Tango Shoe Divas

I am considering several firsts: buying tango shoes on the Internet, trying a platform, and designing my own shoes.

I have some limitations. My feet have fallen arches and joint pain in the big toes as a result. (Any favorites among metatarsal pads?) My best discovery is gel toe spacers. I wear flat shoes with orthotics to work and put the orthotics in my Sansha sneakers for other dancing (contra, swing). I’m only 27 and I want to keep my feet from getting worse! I have been dancing tango in low heeled cross-strap Werner Kerns, but I’m feeling the beautiful shoes calling my name… besides, I recently tried my first pair of hard leather soles for tango and I can never go back! So, new shoes are in order and I’m not finding the right selection, even in New York.

I had Tango Wear recommended by a friend of mine and I love all the options. I’ve narrowed it down to several styles but the color choices are daunting. I want to go beyond black, but I’m not fond of the stereotypical red-black combination. I want purple-green, turquoise-orange, silver-black (not all on the same shoe). Am I crazy? I need your input.

Here are the STYLES I’m considering. Because of my foot issues, I’ve ruled out sandal toes. It’s too risky without being able to try them on. A full heel cage gives me needed stability. I’m sticking to a heel under 3″; I’m happy about the 6cm option! Probably a .5cm platform so my toes can still flex. Preferences on heel styles? Tango Wear offers flared and straight. I’m inclined to go with the flared for stability, but do you think the straight would look better on any of these models?

The fun ones: (remember, I’m coming from plain black Werner Kern ballroom shoes)

Under Baires: I love the strap across the heel look.

Eduviges: I love this heel cage even more, but it only comes in a 7.5cm heel.

The safeties:

Alfonsina: the stable cross-strap design

Or Aroma de Mujer

Or Zigana

Tanguera for maximum coverage.

Or Marmolina:

The comfort shoe:

Sabrina: love the heel cage and it comes in 4.5, 5, and 5.5cm! They can make this a closed toe, right? Of course they can.

Now for the COLORS!! I haven’t emailed Tango Wear yet to find out what’s possible, so I’m using my imagination. Another important question: durability. I’ve read that the metallics don’t last long. How does suede wear? Does patent leather get scuffed beyond recognition? Will the silver dots on the black suede get rubbed off? Does satin just get dirty? I would like to mix textures: suede on patent, metallic on leather, etc.

For a neutral shoe (the safety):

Beige with gold

Animal!

Black satin with white polka dots, white or silver leather

Black suede with silver dots, silver leather

Black base with pink trim

For a fun shoe:

Metalized blue and orange. It’s not featured on their page, but they must have a regular blue leather I could use as a base, right? The orange is for accents.

Various combinations of black and purple. Add green trim for contrast? Probably for the Sabrina, since the low heel is purple.

Since it takes so long for Tango Wear to arrive, should I order one to try it out, or go for all three at once? If I order now, I might get them by Christmas!

Marguerite

Marguerite writes:

I would like the opinions and expertise of the divas on an important issue: PLATFORMS.
I’m looking to buy my first pair of platforms, possibly from Tango Wear. Pros, cons, preferred height, flexibility, stability?

I have a lot to say about platforms, but I am short on time so I will be brief. I like them. I really like the ones I just got from Tango Wear, but they were kind of a PITA to deal with. Definitely read my post about my most recent pair, before ordering. If you are concerned about flexibility, get the .5 cm platform, wrapped in suede or a soft leather. Patent wrapped platforms will be less flexible (I have a pair like that that I hate – I call them the Frankenstein Shoes). They also offer a 1 cm platform (which is what you find everywhere else, like Tara Tango) but I currently love the .5 cm as a compromise between flexibility and padding. I don’t really like Tango Wear’s added ball of foot padding, I find that the platform takes care of it and lasts longer… That’s all I can say for now, I have to go back to cutting drywall out of my bathroom. I’d MUCH rather be talking about tango shoes!

nance2dance’s question is a toughie…

Dear Divas,

Can you recommend ANY shoes I can wear to dance tango?

I have Morton’s Neuroma, a big angry nerve ending squished between my toe bones in the ball of my foot. I got it from learning ballroom in regular heels (not proper dance shoes).

Basically, I’m not supposed to wear heels if I don’t want lots of pain. But what’s a dance lover to do? I’ve been getting into tango more and more wearing some flat Reeboks that look something like a water shoe. I have GOT to start tangoing in heels! Any advice? Brands? What to look for in a dance shoe?

I’ve never bought “dance” shoes before…

Thanks,
nance2dance

I know nothing about Morton’s Neuroma, but I feel for her. My two suggestions would be to choose a low heel if possible, maybe an open toe to give the tootsies some room to breathe… Would some arch support help relieve the pressure? I actually had the exact opposite problem, my toe bones would spread over a night dancing and then make really funny noises going back into place!

So does anyone else have any experience to share?

Emma writes:

I have a problem with my slingbacks and, since you have so much experience with different shoes, I’m hoping you’ll know somthing that can help. When I lift my foot, the stiletto stays on the ground and there is a 1/2 inch gap between my foot and the shoe. Needless to say this makes dancing in them very unstable. The ankle strap is fine, it is the strap that connects the ankle strap vertically to the shoe that is too long. These straps are not the thicker, slingbacks I see on your page – they are as thin as the ankle strap. What can I do? Should I have someone cut them and sew them shorter? Should I atatch another strap vertically from the bottom of the shoe over the top of my arch? They are Comme Il Fauts and I don’t want to ruin them when I tried them on they “stuck” to my feet perfectly but once I start dancing they unstick themselves.

I wish I had time to properly answer this question, but since I don’t I am going to throw it to anyone who is listening, and then maybe I will have time to come back and add my own thoughts!

BTW I deserve to be MIA, this is what my life currently looks like:

I’d SOOOOOO much rather be thinking about tango shoes!!!