I am going to be buying my first pair of Latin and smooth dance shoes. There are various kinds out there and I was wondering which are the better quality that will last longer for the best price? I see Bloch, GoGo dance, etc. I just don't want to go and buy $59.00+ shoes and be disappointed. Can anyone help. Thanks!! :)

Supadance carry a high quality shoe.. but... NOT for that price.

A good qual. will cost around $ 100 - 120 .

However, if you are buying your first pair ( for practice etc ) a lesser priced shoe would suffice , depending on the number of times a week you use them (1 or 2.. no problem )

Check some of the various ballroom wear and shoe websites for clearance deals on "bigger names"- by that, I mean Supadance, Elegance, Werner-Kern, International, Freed, I think Ray Rose, and so forth. Sometimes you can find a $150-shoe for around $65-$99 or so.

If you're going to buy "cheap shoes", just get a crappy pair off ebay for about $30 (365buys or some of them have the low-low-end shoes that are okay for maybe a couple hours a week for a few years), but if you're going to actually *dance* in them, suck it up and buy the real ones... AFTER you sit down with several and try them on.

If it's your first pair, you want to make sure that you get a good idea of how they fit instead of guess-volleyshoe back and forth in the mail. Guys are typically worse about getting them too big, but women do it too- the street-shoe size we're all accustomed to is WAY different.

I think it's dancehappy.com that has a clearance section for shoes for a hundred bucks or so? Give them a try. Otherwise, watch Ebay and the stores (My Little Mall has a few Elegance left) Like a hawk, and you might come out with a deal.

Comfort and fit are most important. I would not order shoes off the internet unless you know exactly what you want. The best thing to do is to go to a dance shoes store and try several pairs on. I have many different brands - my most comfortable latin are Dance Natural but they were expensive. For smooth I bought an inexpensive pair (can't remember the brand) but they are holding up well and are extremely comfortable. I have seen women suffer terribly in their shoes because they ordered them on line and then tried to convince themselves that they could stretch them or get use to them. Big mistake.

There is a very inexpensive device that can be bought that will stretch shoes male or female at home .It is made of wood with a rod that screws in and will spread the shoe. It looks like a shoe tree.It also has various holes where a small round thing slots in just incase there might be a corn or whatever. I've got one but have never at this time had to use it.
Incidently. A pinch of Bicarbonate of Soda in each shoe helps to keep them from smelling.

I have back problems, and the only shoe I have ever found that would not just give me problems is Leo's Character shoe. They are so cheap! ($32.00 At several web site) The shoes are so soft & feel good, but they wear out fast! We average 8-10 hours a week, and they wear out in 9 months. I only wear them in the studio, not outside. Capezios are a little stiff for myself. I wish I could find a better quality shoe that is soft like the Leo's. I have spent several hundred only to give them away to others! I hate it!*Everyone else is going to say they are cheap & really ugly. I order 2 pairs at a time. One for performances, and one for practice. If you find something let me know! Thanks,Mary Ann