I recently purchased a pair of Freed ladies latin ballroom shoes, used but in like-new condition. My instructor said they needed to be broken in, and proceeded to vigorously manipulate the toe area to the point that something literally snapped (on both shoes!) It looks as if he cracked the shoes near the area of the ball of the foot, but not all the way through - the crack is not visible from the bottom of the shoe. Is this normal?? I'm upset that he seems to have literally broken the shoes, although I was able to dance in them afterward...

Sounds like he may have separated the front of the shoe from the shank area. That will allow you to point your toes better.

Some brands of Latin shoes are made with shorter shanks so that they are more flexible through the ball of the foot. I think International makes some short-shank shoes.

Thanks, Laura. I was about to ask him to pay for the shoes! By the way, I always learn a lot from your postings.

i have never heard of doing that to shoes, it make sence, i know they do somethign like that to ballet en pointe shoes, but i have never heard of them being done to ballroom shoes. breaking in uhally consists of wearing them thill they are well, broken in, not snapping the shank. as long as they still work i supose. it my be somethign professionals do. i dont know your level, but i know that doing that to a beginners shoes (im not saying your a beginner) whouldnt be good for them, as they havent built up the correct muscles in their feet. thats my 2 cents

Michele,

some latin dancers indeed break their shoes to do better. But if you can dance better with the "broken" shoes depends on you. I think, your teacher should not have done this without your permission...but if you can still dance well, don't worry.

Marian