Friday 26 October 2012

Tango shoes in Buenos Aires



Come February, I expect to be back in Buenos Aires - to dance, to learn, and of course to shop for shoes.

Naturally, I shall be looking to prepare the definitive blog on what is available, how the shoes I find are made - quality, price and availability. And most importantly, how they perform and stand up to rigour of Buenos Aires milongas!

If you have your favourites, let me know and I shall include them in the piece. Just list them below in the comments column, saying why you like, or dislike a particular manufacturer; or if you prefer, email me with the information.

Now is OUR chance to tell them what WE want - and what we don't!

Sunday 14 October 2012

Avoiding Tango Injuries

More from http://www.verytango.com/tango-dance-shoes.html


To minimize the chances of injury:

  • Wear good quality shoes
  • Stretch exercises: particularly the calves, before and after dancing
  • Arch exercises: raise your legs off the ground whilst in the sitting position, and point your feet as far forward as possible - this position should be held for a few minutes
  • Slow rising exercises: whilst in the standing position, slowly rise until you are on the balls of your feet, hold yourself for a few seconds, then slowly fall back to the ground
  • Toe exercises: whilst in the standing position, bring your big toe up and the other toes down; hold for a few seconds then reverse
  • Releves exercises: stand with legs together and feet to the sides; now rise on the balls of both feet, bringing the knees away from you, and remain in the position for a few seconds
  • Ankle circles: whilst sitting in straight-backed chair, slowly circle your ankle to the right and then to the left
  • Reach and return exercises: whilst sitting on the edge of a chair and keeping your feet on the floor, move one foot along the floor away from you to your limit then pull back

Tango shoes and Conversion Tables


From http://www.verytango.com/tango-dance-shoes.html

Structure of tango shoes
If a thing is worth knowing, it is worth knowing well. Hence a few minutes should be spent around what makes a tango shoe:

  • All shoes have four components: an upper (the part that covers the feet), an insole (the part that touches our feet), an outsole (the part at the bottom of the shoes) and a heel
  • The heel is attached to the outsole by glue and nails
  • In between the insole and the outsole, there is a shank (a piece of metal) to support the arch (the shank is shorter in tango shoes than in ballroom shoes, to provide extra flexibility)
  • There is normally some padding on the top of the insole - however for tango shoes this padding is thicker than normal shoes, to provide extra comfort
  • The insole is attached to the outsole using rubber cement - however for tango shoes this is further reinforced with nails to provide structural stability
Buying good tango shoes
Buying good tango shoes is as much a science as an art form. The following tips might help:

  • It goes without saying that tango shoes should be the right size, and professionally fitted - and make sure that your feet are not swollen at the time of purchase
  • Before paying, make sure that the shoes are balanced - you will often be on only one foot, so ensure that you test each shoe individually by standing on one foot and ensure you still feel secure and grounded
  • Followers: tango shoes should be tested by walking backwards!!!! That's how you will be using them, remember
  • Another test is pivoting - ensure the shoes hold well
  • Followers: choose the height of the heel well; beginners may not want to start with a heel that is too high
  • Leads: there are two heights for tango shoes heels - generally beginners should start with the lower height (ballroom)
  • The shoes should be close fitting without cutting your circulation, or causing cramps (which can be caused by particularly high heels)
  • The single most important test is to ensure that you do not slide inside the shoe
  • The sole should be made of material that allows easy turning - too much traction, particularly during pivots, may induce serious injury (more on soles below)
  • Normal shoes are not appropriate for dancing, hence correct tango shoes should be used for classes, practicas and milongas
  • Followers: for classes, you may want to purchase closed toe shoes for better protection
  • You should have a carry bag for convenience and protection of tango shoes
  • If you like especially rigid shoes, there are inserts available (which often come with high quality shoes) that distribute support across the foot arch, as tango shoes are actually made without a rigid bridge to provide flexibility
  • Insoles can also be used for two reasons: if your shoes are slightly too big, and also to provide greater comfort and bounce
  • Tango shoes themselves are normally either leather or suede: leather tends to be stronger, suede tends to be more flexible (other types of uppers are discussed below)
  • Followers: the heel needs to be situated squarely under the heel of the foot
  • Followers: with higher shoes, your feet tend to slip forward so shoes should have good padding to the ball of the foot and toes
Women's Tango Shoe Size Conversion
      US      Spain & ItalyOther EuropeUK & Aust  Inches      cm    
433.53528 5/1621
4.53435.52.58 1/221.5
5353638 11/1622
5.535.5373.58 13/1622.5
63637.54923
6.536.5384.59 3/1623.5
7373959 5/1623.5
7.537.539.55.59 1/224
8384069 11/1624.5
8.538.540.56.59 13/1625
9394171025.5
9.540427.510 3/1626
104142.5810 5/1626.5
10.541.542.58.510 1/226.5
114243910 11/1627
11.542.5449.510 13/1627.5
124344.5101128
134510.511 5/1628.5
1445.51111 11/1629.5
154611.51230.5
1646.51212 1/231.5

