What Shoes To Wear For Dance Exercise

It seems less and less of us are going to the gym. Not only is it quite boring, and you don’t really know how to push yourself without giving yourself a ridiculous injury, but there are now so many far more exciting and fun ways to keep fit! Exercise classes in studios, dance classes of all kinds: aerobics, Latin American dance, jazzercise, etc. are much more enjoyable ways of keeping healthy and having fun.

These types of classes are so popular at the moment, over a wide span of age ranges, whether or not people have any dance experience. The question often posed is, what do I wear? Generally, as long as your clothing is comfortable and light, you will be fine. Your footwear, however, is much more important. You shouldn’t really wear your running trainers or pumps that you’re used to for the gym. They’re great if you’re running or doing sports where you need good traction, but in dance halls and studios, too much grip can cause serious knee injuries from twisting and turning, and you don’t want to be getting what feels like stuck to the floor, interrupting your flow of the dance.

Dance sneakers are great. They not only look much cooler than most sports trainers, but they are ideal for dance exercise. They’re all specially designed for different requirements, but offer the support and features you need to get the most out of your class. They should have cushioning to prevent impact on your feet and knees when jumping, and many have elevated heels and mid-sole cushioning which offers further shock absorption and support.

Many have a split sole, which means they are much more flexible and allow your foot to move more freely. The lightweight rubber soles also help with this. Most also have non-marking soles, which is often important in studios. You may notice lots have spin spots, which is simply a smooth circle on the sole of the shoe, designed for your spins to be easy.

The leading dance and sports brands – such as Addidas or Bloch - make their shoes using high performance materials, including mesh and leather, ensuring your feet can breathe, and the soft fabrics will stop them from rubbing on your feet while you’re dancing.