Hello!

Okay, so I bought my FIRST (I'm a beginner) pair of ballroom dance shoes (closed-toe, Capezio).

I got them fitted and the fitting lady said they were fine and the shoes are supposed to be tight.

So I'm wearing them right now to get used to them.

I noticed that when I step forward on the balls of my feet the leather around my heel is tight...

And the balls of my feet KILL.

So, how tight should the shoes be? Maybe all they need is to be broken in. And what kind of insole should I use for my pain?

Thank ya!

They need to be snug, snugger than street shoes, but not so tight that they are killing you. Put them on and stand up and walk around. Do you feel like the little bones in your feet are being smushed together, and can't flex and spread and "work" against the floor? If so, your shoes are either too small, or too narrow.

The shoes need to be snug enough at the heel so they do not slide as you dance around -- especially if you rise up onto the balls of your feet like when you dance Waltz. Your heel must stay securely in the heel cup of the shoe, and not slide up and down as you move. However, if it is cutting into your skin and/or causing you pain, then they are probably too small or too narrow.

This is contrary to advice usually given, but I found, after much trial and error, that I had to go UP a size for a closed dance shoe. I don't normally wear pointed shoes and all women's dance shoes are so pointed that they bend my big toe to the side and cause a lot of pain in the joint in the ball of my foot behind the toe. I found that going up a size let my toes stay straighter. I deal with any heel slippage problems by putting a heel grip in my shoes.

Ellen, I've experienced this too. When I buy open-toed dance shoes, I wear an English size 5, but when I buy closed-toe dance shoes, I wear a 5 1/2. (My US size is totally different, but then US and UK street shoe sizes are different from each other anyway.)

Your shoes should not KILL at the balls of your feet. Shoes that are too tight causing pain in the ball of your foot can lead to foot problems down the road. I had foot surgery because of this and would not recommend that to anyone. It is painful and could have been prevented so please take care of your feet!

Your heel should be snug so you don't get slippage. If it is right in the heel, then try having your shoes stretched in the front where they are too tight. Most shoe repair shops can do this and it won't cost much.

Most likely it is the Capezio brand of shoe that is contributing greatly to your pain. I've had a couple of Capezio closed toe shoes and consider them my "throw away after a couple of competition" shoes. They don't relax like a nice, well made shoe does and the way they attach the heel is different--it feel so unstable compared to other brands.
Capezio's biggest problem is that they do most of their business with ballet shoes. It is only just recently that they've branched out into ballroom, and basically they can't match the fit and comfort of European shoes.
If I were you I'd throw your shoes away, or take them back and demand a refund (the girl who sold them probably doesn't even do ballroom) and spend your money on something better quality.

I know a lot about ballroom dance shoes and have found that Capezios have a tighter fit. They also run more narrow than other brands. The Capezio shoe is a quality product in itself, but the leather is not soft and does not give. Some people like that if the shoe fits just right. There are other brands that I have found to be amazingly comfortable for ballroom.

Kristine,
What are the brands that you found to be comfortable?
Thanks.

I have two pairs of Coast shoes that I love. One is a Gayle in black and white. It was comfortable from the minute I put it on. My feet never hurt and I can be on them for hours. I like it so well I am getting another one in a different color. The other Coast pair I bought because I liked how it looked, and it is comfortable, too. It's called Jag. I like it because it ties across the upper part of my foot I can get it snug. People always comment on my shoes when I wear it, so it's the best of both worlds. I don't remember exactly what I paid for it, but I think the Gayle was around $120. Well worth the price to me.

I've had good luck with Celebrity and Elegance. Unfortunately, it's a trial and error process to find the brand that works best on your foot. If there is a dance competition in your area, you might go there and try on shoes from the vendors at the comp (plus you'll see some great dancing if you go to the evening sessions). There are also some good websites that sell dance shoes. I like toe2toe and dancehappy. But call and talk to them rather than order over the internet. That way, they can advise you on what shoes might work best, how the fit of their shoes runs, and stuff like that. Most web sites will take shoes back if they don't fit, as long as you only try them out on carpet.