I'm a beginner and I just bought some new dance shoes. Is it ok if the suede on the bottom is already wearing out or is there something i'm doing wrong?

If they're new it's most likely not that the suede is wearing out, but rather that the suede is picking up dirt and wax from the floor. Get one of those metal suede brushes and use that to clean the bottom of the shoes.

If you already have been cleaning the shoes with a metal brush and you see that the suede is coming off, then it could be that you are cleaning them far too often and way too vigorously. It is possible to wreck your shoes by digging at them too hard with the metal brush.

As a male I have always and for years stuck gasket cork from the local auto shop , the thin stuff, and stuck it on with ordinary rubberised glue, they can be worn immediately . Some of my shoes the original sole has never seen the floor. If the floor is a little on the slippery side I wet the sole. That is perfect for about two dances. If the floor is really bad a bit of shaved soap with the water will do the trick. If the floor is impossible stand in a bit of any oil but dont tread it all over the place.When the cork finaly wears and needs to be done again I have a wire brush on my grindstone, with a bit of care it comes off easy. It does last a long time, several years. This is only for the sole of the shoe. I hope this helps. First follow the advice from the above person. It would be most unusual to wear the chrome leather out that quickly.

Hi!

I've only been dancing ballroom for 6 months and I know the feeling of finding one's snazzy new suede shoes are looking worn. But don't be alarmed; it just means you've been breaking them in, which has to be done anyway. I suppose, then, that the more worn they look, the more you've been practicing!

Esther,

A lot depends on the brand as well. I use to have the same problem. Even with proper brushing I would wear my shoes out in just a few weeks no matter what brand I tried. Then I tried amysafter5.com shoes and they worked great for me. They last a long time but are still flexible and comfortable. They are a fairly new brand but I find them to be more comfortable and made of better materials then even the top brands. And they are 1/2 the price of the top brands! (About $70) I defiantly recommend giving them a try.