If you are dancing fairly often, however, you should treat yourself to some good dance shoes. They'll set you back about $60-120, which is almost a bargain, considering how well made these shoes are and how expensive regular shoes are these days.

BALLROOM DANCE SHOES
These are suitable for either Ballroom or Swing dancing. The good ones have suede soles that give you just the right amount of slip-and-grip, are as light as a feather, have built-in extra cushioning, and have a steel shank that runs from the center into the heel for fantastic support (especially in women's shoes) -- and still manage to weigh about 1/3 of an ounce. Okay, slightly more, but only slightly. Prices are pretty uniformly in the $100-120 range for almost all brands, with some discount lines available in the $60-80 range.
            Details: How high the heel? For both women's and men's ballroom shoes, you have a selection of heel heights. The obvious advice is to get whatever you find comfortable. If you need a lower heel than is available in the store, ask them -- sometimes the shoe manufacturers offer custom heel sizes for about the same price.  Ballroom heels are "balanced" better than regular heels and form fit to the feet to allow your toes to point and your feet to feel the floor.  Regular heels are not suitable substitutions.
            Details: Pointy heel or chunky heel? Most women's ballroom shoe designs come with heels that narrow to a stiletto-like point, but a few models come with heels that are more full-sized, akin to what you'll find on regular women's shoes these days. Most women find the full-sized heel to be more stable and therefore more comfortable for general dancing, especially for Salsa and Swing dancing. But most women also find that ballroom shoes are so well made that even the pointy-heel models are stable and comfortable.
            Details: Straps or strapless? In women's shoes, you face this choice as well. We strongly recommend a strap that comes around or across the top of your foot.
            Details: Closed toe or open toe? Women, let's face reality for a moment: you want closed toe. You'd want it steel-reinforced if they offered it, but they don't. Just don't tell your partner why you are insisting on this.
            Other odd details: Both women and men, you will also notice that some ballroom shoes have the heel undercut quite a bit. This is especially common in women's open-toed models. In the men's case, the shoe looks rather flamenco-like. The difference is that the undercut heels are designed for Latin-Ballroom dancing, while the more regular (straight down) heels are much better for Waltz, Foxtrot, and the like, especially once you begin learning moves that include a heel-turn action. You will probably be happier starting with the regular-cut heels.

SWING SHOES
If you see people wearing what look like two-tone wing tips, either black-and-white or brown-and-white, they're wearing special shoes for Swing dancing. Despite looking like two-tone lawyer's shoes, they are actually extremely light weight. Prices are about the same as ballroom dancing shoes ($100-120 generally, with discount lines at $60-80), although they are usually not as beautifully built as their ballroom dancing cousins. Most brands of swing shoes have soles of a special rubber-like compound, vaguely like on bowling shoes, but better for dancing. And all of the heels are low -- both men and women wear flats. They are very popular among the hard-core Swing and Lindy Hop dancers, especially the dancers who like to wear the retro costumes, and are said to be very comfortable for a long night of Swing dancing. But beware! When you wear those conspicuous black-and-whites, people are going to assume you are an expert dancer! (Virtually all of the brands now offer plain-black, for us humbler dancers.)
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DANCE SNEAKERS
For classes and informal dance venues, you might try the Capezio Dansneaker (similar designs available from Bloch and Sansha) -- it is a strange and comfortable sneaker built for dancers, with a rubber-compound split sole that includes a turning spot under the ball of your foot. It dances quite well, and dancers from all traditions tend to love it. It doesn't fit everyone's feet and it's not at all cheap (approx. $60 - 90+), but it looks good and you can wear it on the street as well as the dance floor.

INSOLES (or thick socks)
You can probably double the number of hours you can dance in comfort if you buy and use a pair of insoles -- amazing the difference they make. (It's like the difference between walking to work in dress shoes versus running shoes, multiplied by four hours.) If your dance shoes have room for them, we highly recommend them -- but some women's sandal-like shoes simply won't have any place for them. Alternatively, you might want to try thick socks -- many people find them to be enough.
            The best inner soles are the ones sold for running shoes, about $10-18 per pair from any running-shoe place. Also very good are the ones sold specifically for Swing shoes (usually by the shoe's manufacturer), at about $18. We have not noticed any difference in comfort or quality between the $10 versus $18 insoles. For light duty at a light price, every pharmacy offers some Dr. Scholl's-type foam insoles; they are about 10% as effective as the good insoles and don't last long, but they're better than nothing. We recommend against "gel" versions because their squishy, shifty nature voids much of the precision contact you need with the floor.

Take socks (and insoles). Be sure to take the right socks, stockings, and insoles with you, namely, whatever socks or stockings or insoles you like to wear while dancing. It makes an amazing difference in the fit for carefully-shaped dance shoes.

Go early to the shoe store, because you want to try on lots of different brands, lots of different models, and several different sizes. Give yourself and the store clerk (who is probably also the owner) plenty of time. Don't rush -- you want shoes that are extremely comfortable, or you'll hate dancing forever.

Walk around in them. Do some dance steps. Sometimes you won't notice a pinch or rub or a bad crease -- or the way the shoe falls off at a crucial moment -- until you start moving around. Do various moves that simulate the extremes of what you expect your feet to go through. Don't worry about looking foolish. You're in the Dance Shoes section of the store, after all -- if you don't try some steps, they'll think you're an idiot. If you don't find something extremely comfortable, try the other store (see below).

Try multiple sizes and multiple brands. Dance shoe manufacturers all cut their shoes differently. And their sizes vary a lot from what you'd expect. Try on lots and lots of shoes. (To help you approximate the size you'll need, you can find an excellent sizes chart for most of the major manufacturers at Patterson's/Back Bay Dancewear's web site. We recommend you print it and take it with you when shopping.)

Ask the staff for info and advice. The folks working in these stores -- unlike at regular shoe stores -- actually know about shoes and dancers' needs. They can tell you which brands run narrow, which have softer leather, which are better built, which are better for Swing or Latin or standard Ballroom, and can direct you to alternatives worth trying on in various price ranges. But in the end, trust your feet.

Buy snug or buy loose? Choose dance shoes that fit perfectly or are a little snug -- the leather will yield a bit quite soon. But only a little bit. You want to be comfortable from the first step you take, so don't overdo the snugness. Also, the heel should not slip at all, the toe should not pinch at all, and where the leather creases near your toes, there should be no discomfort at all.

Where to buy

http://www.dancenaturals-usa.com/catalog/

http://www.championdanceshoes.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=4

http://www.capeziodance.com/

Degage Dance Shop 103rd and Metcalf Overland Park, KS

The Dance Shop 119th and Roe Overland Park, KS

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