Links to Ballroom Outfitting, Videos, and Music
Music & outfitting suggestions: From the Gotta Dance! Tips & Advice page. Be sure to visit their Practice Music recommendations link and their How to Buy Dance Shoes link.
Dance Shoes and Outfitting Links
Be sure to check the Music & outfitting suggestions link—immediately above—if you're new at buying dance shoes. Also remember ballroom shoes have solid (not split), suede-sole bottoms. They are only for the dance floor. The suede sole allows the ballroom dancer to move sideways with good traction while still releasing on a twirl. In contrast to ballroom shoes that have a steel shank in the sole just above the heel for better support, jazz shoes have a split sole that will bend at the heel when pointing one's toes. Regular swing shoes have low heels; whereas, for jive (competition ballroom), the lady dances in high heels.
Showtime Dance Shoes: Although they cost a little more, they're a great site for buying many stylish ballroom dance shoes.
Angee's Sole Designs: Very comfortable dance shoes exclusively for the lady. Although pricey, these shoes feature double cushion support for long hours on the dance floor. They also come in some very unique styles. Moreover, the designer is a ballroom dancer herself.
Champion Dance Shoes: They carry German-made Diamant ballroom dance shoes, which have excellent arch support and come in extra wide widths.
Guaranteed Fit Dance Shoes: Excellent source for suede-sole dance shoes with prices ranging from $60-$100. They also sell handmade dance shoes for professionals with special size and flex requirements. Finally, they have a nice choice in stylish dance sneakers, which are ideal for those spending hours on the dance floor or those with achy feet; they are very comfortable.
DSOL Dance Shoes Online: They carry the largest variety of dance shoes costing from $62-80. They also sell pants for men, and skirts and gowns for women. Finally, they have dance sneakers, which are very comfortable when practicing for many hours on the dance floor. Ballroom dancers should be buying either the standard shoes (for waltz, foxtrot, tango, quickstep), which have lower heels; or Latin shoes (for jive, cha cha, rumba, samba), which have higher heels. If you're buying a single pair of shoes (newcomer), you may want to buy a practice shoe instead where the heel height is a compromise between the standard and Latin heel heights.
Most professional female dancers buy open-toed pumps (sandals) so their toes aren't crowded when doing pivot turns on them and such. If you choose to purchase a closed-toed pump for styling reasons, you should be aware of the downsides, especially if you're spending many hours on the dance floor or doing difficult moves.
DanceShoesStore: Most reasonably priced dancing shoes. Remember to buy suede-sole dance shoes for ballroom dancing.
DanceStore.com: Hey swing dancers, this stylish shoes and outfitting store is especially for you.
Dance Accessories and Instructional Video Links
CafePress: They sell all kinds of nifty ballroom-dance paraphernalia, including items specific for Latin and swing. Most items are T-shirts, but also included are mugs, tote bags, greeting cards, note cards, postcards, notebooks, mousepads, posters, calendars, magnets, buttons, hats, pillows, Teddy bears, water bottles, license plate frames, bumper stickers, ornaments, and one unmentionable. Over 3000 items available.
Louis' Instructional Ballroom Dance DVDs: These inspiring ballroom dance tutorials feature Louis Van Amstel, instructor for the TV show Dancing with the Stars. Video tutorials are great for supplementing any ballroom dance class, but you still need feedback from a local instructor.
Dance Music Links
Be sure to check the Music & outfitting suggestions link above if you're new at buying dance music.
Ballroom Connection: Lots of good ballroom (including Latin), swing, and Argentine tango CD music broken down by genre. Remember the International standard and American smooth dances include waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, and ballroom tango—not Argentine tango, which is more like a Latin dance than standard. American rhythm includes most of the Latin dances—but not Argentine tango even though it's somewhat Latin. Argentine tango and swing have their own genre.
Dance Plus: This is a strict-tempo CD music store based in Ontario, Canada. They have a wide selection of both ballroom and Latin dance music, but they stock very little swing music.
Rhino: Not everything in their jazz selection is danceable, but if you know the bands and artists, there are some very good selections.
Links to Social Dance Resources and Information
Ballroom Dancing Information: An informal, first person account by a ballroom student discussing numerous basics about ballroom dancing such as the differences between American rhythm and international Latin styles. Also, what to bring to a ballroom competition. The bottom of their page has many good resource links.
Henry's Hot List: Great national ballroom dance resource. Although it's no longer being updated (some links broken), many good links remain.
Addicted2salsa: They feature many salsa articles, an active salsa discussion forum, and—best of all—excellent, instructive, video clips for improving your salsa dancing with discussions.
Soul of the Tango: Information on Argentine tango
Health Benefits of Dance: AARP discusses the benefits of dancing, especially for the middle-aged and older crowd. Dancing helps shed pounds, lowers cholesterol and blood sugar, builds immunity, and fends off dementia.
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