, enabling you to dance on any surface.  This special sole is designed & distributed by a dancer who is also a fitness instructor & engineer.  You can see pictures, pricing & ordering information at www.Soles2Dance.com .