Salsa Dancing – What to Wear/What Not to Wear
Confused about what to wear for Salsa classes and going out Salsa dancing? Here is a guide about what to wear/what not to wear when Salsa Dancing.
Beginner Classes
When you first start Salsa dancing be ready to work up a sweat in class. You will be moving and learning new things, so you will get hot. Something casual and comfortable that you can move around in and feel good about yourself. It has to be a bit form-fitting since you don’t want wardrobe malfunctions while you are dancing. T-shirts and jeans or leggings are fine. Shorts or skirts if it’s hot or you want to be a bit cooler while dancing. Try for lightweight, breathable materials or ones that wick away sweat. Don’t worry about Salsa shoes yet, just wear something that has a slippery sole like smooth leather or plastic. Once you have completed a beginner or Level 1 class, you should start thinking about purchasing dance shoes. Read below for more tips on shoes.
Intermediate and Advanced Classes
Add in Salsa shoes (see below) and it is pretty much the same as beginner classes. Make sure clothing is not too loose – you don’t want wardrobe malfunctions. Make sure skirts and dresses stay “down” when you spin, turn and style. Dresses that are too long, too flowy or too tight are not ideal for dancing as there is not much opportunity for adjustment or “wardrobe checks” once you’re in the middle of a dance.
Social Dancing
You can pretty much wear whatever you want to. You’re not only at a club to dance, but you’re there to socialize as well, so you might as well wear something you look and feel good in. Having said that, once you become really addicted to Salsa you might want to start thinking about organizing your closet into “Salsa friendly” clothing. But in Toronto you will see people in everything from dressier T-shirts and jeans to skirts, dresses or more formal wear. Whatever makes you comfortable. Also, bringing an extra shirt or two to change into midway through the night is really helpful (and highly recommended).
Dance Shoes
Dance shoes can cost anywhere from $60 to $200 a pair and they are more light-weight than regular street shoes, and with proper care and maintenance, a good pair will last you from 6-12 months .
Men’s Dance Shoe Options
There are four basic options – dance or jazz sneakers, jazz slippers or ballroom shoes.
Dance sneakers
This is the most popular option. Companies like Ballo and Jinga produce stylish shoes for men (they most resemble the look of a Puma sneaker) and come in a variety of colours and styles. These shoes can have a suede or a smooth rubber sole that make it easy to spin and move on the dance floor, but also are “sporty” enough to resemble a street shoe so guys don’t feel like their wearing an “obvious” dance shoe.
Jazz Sneakers
These are a great option for complete beginners or for practice. These shoes provide great arch support and the plastic split soles are good for spinning and the added cushioning is very comfortable. Bloch and Capezio both produce good jazz sneakers.
Jazz Slippers
Like the name implies, these shoes are made of supple leather that fits like a slipper and come in slip on or lace up versions. Some slippers have a suede sole which is more suitable for multiple turns. Others have a plastic split sole (like sneakers) which is easier to maintain but not as easy to spin with.
Ballroom shoes
Ballroom shoes are the most formal Salsa footwear and have suede soles which need to be brushed after every usage to maintain their quality. Men’s ballroom shoes have a Cuban heel that can be 1″, 1.5″ or 2″ in height – these shoes are geared towards more formal dance venues and events (i.e., performance) and are generally not very popular in the Salsa scene.
Women’s Dance Shoe Options
Women have three options – Salsa or ballroom shoes, jazz sneakers or jazz slippers.
Salsa or Ballroom shoes
The most popular option for women are Ballroom or Salsa shoes. They are the most formal salsa footwear and have suede soles which need to be brushed after every usage to maintain their quality and are made with special arch support and cushioning. Women prefer Ballroom/Salsa shoes to any other dance shoe because they come in the most versatile styles and can go with pretty much any outfit. If you are a new dancer it’s best to choose a heel height of 1.5″ to 2″. More experienced dancers prefer heels of 3″-4″ but be mindful that higher heel heights can be painful to dance in for a full night of dancing if you’re not use to dancing in heels.
There are a number of shoe companies that make beautiful Salsa dance shoes – Burju and Natural Spin both make beautiful and stylish Salsa shoes, with companies like Capezio and SupaDance making more traditional ballroom styles.
Jazz Sneakers
A great shoe for complete beginners or for practice. These shoes provide great arch support and the plastic split soles are good for spinning and the added cushioning is very comfortable. Bloch and Capezio both produce good jazz sneakers.
Jazz Slippers
Like the name implies, these shoes are made of supple leather that fits like a slipper and come in slip on or lace up versions. Some slippers have a suede sole which is more suitable for multiple turns. Others have a plastic split sole (like sneakers) which is easier to maintain but not as easy to spin with.
If you want to get out and do more social dancing, check out Salsa Social Etiquette first.
I can’t wait to welcome you to our big family, have you coming in from week to week, having fun, socializing, and letting loose to amazing Latin songs. Click here to check our current schedule.
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