Dance Shoes

Got the information from a friend.
Will try to see if I can get a price list and put it up later

_____

Stores in Singapore for Dance Sneakers, Jazz Shoes & Dance Heels
Sonata Rainbow (sells Capezio & Bloch dance sneakers)
150 Orchard Road
#03-05 Orchard Plaza
Singapore 238841

Tel: +65 6738 2018
Email: sonata@sonata.com.sg
Web site: http://www.sonata.com.sg
OKH Ballet Centre (sells Capezio dance sneakers)
19 Tanglin Road
#03-19 Tanglin Shopping Centre
Singapore 247909

Tel: +65 6732 0129
Email: okhsales@okhballet.com.sg
Costumes Connection (sells Sansha dance sneakers)
390 Victoria Street
#03-23, Golden Landmark
Singapore 188061

Tel: +65 6292 5529
Fax: +65 6292 4339
Email: costumes@singnet.com.sg
Web site: http://web.singnet.com.sg/~costumes

Stores in Singapore forReady-made and Custom-made Dance Heels
Leapin' Lizard
10 Anson Rd
#01-57 International Plaza
Singapore 079903
Tel : +65 6222 2783

Golden River Shoe
865 Mountbatten Road
#01-14 Katong Shopping Centre
Singapore 437844

Tel: +65 6344 2692
OG Orchard Point
160 Orchard Road
Orchard Point
Singapore 238842

Tel: +65 6317 2222

Stores in Singapore for Chinese Dance Shoes
Bi Tian Mei Store
#01-147 Outram Park (Temporary Market)

Tel: +65 6226 0650

Online Stores for Dance Sneakers & Heels
All About Dance
[url=http://www.on2dancewear.com/home.htm ]On2DanceWear[/url]

hey justin,

any idea if those snickers liked dancing shoes are available at these places? not sure if you have seen those dancing shoes, basically they are meant for dancing (of cuz) but looks very much like track shoes/snickers...

cheerios

I believe some of them have dance sneakers available as well.

If you want, I can check my instructors tomorrow to see where would be suitable. May be looking for a pair myself if budget allows.

heya, thats cool... we can go there together... maybe they offer a better price when we make our purchases together... hahaha... abit cheapo but who cares??? kekekeke

Hahaah .. I am never going to argue about getting stuff cheaper.

Hi Justin

Ref: Dancing Shoes

Take a look at this website(http://www.exoticsalsashoes.com). May be we can consider online purchase...they offer wide range of design, price is reasonable......How how how....????

Fyi, I bought my current pair of dancing shoes from "Golden River Shoe" at Katong Shopping Centre, it cost me about SGD120.00 and it can "tahan" only for about 6mths.....I don't know why....may be I am too "rough"????????



Cheers
Joanne Ng

Possibly ... but then sometimes it could also be just due to wear and tear ....

Should always consider conditions on where the shoe is kept, and what sort of material it is made from. Keeping leather based material out in the sun, or in damp places would make it more brittle, and cause it to get worn out faster than usual.

Hey joanne.. SGD 120.00 is expensive.. i have friends who get a pair ard SGD 40 abt... it the one who operates from home, near bedok... check that out

for detailed discussion, pls visit this link
http://salsa.editboard.com/viewtopic.forum?t=4

For those of you who are interested, dance sneakers are really not too bad an option for guys on the dance floor. However, from experience and trying out a couple of pairs (never bought any though), dance sneakers are usually a little more resistant to turning, thus causing more friction and may result in more effort being required.

For ladies, dance heels are usually recommended, but the point to watch is how high the heels should be. Do not get over-excited and get something too high or you will put a lot of strain on your ankles. Also, after dancing the whole night till the dawn of the next morning, you'll most likely get extremely tired thighs.

Be sure that whatever you pick is comfortable for you. As an alternative, you can get jazz shoes as well, though I am not too sure where. I would need to check it out and let you know.

For class, you could always get the Chinese Dance Shoes. They cost around $4 and the smooth base allows great pivotting.

WARNING
Chinese Dance Shoes do not have any arch support for feet, so avoid wearing them for long hours.

Personal Opinion
Chinese Dance Shoes help when learning in class. However, as you advanced and move up through the classes (having done I2 & I3 in JJ and Level 2B in TwoLeftFeet), please note that dancing with your own pair of shoes to do spins and spins and spins ... would give you better practice. Chines Dance Shoes help make it more comfortable for you to dance in, but it will not be able to let you "feel" the move when dancing on the dance floor.

Below is a description from the TwoLeftFeet website (where I got some of the places to buy dance shoes from as well) which gives you information about the different types of shoes:

Dance Sneakers
Dance sneakers are great for class, and whenever you intend to spend long hours dancing. They're comfortable, have good shock-absorption and come in all kinds of snazzy designs. Dance sneakers are often characterized by split soles - instead of a single piece, the sole is divided into the front section, from toe to ball of foot, and the back section, which is under the heel. There is no sole under the middle section of the foot, which is where your arch is. The two most popular brands for dance sneakers are Capezio and Bloch.

