General FAQ
General FAQ
How are ballroom dance shoes different from regular street shoes?
Ballroom shoes all have suede soles, which offer the ideal amount of traction on the dance floor for steps, turns, and pivots. They are much softer than street shoes to allow for the flexibility needed to dance with proper technique. The softer construction and build of a ballroom shoe also gives us a much more tactile feel of the floor beneath our feet, so we can develop the right sensitivity for proper foot articulation.
Ballroom shoe heels are also different. They’re not there just to make the shoe “look pretty,” but are engineered to aid in putting us in the correct posture and balance over the correct part of our foot while dancing with a partner. That’s why even men’s shoes have a bit of a heel, and they are to prevent us from being too “back-weighted,” which is not ideal for dancing with a partner.
Remember—ballroom shoes are equipment, not a fashion item. Sure, they can look nice and presentable like normal footwear, but the most important purpose our dance shoes are meant for is to help us use our feet properly while performing the intended activity.
How should I fit ballroom dance shoes?
Generally, all ballroom shoes are engineered to be worn with a formed fit, very similar to how a glove fits our hand. Ballroom shoes are much softer and should not be worn loose like how we wear normal street shoes. The ideal fit of a ballroom shoe is often compared to that of climbing shoes or swim shoes. The idea is that the more fitted the shoes are, the more control and support we can have while dancing.
Since ballroom dance shoes are much softer, they will also break in and stretch out a bit through use. The more pressure we use in our feet, the more the shoes will stretch out over time. For this reason, it is common for most dancers to wear about 1/2 size (or even more) smaller than their street size in ballroom shoes.
When fitted correctly, dance shoes should not have excess room in the heel or the toe. We want our toes to come as close as possible to the end of the shoe. In open-toe styles, some dancers with a stronger toe point may even prefer to wear them shorter so the toes hang over the front a bit.
Our feet should fill out the shoes as much as possible. This is very important; a soft shoe that is loose fitting will not provide enough support and will feel wobbly and unstable. This can cause us to overwork our feet to compensate, which may even lead to injury.
For more a more detailed guide, please visit the Fitting My Dance Shoes page.
How do I care for my dance shoes?
Ballroom shoes all have suede soles, which are not meant to be worn outdoors at all. Dancers should take care to take them into the studio and then change into them inside.
It is also very important to brush the suede soles every now and then with a Shoe Brush to maintain them and keep them lasting longer.
For more details on how to take care of dance shoes, please visit the Shoe Care & Maintenance page.
What are the shipping options?
For Domestic orders within the US, the following shipping options are available:
- USPS Priority Mail – 3-5 business days
- USPS Express Mail – 1-2 business days
- FedEx Next Business Day – delivered the following business day, price will be quoted before the order is processed and shipped **Orders MUST be received and processed before 1PM PST to make the delivery cutoff on the same day
For International orders outside the US:
- USPS International Priority Mail – 6-10 business days, price will be quoted before the order is processed and shipped
Please allow up to 1-3 business days for online orders to be processed. Shipping and handling prices are based on the quantity of items in the order.
It is our company's policy that once your order is in the hands of the courier, we are no longer able to assume responsibility for it. Therefore, we ask you to please make every effort to ensure you have entered the correct shipping address where the order may be delivered safely.
What is the return/exchange policy?
Customers have 14 days to return or exchange any regular priced shoes purchased in-store or online. Returned shoes MUST be in new, unused, unworn condition—no exceptions. We will not accept returns on any used or worn shoes. All included packaging and accessories must be returned with the shoes (any shoe bags, boxes, extra laces, polish, etc.) Shipping prices are non-refundable; this is non-negotiable and no exceptions will be made. The costs for return postage is the responsibility of the customer to cover. If an exchange is desired, the 1st exchange in an order will be sent free of shipping and handling. Any following exchanges will incur normal shipping charges. Please allow up to 14 days for refunds to process and post to your account.
Please visit our Returns/Exchanges page for more details.
Do you open during holidays?
Our store and operations do close on most major holidays, including:- New Years’ Day
- Easter Day
- Memorial Day
- 4th of July
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Please be aware that there may be delays in processing orders during the days before and after major holidays. If you would like to visit our retail location, please feel free to contact us beforehand to verify our hours or if we are open or closed on any upcoming holidays.
Are your prices online the same as at your retail store?
Generally, yes. However, certain brands or styles may vary slightly depending on availability. Please feel free to contact us with any inquiries on product prices and availability.
Is it possible to order styles that aren’t listed on your website?
Yes! Please contact us with any inquiries on styles not listed on our website. We can place special orders for any styles carried by any of the brands featured on our website, as long as they are still available by the manufacturers.
**Please note: All special orders are final sale and non-returnable—please be certain the style and size you wish to order is correct.
Are you present on any social media channels?
Yes! Please visit our Facebook page to see any updates on new products or occasional promotions. (And don’t forget to Like us!) We are also on Yelp—please feel free to leave feedback about your shopping experience in-store or online!
Do you resell pre-owned shoes or clothing?
Unfortunately, we don’t take pre-owned products for consignment sales; our focus as a retailer is to sell new, unused dance wear only.