For a flat shoe, I enjoy a bloch split-sole jazz shoe, you need an arch support insole though.

For the ladies, beyond a shadow of a doubt Dance Naturals are the best shoe you can buy, they cost around $200US but they last for years and years, they can be a little narrow fitting though so it's best to try them on somewhere (unfortunately there's nowhere that retails them in Ireland)

For cheap and cheerful I buy from dance shoes online, a Chinese store that manufactures almost all the shoes that you will find sold at congresses, but at half the price. They don't last for more than a year if they're your only dance shoe, but they're pretty good and I've used them for years.

Speaking of shoes - I've a pair of white jazz shoes that are already half black from dancing on manky pub floors.  Anyone got any tips on getting them back to their natural colour?

Do you mean the suede or the material?  If material - leather, canvas, synthetic or ?

Suede undersole:    Suede brush, then Suede foam, then Suede brush again.   (most people dont bother with Suede foam, but if its colour you want then its your best option)   If its got wax or bubblegum, then cover with brown paper and iron! Then Suede brush again      Failing that, I've heard you can get it re-soled?

If you are talking the uppers, if its canvas, with plastic sole, then just shove it in the wash or if you are paranoid / love the shoes, then steep and handwash.   Be prepared to look in horror after a night out when the foot prints on your shoes mean you'll have to start again

If its leather, then baby oil - nothing I know of cleans + brings up leather so much as baby oil - takes ages though.

If its synthetic, then machine wash is the only way I know of, followed maybe by trainer 'whitener'.  Maybe someone else knows of a better solution?

- Edited by Hugh1a on 28/09/2009 at 11:35

Re-think, perhaps a good idea to have a practise pair that get used to death for classes etc, and that you can safely just say 'ah sher feck it' when they get dirty, and a favorite pair that is only worn during partys n' stuff, which hopefully wont get too messed up on the night.

BR/H.

Definitely Bloch, there are 2 types high and low sole I think with low sole are better ! !

Agua!!

Ste.

What's the best beginner shoe and where do I buy them??

Men or womens shoe?  For what clothing? 

If you have a hip hop style, maybe Bloch might do, but personally, I find this particular trainer uncomfortable for staying on the dancefloor all night, but hey its a popular brand and people swear by it  They are a bit expensive though, so not great if you are unsure about staying the course.

For men:  dress style shoes with leather sole, that you can use in the office or elsewhere, Dance Academy on Talbot Street have some interesting shoes, including cuban heel style ( to increase dancers height + give a certain sharp 'look' ).   Not cheap, but not disasterous either, given you can use them elsewhere, you've probably walked past the store a gazillion times and never noticed it.

Online, if you have an easy fit shoe, e.g. 10UK, then ebay ( brilliante) or lovethoseshoes.com had a pair or two which I thought were pretty good, ebay you wait 3-4 weeks, lovethoseshoes shot them on to me within days, but as I said, I'm not 100% sold on Jingas yet

Make sure the shoes you choose are really light, as if you are dancing at a congress for the first time, or generally dancing your socks off, you WILL be a walking disaster if the shoe is heavy.    Also speaking of socks - a pair of black LIDL/1000 mile/Asics running socks, or just two pairs of really thin socks can do wonders to prevent blisters.   

Its been said on other sites, but what the hey:  NEVER RUBBER SOLES.  You'll break your ankle and your spins will be uncontrollable    Or plastic either - they're too heavy.

/H.

For Girls,

Steps shoes available at Talbot Dance Centre, 63 Talbot St. The same ones they sell at salsa conventions, suede soles good for turning!

Tatjana