Dancing in high heels - Page 3

Phoebedances · 07-06-2008, 07:46 PM

I always wore 2.5 inch or 3 inch heels when dancing in restaurants. It looks more classy and I think people eating don't want to see bare feet, even very well pedicured ones. Those hermes dance sandals would be a good alternative I think, if you don't like high heels. It's not just the asthetics, though. Often the middle-eastern or greek places fire the Saganaki at the tables and the oil from that makes the carpet quite grimey. I've seen dancers at a hafla who did dance barefoot at a greek place come off the floor with completely black soles of their feet. (This place had dark green carpet and I guess years of oil from the cheese spattering on it!!! ) Another year at the same restaurant - different hafla, the owner of the restaurant got in the spirit and started breaking plates on the floor - which meant if you didn't have shoes, you didn't dance after that!

Now Saidi or Egyptian folkloric dances can have bare feet on stage, but I think I'd still wear shoes in a restaurant because of the above.

I am considering now getting a pair of ballroom dance shoes. I think the platforms don't work well with dance - way too stiff and way too high, so it makes it impossible to rise further up on your toes. Shoes with a more flexible bottom in the toe-arch area are better for me.

Nur Al Leyali · 08-15-2008, 12:45 AM

The only time I wear heels is when I am in an area where there is the likelihood that I might some how step on something that would hurt me, And about the breaking your ankle lol I almost did , I feel off heels and I flew down very hard and i made it work it was graceful but it was like my mermaid pose plumeged into the deep ocean like a sub. I think many people ask there self ..Did she mean to do that?>>> But the point is you learn from mistakes and your body has muscle memory .. Just practice and your body will learn and remember.

Bellydance Oz · 08-19-2008, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jane

My legs are so short I look like my butt is dragging on the ground when I don't wear heels.

Me too. I'm tiny as it is, but add a long body and a bit of extra weight and I can look hopelessly squat without heels!

As to whether they impair movement - I think it all depends what you're used to wearing. I took up flamenco after dancing jazz and ballet, and I admit I struggled with the very rigid high-heeled shoes at first - but after a few years, I couldn't imagine wearing anything else. And of course, Latin dancers wear them all the time and have no trouble swinging their hips.

The trouble starts when you're used to dancing in flatties and suddenly put on a pair of shoes - it completely changes your centre of gravity and affects every single movement. So if you're going to wear heels for performance, you really need to wear them for practice as well, IMO.

08-15-2008, 12:45 AM	#22 (permalink)
Nur Al Leyali Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Moody , Alabama US Posts: 146	The only time I wear heels is when I am in an area where there is the likelihood that I might some how step on something that would hurt me, And about the breaking your ankle lol I almost did , I feel off heels and I flew down very hard and i made it work it was graceful but it was like my mermaid pose plumeged into the deep ocean like a sub. I think many people ask there self ..Did she mean to do that?>>> But the point is you learn from mistakes and your body has muscle memory .. Just practice and your body will learn and remember. __________________ Nur Al Leyalitmagill@ymail.com

07-06-2008, 07:46 PM	#21 (permalink)
Phoebedances Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 310	I always wore 2.5 inch or 3 inch heels when dancing in restaurants. It looks more classy and I think people eating don't want to see bare feet, even very well pedicured ones. Those hermes dance sandals would be a good alternative I think, if you don't like high heels. It's not just the asthetics, though. Often the middle-eastern or greek places fire the Saganaki at the tables and the oil from that makes the carpet quite grimey. I've seen dancers at a hafla who did dance barefoot at a greek place come off the floor with completely black soles of their feet. (This place had dark green carpet and I guess years of oil from the cheese spattering on it!!! ) Another year at the same restaurant - different hafla, the owner of the restaurant got in the spirit and started breaking plates on the floor - which meant if you didn't have shoes, you didn't dance after that! Now Saidi or Egyptian folkloric dances can have bare feet on stage, but I think I'd still wear shoes in a restaurant because of the above. I am considering now getting a pair of ballroom dance shoes. I think the platforms don't work well with dance - way too stiff and way too high, so it makes it impossible to rise further up on your toes. Shoes with a more flexible bottom in the toe-arch area are better for me.