For guys, for the most part, a simple shoe with non-sticky soles will do, so this article refers solely to women. Sorry guys...but seriously, do not rush out there to get 1 1/2 inch heel shoes for yourselves! That ain't exactly perceived as cool in the salsa scene, especially in a social environment! ;-)

Ok, so...women, if you are thinking about buying dance shoes, we will recommend a couple of things that you might want to take into consideration. Will you be taking salsa dance lessons at clubs or dance studios in a regular basis? If you happen to just be starting with your dance lessons, you might want to wait and make sure that you like dancing first and then incur the expense of buying a pair. Will you be going out to salsa nightclubs in a regular basis, and will you actually attempt to dance as much as possible? Some people who go out do not really dance so much in a night, so it is important that you consider this. Once again, if you are a person who takes going out to dance clubs very casually and when you are there other things take up most of your time (i.e.: having a few drinks, chatting with friends, people watching, etc), then you might also want to wait before you go out and buy dance shoes. 

Now, if you are someone who has taken this new hobby as something more serious that you really want to enjoy more, and you are going to lessons and socials or nightclubs to get your salsa fix, then you may want to purchase some shoes. Dance shoes will make your dancing experience more enjoyable and will actually aid in your learning process and help you improve faster. Obviously, dance shoes alone cannot make you better, they do not come with moves...no matter how much they are worth :), but they are certainly designed to help the dancer dance (some better than others).

TOO TIGHT OR TOO LOOSE?

When you are ready to buy dance shoes, you may want to go to a place where you can actually try them on. Online shopping for dance shoes is not something we recommend. Every foot is different and every dance shoe will fit you differently. You do not want your dance shoes to be too tight, but you also don't want them to be too lose. Now, if you must pick between too tight or too loose, go with too tight and try to break them in. A dance shoe that is loose on your foot will actually impede you from dancing right, will make you feel unstable, and may give you problems of many sorts with your muscles, bones, etc. A dance shoe that fits right will not make your foot move around when you are stepping, turning, or spinning. This is very important.

PRICE VS. QUALITY

There are brands or stores that offer dance shoes at very cheap prices, some that even have the 2 for 1 offer from time to time. Many people dance very well with these dance shoes, but as the saying goes: "you get what you pay for." A shoe that is made cheaply to be able to be sold at cheap prices, will most likely not be made out of quality materials that will last. A cheap shoe that fits just right when bought may be too loose within 1 or 2 months of being used. Now, follow your price range and do not let anything stop you from enjoying your dancing. As mentioned before, many people dance very well with all types of shoes. 

Likewise, you may not want to purchase something too expensive if you are just learning how to dance. Some shoes are actually meant for competitions or shows, but stores will not tell you this if they want you to buy them. Make sure that you are not just sold the most expensive shoe, but the shoe that is right for you. Consider everything...fit, look, feel, color, price, etc. If they help you and seem genuine in getting you the right type of shoe, follow their advice as they may be experienced dancers as well.

OUCH...BLISTERS!

One thing that some women do not take into consideration when they buy new shoes, partly because they have never bought any before and do not know, is that a dance shoe that fits right is made with durable materials to last very long. These materials will cut through your skin or create painful blisters if you pull an all-nighter with them right after buying them. In order to avoid this, please break them in during a period of several nights. You can bring another pair of regular shoes that have straps that go around your foot to wear once you start feeling pain...and trust me, you will feel the pain. :) ... Don't let your feet get damaged by dance shoes, as you will regret having to spend 3-4 days in recovery mode before going out again. This is something nobody likes to do when you are in love with Salsa!! :)