{"items": [{"author": "Lisa", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652385097912", "anchor": "fb-652385097912", "service": "fb", "text": "I have a pair of rigid leather-soled dance shoes (Blochs) that I've had for probably 6 or 7 years (I bought them after I wore completely through a pair of suede-soled jazz shoes at a Dawn Dance) and I really like them. They're the right amount of slippery for me, I haven't found that I need extra cushioning, and I am constantly making noise with my feet so I like the hard heel. I only wear them for dancing, so they've lasted this long (although there was a 3- or 4-year hiatus in there so they're probably only 3 years old, effectively).
Another factor for some people might be heel height: when I went from the very flat jazz shoes to the Blochs (about a 3/4-inch heel) I remember needing a few evenings to adjust, but now I like the slight boost the heels give me, and my balance isn't affected at all.", "timestamp": "1395280858"}, {"author": "Adam", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652387323452", "anchor": "fb-652387323452", "service": "fb", "text": "Hmmm. I'm pretty happy with the first shoe listed. For me it's Capezio. I actually find them quite flexible. They don't last a very long and I have them resoled with thicker leather which improves the shoe dramatically. Not perfect, but comfortable enough for a 12 hour dance.", "timestamp": "1395282625"}, {"author": "Chet", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652389703682", "anchor": "fb-652389703682", "service": "fb", "text": "Interesting you posted this, as earlier today I was looking into picking up some Aris Allen raw leather soles.
I generally wear one of several pairs of (non-suede) leather soled \"dress\" shoes, depending on what was not worn too recently (to let the leather rest) and what works best with whatever I'm wearing.
I prefer leathers as I enjoy throwing in some flatfooting whenever I'm able. Though I've had one pair of shoes get out from under me before (the sole was more hardened than I'm used to), I find that well-worn leathers give just enough glide and grip for me to be twirled to my heart's content and to maneuver as needed.
I've been thinking of checking out dance-specific shoes for a bit of a lighter step\u2014hence the Aris Allens, which were recommended by Matthew Olwel in reply to a comment on YouTube.
I occasionally dance barefoot, as I've found that the difference in muscle usage can be refreshing. Several folks at the Louisville dance wear pads that strap onto the ball of the foot and between the toes for a bit of protection while dancing barefoot; I'm not sure what those are called.
I've danced in sneakers, and, though I would have preferred leathers, it wasn't terribly detrimental. My sneakers, however, are flat bottomed and worn pretty smooth (I wear them almost daily on a dusty warehouse floor, where I find myself flatfooting whenever I get the chance).
Those split dance sneakers are weird...", "timestamp": "1395284281"}, {"author": "Christine", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652391425232", "anchor": "fb-652391425232", "service": "fb", "text": "I have 2 pairs of character shoes and one pair of Tevas. One pair of character shoes has suede soles (very slippery), the other pair has leather. The Tevas are the best for freedom of movement and have the right combination of traction and grippiness.", "timestamp": "1395285747"}, {"author": "Don", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652394583902", "anchor": "fb-652394583902", "service": "fb", "text": "Left out bowling shoes. There's the classic rental-style shoes we've all seen that are more like a hard leather shoe, and then there's the sneaker-style which I use. Perfect balance of cushioning, controllable slip (balls of feet have suede leather but the heels are a hard rubber (plastic?) that offers good traction, so with some pressure control you have the best of both worlds), breathable and still a decent stomp resonance with the hard heel.", "timestamp": "1395288337"}, {"author": "Don", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652394628812", "anchor": "fb-652394628812", "service": "fb", "text": "I've also converted running shoes to dance shoes by gluing on \"chrome\" suede to the toe/ball area of the shoe. Very comfortable and a great way to reuse otherwise \"tired\" shoes to get some spares for dance weekends, etc.", "timestamp": "1395288433"}, {"author": "Vivian", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652395676712", "anchor": "fb-652395676712", "service": "fb", "text": "I've used barefoot, socks, water shoes, and Vibram toe shoes. Cheap water shoes' soles wear through after a few dozen times contra dancing, but they are cheap. The toe shoes are a lot like water shoes that don't wear out. At my weight/foot area/leg springiness, the toe shoes let me twirl easily without slipping sideways. Unfortunately they've become too slippery now; I'm not sure whether this is more from dance floors I dance on being refinished (new, smoother [or different texture] floor), or from the outsoles' texture wearing away (I also rubbed the toe shoes on concrete a lot by kick-scootering). Also my bare feet seem a bit more slippery than they used to, and my socks a bit less slippery, which might be changes in the floor or in my feet/socks...", "timestamp": "1395288975"}, {"author": "Nathaniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652398590872", "anchor": "fb-652398590872", "service": "fb", "text": "I will just comment on Soles. I am a serious suede advocate. I find that leather soles are too slippery for most floors for me, and whenever I have to walk in a curved line (so, all the time) I find I have to make the arc too wide for my liking. Suede gets smoothed out pretty fast contra dancing, but I'll take a worn out suede sole over leather any day.
