When choosing the perfect pair of dance shoes, there is a distinct set of criteria you need to examine before making a purchase. The demands for each dance style can make finding the right shoe a little overwhelming, especially given how many different kinds and styles there are on the market. Where do you even begin?
Right here is a pretty good start! This guide takes you through ten of the best women's dance shoes for 2023. There's a shoe to grace every dancer’s foot from ballroom, Latin, and anything in between. Let's jump in!
Women's Ballroom Dance Shoes
1. Style 1012
Effortlessly stylish, this classic ballroom shoe has a round toe for added comfort and a horizontal strap with an oval diamante buckle. It’s the height of understated elegance.
Style 1012 is for the beginner ballroom dancer who wants feminine beauty and princess-style looks in their wardrobe. It’s available in satin, leather, and sateen leather, which offers the appearance of satin but in a softer and more flexible material. It’s an ideal material for beginners' feet.
- Colours: Flesh, White, Black, Dark Tan, Red
- Heel Heights: 2” Flare, 2” Contour, 2.5” Flare, 2.5” Contour, 3” Flare, 3” Contour
- Fitting Options: Narrow, Regular, Wide, Extra Wide
2. Style 1003
Style 1003 embodies the classic pointed-toe court shoe with a softly squared front. This shoe is available in a choice of satin, sateen, or leather.
Various fittings, heel heights, and styles make this a versatile shoe for a keen amateur. It’s hard wearing for training and lessons but also effortlessly elegant for those first competitions.
The pointed-toe style means it is a half-size wider than your round-toe style, so you may need to size down, depending on your foot width.
- Colours: Flesh, White, Black, Dark Tan
- Heel Heights: 2” Flare, 2” Contour, 2.5” Contour, 3” Contour
- Fitting Options: Narrow, Regular, Wide, Extra Wide
3. Style 1004
This classic ballroom shoe is ideal for dancers who like to feel extra secure in their shoes, with the elegant diagonal strap across the foot.
It’s available in satin but can be made to order in leather and various colours. Given its pointed toe, we recommend going down half a size compared to a rounded toe court shoe for this style.
- Colours: White, Black, Dark Tan, Flesh
- Heel Heights: 2” Slim, Flare, Contour, 2.5” Slim, Flare, Contour, 3” Slim, Flare, Contour
- Fitting Options: Narrow, Regular, Wide
4 . Style 1016
With a round front and classy, round toe, this stylish ballroom shoe is the perfect partner for lessons and competition. It comes in a wide range of fittings to suit every dancer.
Available in satin, sateen leather, and leather, the shaped design is elegant and stylish. It will make you feel like a dancer even whilst you’re learning the basic dance steps.
- Colours: White, Black, Dark Tan, Flesh
- Heel Heights: 2” Flare, 2” Contour, 2.5” Contour, 3” Contour
- Fitting Options: Narrow, Regular, Wide, Extra Wide
5. Style 1008
This round-toe, gently elasticated court shoe is a traditional style and design. It wouldn’t look out of place in the office or on a formal night out.
The style 1008 is available in various colours and materials, including leather, satin, and sateen leather, plus a choice of four different heel types. It is an incredibly versatile dance shoe for beginner dancers who also want to be able to wear the shoe for different occasions.
- Colours: Flesh, White, Black, Silver Coag, Gold Coag
- Heel Heights: 2” Cuban, 2” Slim, 2” Contour, 2” Flare, 2.5” Contour, 2.5” Slim, 2.5” Flare, 3” Contour
- Fitting Options: Narrow, Regular, Wide
Women's Latin Dance Shoes
The best Latin dance shoes for women will significantly vary in heel height, material, and design. Every element of the shoe can impact your performance. Here are the best Latin dance shoes for her:
1. Style 1403
This open-toed dance shoe is perfect for precision and control with all the flair that Latin dance requires. Various heel options give you control over how you prefer to dance, with heights between 2" and 2.5".
The crossover strappy vamp detailing adds a stylish flair, and the shoe is available in flesh, black or dark tan satin but can be made to order in various colours to match any outfit. The long strap is adjustable and can go under the arch of the foot or around the ankle to achieve the perfect fit, making this style both fashionable and comfortable.
- Colours: Black, Dark Tan, flesh
- Heel Heights: 2.5" Flare(7cm), 2 Flare (5cm)
- Fitting Options: Wide, Regular, Narrow
2. Style 1066
Like our best-selling 1403 this model has a strappy vamp and long adjustable strap that can go either under the arch of the foot or around the ankle. The knotted vamp is slightly more flexible than the stitched vamp of Style 1403 and is perfect for dancers who want a little more room and flexibility in this area.
This style is stocked in dark tan and black satin but can be made to order in various colours, white, red and our special shimmer fabrics.
