Dance Shoes

Ballet dance shoes are available in leather and canvas. Base your choice on practicality, not looks. Men often go with canvas because their weight makes the leather stick to the floor more easily. They want to be able to slide, so canvas is a better option. Lightweight women can usually go for either.

When you're buying ballet shoes, durability is often an important consideration. Canvas ballet shoes won't last very long being attacked by the rough fibers of a wooden dance surface. Leather shoes, in this case, are a good investment.

However, if you're practicing and performing on a smooth floor, canvas may sound like a better option to you. Why? Price, ease of cleaning, and versatility. Obviously, the canvas shoes will cost quite a bit less than leather. You can throw them in the washing machine and they dry faster than leather dance shoes. You can also dye them to match your dance clothes.

Ballet shoes come in split-sole or full-sole, but which one you wear will depend on your personal preferences and the types of moves you want to execute. Advanced ballerinas may need point shoes as well as regular ballet shoes.

Jazz Shoes

Jazz shoes fit like ballet shoes, only not as tight as pointes. They come in split-sole or full-sole. Obviously, the split-sole dance shoes are easier to point and flex in. However, if you need additional support, there's always the full-sole to give you more stability and protect your feet.

Jazz dance shoes come in regular shoe form or boot form. Boots offer more ankle support for those who need it. Both types of jazz shoe have now ventured into elastic territory, too. So, laces aren't going to give you a problem if you have to change outfits in a hurry.

Most jazz shoes come in black or tan leather. You can also find other materials like faux leather and canvas, though. The canvas ones are most likely to come in fun colors. Canvas shoes are also much less of a pain for your pocketbook than leather!

When you're ready to shop for jazz shoes, check out these companies:

• Capezio
• Sansha
• American Jazz

Tap Dance Shoes

tap shoes

Tap dancers generally have their own ideas about what makes good dance shoes. Most of that comes from the kind of sound they make when they "tap." The sound is based on the materials used. A tap shoe sole could be made of suede or a thicker leather material.

With soles made of suede and leather, slippage can be an issue. You're in luck! Catspaw is a rubber piece you can shape to the ball of your dance shoes. When you're planning to perform, look for some; it'll save you from embarrassment later!

Toe boxes vary from simple and low to roomy and reinforced. If you're planning on doing toe-stands and other complicated tricks, you probably want to go with the reinforced toe box with more room for comfort's sake.

Dance Aerobics Workout Shoes

Moving side-to-side during aerobics means you need more stability than an average running shoe offers. Look for a shoe with an arch to support your foot from all angles. Look for a cross-trainer--not a walking shoe or a running shoe!

Another thing to take into account is shock-absorption. Aerobics are much harder on your bones and joints than just walking. Look for quality shoes; not just the cheapest pair from Payless or Wal-Mart. Your workout shoes too are important to skimp on!

For tips on finding the right shoe, check out The Runners World website.

Ballroom Shoes

With all the temptations of fancy, sexy shoes out there, remember what you want this for. Dancing. Showing off your skill--not your shoes. So choose wisely. Here are some tips:

• Toes: Women, opt for a closed toe over an open one. You want to protect your feet as much as possible.
• Straps: Choose a strap that goes over the top of your foot. Strapless shoes are more likely to come flying off in a turn.
• Heels: Take your pick of heel height. If you can't find one low enough in the store, you might be able to have one custom-made. As for the width of the heel, don't let the stilettos scare you off if you really like the way they look. Try your ballroom dance shoes on, turn, and do your fancy footwork. They're generally made well, so they're often not as scary as they look.

Swing Shoes

Shoes for swing dancing are black-and-white or brown-and-white wingtip style shoes. They're lightweight to enable you to swirl and dip effortlessly. Also, they won't weigh you down when your partner flings you through the air.

Swing shoes run between $60-120. They're not as pretty as other dance shoes, but they get the job done with their rubber soles and relatively flat bottoms. Practice in other flat shoes found at dance shoe stores before you bust out the black-and-white expert attire. You'll be more inconspicuous that way.