Men's Tango Shoe Size Conversion

    US    EuropeUK & Aust  Inches      cm    
436.53.58 15/1622
4.53749 1/1622.5
537.54.59 1/423
5.53859 1/423.5
638.55.59 5/1624
6.53969 1/224
7406.59 11/1624.5
7.54179 13/1625
841.57.51025.5
8.542810 3/1626
9438.510 5/1626.5
9.543.5910 1/227
10449.510 11/1627.5
10.544.51010 13/1628
114510.51128.5
11.5461111 3/1629
1246.511.511 5/1629.5
134812.511 11/1630
1449.513.51230.5
1550.514.512 5/1631
165215.512 1/231.5

Tango Shoe Soles
There are three types of soles:

  • Suede soles: for very smooth floors, as suede will offer better grip
  • Leather soles: for normal dance floors
  • Rubber soles: for slippery floors (porcelain, marble, some types of hardwood) - generally should be avoided, as it can be dangerous if grips too much
  • Some shoes will actually have interchangeable soles for different types of floors
  • The sole should not stick out beyond the shoe (making a rim)
Tango Shoe Uppers
Uppers can be made of many materials:

  • Leather: stronger, long-lasting, but it also softens well and stretches molding itself to the foot
  • Suede: very stretchable, and hence is probably the most comfortable, not as long-lasting as leather
  • chrom / mara: feels like suede, shimmers, very easily stretchable
  • Velvet: very delicate, and does not stretch much

Monday 27 August 2012

Shoes in action

Jennifer Bratt's great series of decorations comes no better than this! Its not the shoes, but what you do with them.


Monday 4 June 2012

Alien Shoes

Are your Comme il Fauts too delicate for the cut and thrust of the milonga? Well, courtesy of Mara Mascaro here are a tough pair, commissioned in outer space. Alien shoes, just what you have been looking for!


Sunday 20 May 2012

What to wear for the milonga?

Joe Leonardo in his costume guide for appearing in silent tango films, suggests the right outfit for you to stand out on celluloid! Here are his flappers! How tango shoes have changed.


Friday 11 May 2012

Guys: danger on the dance floor

My inbox tells me that there a number of guys who follow the blog. So here is something special for you. Footwear or artwork? Scary either way!


Sunday 29 April 2012

Giuseppi Zanotti

$5,810 from Guiseppi Zanotti, designed by Kanye West. Thanks again to the shoe girl for this. Well, at least a pair would provide the necessary protection for dancing with some tangueros. For me, I think I will take the risk rather than the price!



Saturday 21 April 2012

If you want to avoid dance injuries, keeping your feet in shape is essential. Here, a great exercise for better feet - originally intended for ballet, but very relevant for both tangueros and tangueras.


Friday 6 April 2012

One of a pair


Have you heard of a slow floor? Well, here is a fast shoe - perfect to escape from the unwanted attention of the over familiar tanguero!