- Colours: dark tan satin, black satin, red satin, white satin, dark tan gold shimmer, black satin silver shimmer.
- Heel Heights: 2.5" Flare(7cm), 2 Flare (5cm), 3” Flare (8cm), 3.5” Flare (9cm).
- Fitting Options: Regular, Wide
3. Style 1143
It’s available in six different colours, including a wide range of neon shades to match whichever dress you need for the competition.
The charming detail attached to the diamante hook buckle takes the visual appeal of this shoe to a new, glamorous level. These shoes are for Latin dancers gearing up for a high-performance competition, and they deliver.
- Colours: Dark tan satin, dark tan coag, dark tan vegan, dark tan shimmer, neon yellow, lilac, neon pink, neon green, neon orange, Santorini blue
- Heel Heights: 3" Stiletto (8cm), 2.5" SD (7cm), 3" SD (8cm), 2.5" Stiletto (7cm)
- Fitting Options: Wide, Extra Wide, Extra Narrow, Regular, Narrow
4. Style 1178
For something with a little more style and flash, we have our braided vamp Style 1178. This style is made on our Stiletto Heel Last which is part of our high-performance range. The styles made on these 'lasts' are a slimmer fit and higher arch when compared to some of our other styles.
The sole length is modified to end with the tip of the toes, favoured by competitive dancers (i.e. the length is shorter than 1403). This style comes with our perfectly balanced new Stiletto and SD heels, available in 2½" and 3" heel heights.
Additionally, the two-way fastening strap will keep you feeling secure even during the fastest-paced Latin dance routines. This style can be made in various neon colours, dark tan satin, dark tan coag, and dark tan shimmer.
- Colours: Neon green, lilac, pink, yellow, orange, green, Santorini blue, dark tan satin, dark tan coag, and dark tan shimmer.
- Heel Heights: 2.5” SD (7cm), 3” SD (8cm), 2.5” Stiletto (7cm), 3” Stiletto (8cm)
- Fitting Options: Regular, Wide
5. Style 1177
This style comes in our Dark Tan Sateen Leather designed to blend beautifully with tanned skin. These heels make a statement, so they are perfect for competitive performances.
They catch the eye whilst remaining secure and comfortable, with an open-toe design for maximum breathability.
- Colours: Dark Tan Sateen Leather
- Heel Heights: 2.5" SD (7cm), 3" SD(8cm)
- Fitting Options: Narrow, Regular, Wide
What To Consider When Choosing the Best Women's Dance Shoes
Below are some key areas you should consider before committing to any purchase.
Appropriate Style
A ballroom shoe achieves different aims from a Latin shoe because the dance styles are entirely different! Don't mistakenly purchase a shoe simply because you like how it looks. The foundation of an appropriate dance shoe is that it’s suited for the designated style.
Ballroom dancing calls for smooth movements as dancers glide across the dance floor. For that reason, they have slightly lower heel heights and elegant cuts.
Latin dancing is all about sensuality and quick movements. The appropriate shoe will have higher arches and heels that allow quick hip movements.
The Perfect Fit
Once you have found the right style, the next most important factor is the fit. You need to make sure it feels as comfortable as possible. Whether performing professionally in competitions or socially for recreation, you’ll wear the shoes for hours at a time. Your shoes shouldn't be too tight or too loose.
Improper fit can lead to injury. It’s why it’s best to look for fitting options sized for your feet. If you have wide feet, there’s no sense squeezing your feet into a narrow shoe because you like the look. You should never try to push through the pain.
Besides saving you from a world of discomfort, proper fit will improve your performance. You’ll execute your moves more effectively if you aren't distracted by pain.
Finally, the right fit boosts your confidence, making dancing a far more enjoyable experience overall. Stability, balance, and confidence are the central pillars of successful dance, so don't underestimate the importance of the perfect fit.
The Price Tag
Last but by no means least, let's talk about your budget. Depending on how you approach dance, you may go one of two ways.
Some dancers buy the most expensive pair they find, believing these to be the highest quality. Others find the most affordable pair on the market. These approaches are both understandable, but they also have their downfalls.
The most expensive does not always equal the best. On the other hand, the affordable option may not provide the most value for money. If you have to replace a cheap pair of shoes every couple of months, have you saved any money?
The best approach is to purchase from a reputable brand and pay attention to the materials used, the fit, and the style. These are far more important factors than the price tag.
Looking for Women's Dance Shoes? Shop Supadance Today!
At Supadance, we craft all of our shoes to the highest dance shoe standards. We’ve supplied professional and recreational dancers with dozens of pairs over the years, ensuring the right fit to enhance their performance.
The ten pairs reviewed here are the best women’s dance shoes for ballroom and Latin, but there are many more in our complete collection. Browse our women’s dancing shoes today and see why we remain one of the UK's most popular dance shoe providers!
