Shoes or no shoes when dancing?

Image by Noe León from Pixabay

When I was a ballet dancer, dancing required a lot of items. Like leotards, ballet shoes, contemporary shoes, pointe shoes, demi pointe shoes, stockings and that was just for class. Add painted dance shoes including for character dance, costumes galore and lots of hairspray. 

It not only adds up in cost but it also adds up in storage, yes, you will need a ballet bag to put everything in and hangers with plastic sheeting to hang the costumes you would hand carry in for eisteddfods and performances.

But in class I never danced bare foot. Ever. Even dancing contemporary. 

I also danced jazz and again you need jazz shoes and dance clothes. Normally just a leotard and stockings because I would come straight from ballet class. 

When I practiced at home I would probably wear socks to help spin on the tiled floor. 

Now, as hip hop has emerged in Australia about 20-30 years ago, you can wear sneakers. I have never worn sneakers will dancing. How are they supposed to see your pointed feet? 

And maybe that’s the idea. Who wants a pointed foot in hip hop? Plus the impact of the low moves and power the feet uses maybe sneakers are better supporting? Or maybe be when hip hop started they just used joggers because that’s what they had? It’s very interesting.

Ok so joggers are a thing and if you see the jazz boots that look like sneakers but have an arch in the middle of the shoe that bends it’s a pretty cool dance shoe and it can show a pointed foot! 

So what about bear feet? Yes, I have danced bare foot at home but I found it harder to turn pending the type of flooring. I would get stuck half way turning around because the floor wasn’t slippery enough. Then I would chuck on the socks and the floor would be so slippery I would nearly almost every time, nearly fall. And I love to spin. 

Really, now days, when you can dance any style you want, you also have the liberty to not wear dance shoes. As long as you aren’t going to hurt your feet, if you don’t have proper shoes, I don’t see the big deal. Obviously the right flooring and shoes helps. But if you are just dancing at home then it doesn’t really matter what you wear.

I would be careful dancing with no feet at a concert or something because you don’t know what’s on the ground, there could be broken glass that could cut your skin and then you would have to stop dancing for the night.

I would also try to wear shoes for a performance. Personally, I just think it’s more professional. You do see some contemporary dancers not wearing dance shoes. And that’s ok but still if you have them then wear them. Protect your feet they are enduring enough with your dance let alone no foot support to keep you safe from foot injuries.

#danceshoes #dance #meltoye

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