Whether you’re a professional dancer or considering dance as your new passion, finding the right shoes is essential to be comfortable and to make sure that you don’t hurt yourself while practicing the moves. Additionally, knowing which type of dance you will be doing is crucial to find the perfect pair of shoes to match. Not sure if your Converse shoes are suitable for the job? Let’s find out!
While Converse shoes aren’t the first shoes that come to mind, they support the foot that helps with any strenuous dance moves. They have a breathable material, are a snug fit to the foot, and have a flat rubber sole, helping you maintain balance while dancing.
If you’re a dancer, you know that it is crucial to find comfortable shoes that slide efficiently, and Converse shoes are great for this. Our feet take a beating while dancing, with quick movements and sometimes hard landings, and these shoes provide the balance needed for specific dance movements.
However, some individuals will argue that these shoes do not provide the best support for your feet and that they actually can make your feet and arches feel strained when used for long periods. Additionally, Converse has a fuzzy layer on the bottom which wears out over time and is hard to replace.
That said, everyone has their preference in shoes when it comes to comfort and dance, so there isn’t a right or wrong answer. The type of dance you’re planning on doing plays an essential role in knowing which shoes to wear as specific dances require different shoes for comfort and safety.
What Dance Styles Are Converse Shoes Good For?
The Converse shoes are great for those who practice hip-hop dances, shuffle dancing and street dancing. They are also surprisingly excellent for swing dancing. They provide you the stability and comfort needed to execute your dance moves with success.
Not only are Converse known for their great style to your dance moves, but they are also great athletic shoes dating back to 1917 when they made their debut. Initially created to be basketball shoes, they provide all the comfort needed as you glide across the floor.
The flexibility of these shoes makes them excellent for a variety of activities. Their high shaft offers your ankles the support needed while maintaining their flexibility, while the front provides a toe cap that keeps your forefoot protected.
Many individuals wear these shoes to work out in the gym and often find them to provide stability required for specific exercises, such as powerlifting. Keep in mind that they should not be worn for every workout, as some need cross-training sneakers to avoid getting hurt while working out.
Let’s face it; these shoes look great in whatever outfit you choose to wear them with, and we tend to use them more than we really should. Although we sometimes use them in our daily lives, whether it’s taking a walk while wearing them or hanging out with our friends, we should be cautious in not overusing them as they can cause some damage to our feet.
The answer to this is that they don’t offer any cushioning on the inside and can cause painful blisters pretty quickly. If you work on your feet for hours every day, then you shouldn’t consider wearing these shoes as they can cause arch pain, heel pain, and in some cases, tendinitis. If you feel too uncomfortable while wearing Converse, you should consider adding some insoles to alleviate the pain.
Additionally, if you suffer from having flat feet, wearing these shoes can cause you pain as they have a flat shoe bed.
Are There Better Alternatives To Converse Shoes For Dancing?
Before purchasing the first pair of sneakers you find, there are some key things to remember when buying to ensure that you’re getting the right ones for your specific dance style.
You want to ensure that whichever pair you get is lightweight, so your feet can move freely without the shoes weighing them down. Additionally, getting a pair of shoes that are breathable to keep your feet cool is essential.
We spoke about flexibility as well. Since your feet will be moving in all sorts of directions, you want to make sure that your shoe will allow you to have that movement. Along with moving comfortably, the pair you get must have good arch support since your feet will be dealing with a lot of pressure as you perform your moves.
Although Converse seems like a great sneaker to make certain dance moves, there are other alternatives you can find to support your feet.
Some great alternatives to Converse shoes are:
- Bloch Boost Sneakers
- Sancha Motion Dance Sneakers
- RYKA Tenacity Dance Sneakers
- Capezio Fierce Dansneakers
- PUMA Soleil V2 Sneakers
All of these shoes offer just what you need to land all of your dance moves successfully. They have breathable fabric and provide excellent stability for your feet. Each is durable for even the craziest dance moves and provides the arch support needed for your dance of choice. Additionally, they give the ankle support needed, so you don’t hurt yourself while performing.
The wonderful thing about these dance shoes is that they are affordable, so you don’t have to worry about spending too much on shoes! However, as always, not every pair of shoes will be perfect for every dancer, so make sure that you do your research and try them on before making your purchase. And what’s great about these is that they come in a variety of colors, so you don’t have to worry about not matching with your dance outfits.
So there you have it; I hope to have shed some light on choosing the right pair of shoes for your style and dance moves. If you’re unsure which pair of shoes to buy, focus on what your feet need and not so much on looks. No matter what shoes you prefer or which dance style you do, there’s a pair of shoes out there waiting for you!