MidnightDancer,

I have helped a lot of people with shoes over the years. Take it from me you will do a hole lot better with a suede bottom shoe. You can actully injure your knee dancing in something with to much traction such as rubber bottom shoes. Since you are not planning on competing (at least not yet)

I recommend you go with the lower 1” heel used for standard. I would not go with the the split sole in anything but the 1.5" latin shoe if I were you. I highely doubt it would give you enough support for your standard dancing. Most male social dancers just wear a normal 1" heel none split sole shoe even for Latin. Since it is a hole lot easier to dance latin in smooth shoes then it is to try and dance standard in latin heels. You should be able to get all the flex you need (as a non-competitive dancer) but with more support from a non split sole shoe.

You can get really good quality shoes that will last you longer then other brands for a good price at amysafter5.com.

P.S. Anything Walmart may carry is not meant for ballroom dancing.