I've gotten too many splinters for barefoot.", "timestamp": "1395291325"}, {"author": "Don", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652398635782", "anchor": "fb-652398635782", "service": "fb", "text": "Try a wire (yes, rough wire!) brush on your suede soles, they will come back to life wonderfully.", "timestamp": "1395291421"}, {"author": "Nathaniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652398835382", "anchor": "fb-652398835382", "service": "fb", "text": "I did that for ballroom, but it's just too much of an uphill battle for contra. Most of my contradance shoes have been retired ballroom shoes...", "timestamp": "1395291674"}, {"author": "Mycroft", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652408855302", "anchor": "fb-652408855302", "service": "fb", "text": "Speaking as a long time Five Fingers advocate, they are absolutely terrible for contra dance. Rubber soles stick to the floor. I've been wearing suede moccasins for dancing for several years.", "timestamp": "1395307746"}, {"author": "Kiran", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652409693622", "anchor": "fb-652409693622", "service": "fb", "text": "You might be able to put leather or suede on some of the flatter VFF soles... and there's a company making adhesive dance soles out there (the adhesive is used to stick them to the shoes, not the floor.) I don't know if those could be modified to be used on VFF.", "timestamp": "1395310906"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652411679642", "anchor": "fb-652411679642", "service": "fb", "text": "A howto for putting suede on shoes you already have: http://www.gottadance.org/DIY_suede_soles.shtml", "timestamp": "1395315527"}, {"author": "Ruthan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652414518952", "anchor": "fb-652414518952", "service": "fb", "text": "I currently wear what are basically keds with suede bottoms. Had them for almost three years now so the suede is nice and chromey and also they are falling apart. They are as slippery and stompy as I like (which is very) but I do wish they me wiggle my toes more.", "timestamp": "1395318933"}, {"author": "Ken", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652414583822", "anchor": "fb-652414583822", "service": "fb", "text": "My shoes don't make much sound, so I've considered getting a sound-effect box to do it for me: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/ef56/", "timestamp": "1395318955"}, {"author": "Ruthan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652414683622", "anchor": "fb-652414683622", "service": "fb", "text": "When I did modern I loved dancing barefoot, but at contra i'd be afraid of ending up with a toenail like the person in your last picture.", "timestamp": "1395318998"}, {"author": "Ruthan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652417692592", "anchor": "fb-652417692592", "service": "fb", "text": "Don, I wear my dance shoes when I go bowling. Rentals are too grippy!", "timestamp": "1395321973"}, {"author": "Danner", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=652420816332", "anchor": "fb-652420816332", "service": "fb", "text": "I used to see a lot more people wearing these: http://www.dancewearsolutions.com/.../lyrical.../b230.aspx
I wear leather-soled cuban-heeled dance shoes. the cork sole has a surprising amount of shock absorption when it molds to your foot, the pressures are spread out over your whole foot.
