Bellydance Footwear

Ask five bellydancers what they wear on their feet for practice and performance and you will get five different answers.  Barefoot, ballet slippers, jazz shoes, lyrical sandals, hermes sandals, ballroom heels, and the list goes on!  Part of the decision is based on personal preference and part on what is recommended by dance instructors.

What do I recommend for a SharQui™ class or a regular bellydance class?  I tell students they can go barefoot or wear dance slippers.  Socks will work if you are adverse to barefoot and don't yet have dance slippers, however they may not "stick" as well.  Why barefoot?  If you are able to trust the floor, which should be the case in a fitness or dance class setting, bare feet allow your toes to properly spread for optimal balance. If you have preexisting foot issues, I recommend reading the section on feet in Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain. An in-between option is the half-sole or lyrical sandal, pictured with this article.  It gives full coverage for the ball of your foot, but allows your toes to spread properly.  A more recent addition to dance footwear that I have not yet tried, but am curious about is Capezio Women's Full Body Footundeez Lyrical/Modern Shoe.

Performance footwear is another matter.  Again, if I can trust the floor, I prefer barefoot, but unless you are on a theater stage, that is rarely the case.  For restaurant shows, I usually wear Very Fine Ballroom Dance shoes, but sometimes opt for a Split Sole Canvas Ballet Slipper, depending on the look I want for my costume.  Different shoes affect how your turns, spins, and shimmies feel, so it's important to regularly practice in the shoes that you choose for performance.

How to choose?  Read recommendations and visit a dance supply store, if possible.  In the Fredericksburg, VA area, Dancer's Wardrobe has a great supply of slippers, jazz shoes, half-soles, and Foot Undeez.  Visit them to see what feels best for you.