When I dance, I am happy! There is something about the freedom to move without restrictions, to be with others who feel the same, or even, as one of my friends, does, dance alone to an inner choreography. As I get older, however, sometimes my feet wind up screaming or cramping by the end of an evening, or prevent me from moving with the rhythm whirling in my mind.

While helping a friend prepare for her daughter’s wedding, a light went off. She was worried about being able to “dance the night away” so she ordered dancing shoes. Believe me, these were stunning, and looked as elegant as so many on the designer shelves in some department store. The difference is that the material is flexible and meant to balance the weight of the body, not simply to support the feet. In fact, most are made of leather and satin (although there are vegan options) with a thin suede sole that allows the shoes to glide across the floor with just the right amount of grip.

Of course, most dancing shoes are not meant to be used off the dance floor or that type of venue, so everyday use is not recommended. Please exercise caution if you do so. There are some dancing shoe companies, however, that are combining comfort with everyday practicality and safety, and we may see crossover shoes in the future.

I have noticed that when ordering dancing shoes (okay, when I ordered dancing shoes!!!) they specify the length of the foot. For example, I am a size 7 in the United States, and a 37 in European size. For dancing shoes, I had to measure my foot and it is between 9” and 9 1/4” so that was actually still a 37. Have your tape measure handy if you are ordering online.

Now that we have our feet covered in the appropriate ware, enjoy the feeling of “letting go of your cares and woes” and just dance, dance, dance. It is truly good for the soul, and the sole!

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