I've also danced barefoot for over 10 years, it's very good for dips and lifts, as you can curl and adjust your feet to the shared weight quite easily. I've only gotten one splinter in all that time, from a festival floor made out of plywood.", "timestamp": "1395324258"}, {"author": "Jan-Willem", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/100580955183019057735", "anchor": "gp-1395333446897", "service": "gp", "text": "Oddly, you seem to have left out China Flats, which were the go-to shoe in my SCA days (lots of ECD among other things). \u00a0If you get the non-rubber-soled kind they're reasonably flexible, about as slippery on a floor as Jazz shoes (or whatever it is I used for ballroom). \u00a0No heel rise, though, and not stompy at all.\n
\n
\nBest part? \u00a0Like $5 in Chinatown and pack flat, so probably easier and likely cheaper than the socks-over-sneakers option.", "timestamp": 1395333446}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://plus.google.com/103013777355236494008", "anchor": "gp-1395342930962", "service": "gp", "text": "@Jan-Willem\n\u00a0Growing up those were what my mother and sisters would wear, but they switched to jazz shoes and dance sneakers some time around 2004. \u00a0I didn't include them because I don't tend to see them at dances any more, but you're right they're a good option.", "timestamp": 1395342930}, {"author": "Kathryn", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895230134512", "anchor": "fb-895230134512", "service": "fb", "text": "This is a great compilation about dance shoes but since it was probably written for people who do not yet dance, I think the most important message is that you can dance in almost any comfortable shoes, or without and that CONTRA DANCING AT ITS MOST BASIC LEVEL IS INCREDIBLY FUN AND EASY SO ALL THIS TALK ABOUT SPECIAL SHOES SHOULD NOT SCARE AWAY ANY NEW DANCERS at the wedding! They always say if you can walk you can contra...the embellishments can come later. And remember the experienced dancers would love to help you learn the steps!", "timestamp": "1503248096"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895230698382", "anchor": "fb-895230698382", "service": "fb", "text": "Kathryn: yes, for dancing for the first time, at a wedding or otherwise, just wear any comfortable shoes.", "timestamp": "1503248470"}, {"author": "Mac", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895244141442", "anchor": "fb-895244141442", "service": "fb", "text": "Bloch, ~ $58
Model S0300M (all zeros)
Men's character shoes, soft leather uppers, all leather soles and heels. The first shoes in my life that, when I first put them on in the store, I thought \"These are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn\".", "timestamp": "1503254066"}, {"author": "Miranda", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895246232252", "anchor": "fb-895246232252", "service": "fb", "text": "If the floor is too rough for barefoot, I like wearing Grishko canvas ballet flat shoes. They also give a little binding support through the metatarsals if my feet are sore; they're not particularly slippery even on the worst floors because the split soles are good quality leather, and they are completely flexible which means you can still sense things with your feet.
Caveat: this only applies to northern contra. For southern contra, I prefer barefoot or ankle boots.", "timestamp": "1503254496"}, {"author": "Ruthan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895275019562", "anchor": "fb-895275019562", "service": "fb", "text": "Miranda I think we need to have a discussion about what constitutes a Worst Floor \ud83d\ude01", "timestamp": "1503259558"}, {"author": "Miranda", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895283527512", "anchor": "fb-895283527512", "service": "fb", "text": "Ruthan, worst floor in this sentence only in context of slipperiness.", "timestamp": "1503260899"}, {"author": "Ruthan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895293148232", "anchor": "fb-895293148232", "service": "fb", "text": "I infer from your comment that there exists, in your opinion, a floor that is Too Slippery; I concede that I can imagine such a thing, but it is difficult, and who would try to contra on an ice rink anyway? ;)", "timestamp": "1503265225"}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895339684972", "anchor": "fb-895339684972", "service": "fb", "text": "Well used Florsheim Oxford Wingtips from the thrift store, with soles that are nearly worn out. I learned this from David Allen Kaynor.", "timestamp": "1503281342"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895340578182", "anchor": "fb-895340578182", "service": "fb", "text": "Michael: is that an especially common shoe? Going to thrift stores looking for something that specific is usually like drawing to an inside straight.", "timestamp": "1503281875"}, {"author": "Emily", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895340807722", "anchor": "fb-895340807722", "service": "fb", "text": "I've got 3 pairs: a pair of suede bottomed men's shoes that I wear most frequently because I generally know I won't be likely to slip and fall on unfamiliar floors.
