Beginner's Guide
Are you new to dance heels and lost when it comes to choosing your first pair ? Don't know what type of heel and height to choose ? Is one style of shoe more suitable than another? What's the right sole for my practice? If you're asking yourself these questions, read on!
Consult your teachers
Usually, beginners take heels dance classes and their teachers may have specific recommendations or preferences. For example, some will accept you dancing in heels chunky while others will only allow stiletto heels. Some teachers will allow closed-toe shoes, while others will advise against them. So start by asking your teacher about his or her preferences and recommendations.
If you don't have to follow a teacher's preferences and are free to choose the shoes you want, check out our tips below!
Shoe style
For your first pair of shoes, we recommend you opt for..:
- A style that wraps well around the feet and ankles to ensure good support.
- A model with laces so you can adjust the shoes perfectly to your feet and ankles. It's important to have a well-fitting model to avoid injury.
- Open-toe shoes. The open toe makes you more aware of your footing on the ground, which helps you understand how to gain stability.
See our selection of recommended styles for beginners below. If you'd like to opt for another model and have doubts about its suitability, you can always send us an email! You can get in touch with us via our Chatbot (pink bubble at bottom right) or contact us by clicking here.
Heel selection
Stiletto heels
The most common heel shape for dance heels is the stilettos. For this shape, we recommend you start with our 8.5cm or 10cm stiletto heels.
- A heel height of 8.5cm is the minimum recommended for dancing in heels. Depending on how comfortable you are in heels in everyday life, or how supple your ankles and feet are, you could challenge yourself by starting with 10cm stiletto heels.
- Note also that your shoe size is an important factor in determining the most suitable heel height for you: if you wear a small size, it will be more difficult to dance with a 10cm heel. On the other hand, from a size 40 upwards, an 8.5cm heel might be a little low for you, so it might be more interesting to opt for the 10cm option.
- Stiletto heels As a general rule, we don't recommend 11cm heels for beginners: they offer a beautiful silhouette, but their height is more suited to experienced heel dancers. If you're a beginner in heels, but you're experienced in ballet and have worked on the flexibility of your ankles and feet, then you may want to opt for an 11cm heel.
Chunky heels
Our chunky heels (10 cm) can also be an interesting choice for a first pair.
- Because they are chunky, they offer greater stability, making it easier to learn to dance in heels.
- However, you don't dance the same way with chunky and stiletto heels, the technique is different (with chunky heels you don't have to work on your stability as the heels provide it). This remains an important detail to bear in mind, which is why some teachers refuse to let their students wear chunky heels, so that they can learn to dance with stiletto heels and work on their stability.
Flared heels
Our flared heels (7.5cm and 9cm) are more suitable for ballroom dancing and cabaret.
- You can also use them for dancing in heels, but it's customary to wear stiletto heels for dancing in heels.
- You won't work on your stability in the same way with a flared heel as with a stiletto heel, so we recommend you choose a stiletto heel to learn how to manage your balance.
If you really have no experience with heels and dancing in heels and want to take it step by step, chunky or flared heels may be a good temporary option, but if you really want to learn dancing heels, its technique and everything that goes with it (including stability) stiletto heels remain our personal recommendation.
If you'd like more information on our different heels, you can find them in our heel guide.
Sole choice
The sole is the simplest element to recommend.
Sole Suede
If you only plan to dance indoors on smooth floors (parquet floor, lino, tiles), we recommend our Suede sole.
- The suede sole offers more grip on smooth surfaces than the All floors sole. It glides over the ground, making it easier to turn , but still has enough grip for you to control your turns.
- The suede sole should not be used outdoors, however, as the outdoor environment (concrete, gravel, raindrops on the ground) can damage it.
- If you plan to use your shoes outdoors, we recommend the All floors sole.
All floors sole
The All floors sole is more akin to a "classic" sole, but remains more flexible than the sole of a fashion shoe store (i.e. a shoe not designed for dance), making it more suitable for dancing in heels.
For more information, please consult our soles guide.
You now have all the information you need to choose a pair that will accompany you on your first steps as a beginner!
