It might be tough for dancers to locate an appropriate area with suitable flooring to dance on in lockdown – especially because many dancers don’t have specialized dance floors at home.
The way dance shoes react differs significantly from floor to floor. This might influence weight distribution and ease of movement.
We’ve put up a guide to help you understand the limitations – or even benefits – of various shoe forms on typical house flooring, as well as handy pointers. Dance shoes should never be worn outside.
Dance shoes at home guide
The most important issue to consider when beginning home practice is that dancers will not be using the special sprung flooring they would in normal dance lessons. Why is this significant? Because of its natural spring, sprung flooring – rather than your bones and joints – absorbs the impact from leaps and high-impact steps. Walking on hard flooring, for example, can result in stress fractures. The majority of problems are caused by solid flooring with a solid base (such as concrete). If you have any doubts, ask your teacher.
Also, be wary of slick or highly polished floors. Any professional dancer will undoubtedly have a terrible experience to share with you about dancing on a slippery floor at some point! Regardless of the skill of the dancer, dancing on these surfaces is hazardous in any kind of shoe.
Tap shoes and pointe shoes are the most delicate. The foot becomes unstable in pointe shoes because of the carpet. Slippery floors and hard floorings can be dangerous, and putting extra strain on bones is inevitable. If you’re not sure, ask your dance instructor.
Injuries might put yet another strain on a health system that is already struggling. Please be careful when exercising.
Recommended Reading: Best Shoes For Dance Cardio
Ballet shoes Ballet shoes are quite easy to use in any environment.
The majority of dance floors can be accommodated by ballet shoes, such as canvas ballet shoes. They glide over carpets and, when used on hardwood/laminate flooring, they may imitate the sensation of a dance studio – just be cautious that it isn’t slippery. When performing steps such as Ronds de Jambe (on a carpet), ballet shoes glide effortlessly and don’t pick up much dirt, unlike satin ballet shoes.
The most significant disadvantage of dancing on a carpet is that it’s difficult to apply proper floor pressure (for example, in a Battement Tendu), and the unexpected resistance of the foot might affect balance in, say, a Grand Battement. However, a large piece of thick, unvarnished plywood may be found to provide a more solid footing for barre work.
Don’t forget that ballet shoes don’t have to be drab! Wearing lovely footwear may really brighten up a dreary lockdown routine. Take a look at the patterned Basilica Helen of Troy or Grishko shoes.
Tap shoes
Finding a suitable floor to dance on may be difficult with pointe shoes. This problem can often be addressed; however, one of the most difficult shoes to find a good floor to dance on is Pointed Shoes.
Highest-rated flooring: wooden flooring
In tap shoes, wooden flooring may make some lovely sounds. However, be cautious that your valued hardwood flooring does not get scratched or has pieces of wood pulled out of it! If this is a problem for you, Instead of using a large piece of veneered plywood, consider using a solid surface. Additionally, you may conceal it after you’ve completed your tap training.
Lowest-rated flooring: carpeted flooring
The first thing to consider when choosing where to practice your tap dancing is whether it is slippery. Even wooden flooring, when coated with a specific varnish, can create the sensation of ice-skating lessons rather than tapping!
When using any type of flooring, make sure the tap shoes will not cause harm. Tap plates with pre-attached tap plates are ideal for preventing one of the most common causes of floor damage: poorly-installed plates with uneven screws that protrude past the plate.
Remember, never dance in tap shoes outside. The metal plates within the tap shoe are delicate and can be severely damaged by dancing outdoors in them. They’re not good for your floors, either, as they can cause them to become dull (which will also harm any indoor flooring you later dance on), and they can even catch stones in them. It also modifies the tone of the shoe, making it quieter. Here are our selection of tap shoes.
Jazz shoes
Jazz shoes are made in the same way as ballet shoes, which explains why they respond similarly to floors.
Jazz shoes are great on most floors and don’t leave marks. Just keep an eye on the floor to make sure it isn’t slippy.
Carpet is the only flooring that causes issues for dancers in jazz shoes. Rubber heels, unlike ballerinas’ shoes, do not move readily across carpet. The foot must be wary of getting trapped in the carpet pile, risking a possible harm.
Sneakers
Sneakers are great on most surfaces, but they can be difficult to walk in on carpet. Carpet pile creates resistance against shoes, making it difficult to take steps that involve pivoting.
Foot thongs
They can be worn like dance shoes for comfort and security. They give protection and comfort by keeping your feet from rubbing against the floor when you walk on hardwood, laminate, and vinyl tiles.
Foot thongs can be a fantastic solution for avoiding carpet burn when walking on carpets. When wearing foot thongs, you may walk on bare feet without getting ripped or bruised. However, when doing any turning steps, this can feel quite different, and you must be careful that your toes aren’t turning at a faster speed than the ball of your foot.
Dance Sox
Dance Sox are a great option for contemporary dancing. They’re also useful. Dance Sox have grip control lines that keep the sock attached to the dancer’s foot while also providing cushioning in the heels.
If you’re dancing on flooring, keep in mind that the Dance Sox might pick up any carpet fibers from the surface.
Dance shoes from Dance Sox may be used to dance on any surface. However, like with all dance shoes, make sure the floor isn’t slippery.