My second pair are ladies 1.5\" heel character shoes, which are what I learned to dance in and are my favorite, but the leather bottoms are slippery and I generally only wear them on rougher or stickier floors now.
I also have a pair of dance sneakers but I find them restricting and I only wear them for things like the dawn dance where I want more support for my feet.", "timestamp": "1503282239"}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895340942452", "anchor": "fb-895340942452", "service": "fb", "text": "I've found exactly those, in my size, several times, including the first time I looked after my conversation with David. I've also found shoes that were similar, but not *precisely* those -- different brand, usually Oxfords but not Wingtips, over the years. But the first ones were dead-on, and that brand and style description describes a general type of shoe that is indeed very common, and still popular, and which are used for business/dress occasions, so there's a steady flow of slightly beat-up ones to the thrift stores.", "timestamp": "1503282333"}, {"author": "Kathryn", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895355563152", "anchor": "fb-895355563152", "service": "fb", "text": "Oops! I actually got to this post via a wedding post, so didn't realize it was independent. Excellent information for current dancers!", "timestamp": "1503290155"}, {"author": "Bob", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895355847582", "anchor": "fb-895355847582", "service": "fb", "text": "i'm still happy with the Mr. Stomper shoes i got 10 years ago, although i had to resole them in only 6-8 months; the first \"claimed-to-be-leather\" soles were a joke, but the rest of the shoe is fine.", "timestamp": "1503290465"}, {"author": "Hollis", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895391426282", "anchor": "fb-895391426282", "service": "fb", "text": "I made my own with sneakers, leather (raw side down), hot glue, and a belt sander. I have big feet that are hard to fit, and I wasn't able to find commercial shoes that fit.", "timestamp": "1503319922"}, {"author": "Anna", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895402439212", "anchor": "fb-895402439212", "service": "fb", "text": "Always choose the shoes your cat prefers, as per the photo.", "timestamp": "1503324592"}, {"author": "Nathaniel", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895428741502", "anchor": "fb-895428741502", "service": "fb", "text": "I no longer wear \"dance shoes\" for contra, but prefer a pair of my smoother sneakers. Skate shoes, such as Vans, are good. When I did wear dance shoes like pictured, I much preferred suede bottoms over leather.", "timestamp": "1503334217"}, {"author": "Phil", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895432389192", "anchor": "fb-895432389192", "service": "fb", "text": "I like Capezio 'standard oxford' with suede sole and heel; used to buy their 'jazz oxford' with non-marking traction heel, but they discontinued it. I also have a similar pair with hard leather sole, handy fall-back for when a floor is sticky. In the past I have used bowling shoes [at the time K-mart had them in all-black or all-white, not the famous 2-tone], worked well enough. Beware of fancy shoes that have unstable narrow heel [tango shoes in my case], could injure your ankle.", "timestamp": "1503335322"}, {"author": "Becca", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=895461021812", "anchor": "fb-895461021812", "service": "fb", "text": "I go in for foot undies, which I got at the dance store in Concord. I found them on Amazon too. They're essentially bits of suede held on by fabric and elastic for just the balls of your feet. They're like going barefoot but not having to worry about blisters :)", "timestamp": "1503342359"}, {"author": "Mycroft", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/652381001122?comment_id=896681875212", "anchor": "fb-896681875212", "service": "fb", "text": "For similar reasons to Miranda's choice, I usually wear suede \"softsole\" moccasins. (I ripped out the minimal padding inside, so they are actually just suede.) I've also danced in \"character shoes\" (Bloch 445) quite a bit before that, and still do occasionally depending on the type of dance and any special conditions related to my feet at the time.", "timestamp": "1503874102"}]}