When buying dance sneakers, be sure to choose a design that is suitable for the width of your feet. Certain Capezio designs are great for slim feet, while most Bloch designs are great for wider feet. Whatever your size, make sure that the shoe fits around your entire foot snugly. Don't get a shoe that's too big. It will make you feel clumsy and end up tripping you.

If cost is not an issue and you're in a hurry to get your shoes, you can buy your dance sneakers from any of the stores below. Do note that the prices will be much steeper than if you buy over the Internet (definitely over S$100), and the range of designs and sizes will be rather limited.

If time is not an issue and you want to get the lowest price possible, the best place to shop is online. You can save up to 60% at times. The only disadvantage is you can't try the shoes for size and fit. So if you're looking to buy shoes online, you can either try your fellow salseroes' shoes (assuming they are wearing the design you want and are willing to let you put your foot in it), or create an outline of your foot and post it to the merchant. DO NOT FAX your outline, as the received fax is likely to show an image smaller than your actual size. To reduce shipping costs, try to accumulate a few orders before you make the purchase. You can also try the delivery service, vPOST.

If you're not sure about investing in dance sneakers but need something you can dance in, you can also purchase Chinese dance shoes for S$4. The smooth base allows for pivoting and you can throw them in the wash (they'll shrink by one size for sure). Do note that there is absolutely no arch support, so avoid wearing them for long hours. These shoes come in two types of soles, so make sure you get the ones with felt-based soles (light gray in color) as they're much smoother to spin on. Do not get the ones with plastic-based soles (yellow in color).

Jazz Shoes

Jazz shoes are great for practising and dancing in. They're thin and soft, so your feet feel light and you feel like you're able to move your feet more precisely and a lot faster. In addition, jazz shoes allow you to get a very good feel of the floor. It's akin to wearing socks with traction. Most jazz shoes have leather uppers, with some designs mixing neoprene and other materials. The soles can be full or split-sole, using suede or EVA.

Jazz shoes are relatively cheaper than dance sneakers, and definitely don't feel as bulky. However, they also don't last as long. So if wish to stretch the lifespan of your jazz shoes, keep it for the classroom only.

On the whole, jazz shoes are excellent for dancers keen on improving their footwork and spins, and looking to advance their dance skills.

You can purchase jazz shoes from the stores listed below, are over the Internet. Make sure you know your size if you intend to purchase them online. Jazz shoes should fit your feet snugly.

Dance Heels

The best place to get dance heels is at Leapin' Lizards. They can customize everything, including the heel height, type of material, amount and location of padding on the base, design of the shoe, accessories, etc. It takes about 3 weeks to make a pair, although they do offer an express service at an additional charge. Once the base of the shoe is made, you will be asked to pop by for a fitting. With your foot in place, they will adjust the other parts of the shoe to ensure an ultra-snug fit. After that, it only takes a week before your shoes are ready for collection. The price of your dance heels will vary according to the material you choose and your accessories. In general, you can expect to pay around S$80 to over S$100 for a pair.

There are also ready-made dance heels available, that range from S$30 to over S$100. The S$30 shoes can be found at OG Orchard Point, while the higher end models can be found at any store that sells dance shoes for ballroom dancing.

The Salsa Instructor at TwoLeftFeet had kindly provided a guide on what to look for when buying dance heels.

For more information, feel free to download this PDF file to get a better idea of what kind of material / heel height so-on-and-so-forth that you should consider when buying dance heels.

Tips on Buying Dance Heels - by Jean Goh, TwoLeftFeet Dance School

For those who don't mind getting them online.. there is a great website http://www.appledanceshoes.com which a jitterbug instructor suggested to me. Bought one pair last july lasted only for 6months but I think it is because i did not take care of it at all - wore it everywhere out of dancefloor (too lazy to remove). But bought another one in early this year and it has been been serving me fine and still looking pretty fine to me.

Hi Lynn

I notice Exotic & Apple (online purchase) supply the same design of dancing shoes.
1) http://www.exoticsalsashoes.com
2) http://www.appledanceshoes.com

Even Dance Unlimited Dance Company in Singapore also supply few similar design.
http://www.danceunlimited.com.sg/buzzhub/ladiesheels.asp

Isn't you bought your new dancing shoes (no. 1620) from Apple? I also love this design. Is there any "hidden cost" that they did not stated on the website?

I feel like getting a new pair from either Exotic or Apple, but I am abit worry of choosing the wrong size. Any advice?

Also, Exotic's shoes price is slightly cheaper (abt USD5.00 +)than Apple. As for Dance Unlimited, they charge slightly higher, may be b'cos they import from overseas.

Cheers
Joanne

no hidden cost la.. but got shipping cost which is ex la.. but it is very fast.. 3-5 days will reach your home liaos. I remember I got my shoes add up around S$120-150. As for size, I can show you my shoes and you can gauge size from there. I was very lucky cos the instructor from Jitterbug got same foot size from me.