Heel height is all about dance experience and protecting one’s back, knees and feet. I would recommend that beginner adults invest in Ballroom and Latin shoes as early in their dance journey as possible. Learning to dance in heels is a must for female dancers but it is important to get the heel height right.
If funds allow, buying practice shoes is also a wise investment. I would always recommend that dancers train in practice shoes and then perfect routines for exams or competitions in heels.
Undoubtably, heels place stress on the back and lower limb joints which profoundly affects posture and balance. For beginner and intermediate dancers, reducing the stress on the back and joints is a huge consideration and so limiting training time in heels is as important as choosing the correct heel height. Heels force the feet into a plantarflexed (downward extended) position which increases the pressure on the forefoot. This pressure can create considerable pain in the toes and balls of the feet.
Beginner dance shoes should be a maximum of 2” high with, preferably, a Cuban heel or a low flared heel (similar to the styles on the bottom row of the image). There is no need to wear high heels for exams (unless your dance teacher explicitly requests that you do). It is easier to show off your excellent footwork in a practice shoe or low heel.
Intermediate dance shoes should be no higher than 2.5/3” and training in them should be limited. Intermediate dancers should stick to a flared heel. The elite heels (see the zebra shoe in the image) are very much a pro shoe. It takes enormous skill and experience to dance in shoes like these. Less experienced dancers will not be able to dance to the best of their ability in this type of shoe and they run the risk of long-term injury if they try.
At Obsession Dancewear, we have a range of Ballroom and Latin dance shoes with different heel heights. Visit our shop for details.
