Advanced
Practice Shoes
Advanced Level
Full mastery — nuance, personal expression, and artistry
Affordable, comfortable dance shoes reserved for classes and practice — saving your good shoes for socials and your budget for longevity.
Tips
- •Look for last-season dance shoe models at discounted prices for your practice pair. Same quality, lower cost.
- •Mark your practice shoes clearly if they look similar to your social shoes. You don't want to mix them up on a congress weekend.
- •Break in new social shoes by using them as practice shoes for a week first. This way they're comfortable when you debut them at an event.
Common mistakes
- •Not having separate practice shoes and wearing your best pair to every class
- •Keeping practice shoes long past their functional life — worn soles affect your technique
- •Using regular sneakers for practice because 'they're just for practice' — the sole still matters
Practice drill
Inspect your current practice shoes. Check the sole texture by running your thumb across it — if it feels smooth and slick instead of slightly rough and grippy, it's time for a replacement or at minimum a thorough brushing with a suede brush. Note the condition of the heel, the straps, and the interior cushioning.