Sunday 25 March 2012

Tango in the wind...or at least tango feet. First, get yourself a nice long stretch of sunny beach; next try some yoga! Dancing, especially in heels, places multiple stresses on your feet. Ocaramia addresses this with some radical exercises. For those who don't easily bend in half, skip the body bits and look at the video from 40 secs onwards. Definitely the way to keep the tango feet trim.


Tuesday 13 March 2012

Nobody asked me to dance

Many thanks to Polarflares for drawing my attention to the new 'dance range' of shoes for the shorter tanguera. Just what you need for your next milonga!


Sunday 19 February 2012




Shoes. We love them! Tango shoes are one of the big attractions of dancing Argentine tango. Dancing Argentine tango, we are caught in the web of delight - colours, styles, heels, straps, femininity. We can’t resist the shoe stalls at milongas; our trips to Buenos Aires centre around the dozens of shoe shop which tempt our attention.

But just what is happening with tango shoes? I have been fortunate enough to be bought some gorgeous shoes, sourced from various stores in Buenos Aires, and many have given good service – reliable, well constructed, durable and comfortable. So imagine my disappointment when not one, but three of my recently acquired pairs of shoes failed without warning, and when I discovered to my horror, that the cause of failure was really poor design and shoddy workmanship. Whilst the prices have escalated way beyond inflation, the quality of tango shoes appears to have plummeted. Let’s face it, Argentine tango is not an ‘extreme sport’, weight is centred on the soles and angles appear only as decorations. Is it that the suppliers see our tourist market as a ‘get rich quick’ target? Which of the shoe makers is looking at long-term sustainability of supply? Do they not think that tangueras chat together to share their misery as well as their delights? Share your thoughts and concerns, and maybe with the weight of opinion, we could end up getting a better deal.

Sunday 12 February 2012

Or if ganchos with spikes seems too dangerous, try this pair of mules!


Do you like stilettos? Well here are some spikes that would go down a treat at the milonga and stop men treading on your toes.


Friday 10 February 2012

Christian Louboutin

Maybe not for tango, or maybe? A glimpse behind the scenes with Christian and his distinctive must-have shoes.


How many shoes, and what do they say about you?


Wednesday 8 February 2012

Stretch your shoes with ice

They seemed great when I bought them, but now my feet are killing me! How often have I heard those words? Well, do not despair. There is always an answer, and here Michelle comes up trumps to save that favourite pair of shoes that nip your toes.


Monday 6 February 2012

Great Guide from tangoshoeguide.com
Getting the size right with your tango shoes makes a huge difference to your tango. Dance shoes get much more wear than street shoes, and finding the right fit is vital.
When thinking about sizes for your Argentine tango shoes, bear in mind that some materials stretch and others don't. For example, if I'm buying leather tango shoes, I get them in a 37, because I know they'll stretch to fit my foot like a glove. But if I buy shoes made of something stiff, like glued glitter, than I buy a 38 because I know they won't stretch at all.
You'll hear different advice about whether you need to get your tango shoes tighter or looser than street shoes. I find that if they're loose I feel very insecure in them. I once got a pair that felt incredibly comfy when I bought them, but once I'd worn them a few times they'd stretched to the point where they were too loose. I know one woman who always buys her tango shoes a size too small because they stretch. Personally I think that's going a step too far. I find shoes that are too tight very painful to dance in, and I feel like I can't use my toes.
I would say you want your tango shoes to fit snugly, but you don't want them to squeeze. Besides, if you get them too small, your toes may end up sticking out the end and onto the floor. This is a common problem for girls with narrow feet, because they have to get shoes that fit their width, even if they're too short. Girls with slightly wider feet may have the opposite problem, and find they have to get shoes which feel a little too long in order to have a comfortable width. There's one Argentine tango shoe company I know that offers a solution to this – Diva Boutique carry some lines that you can get in wider or narrower fittings.
Most Argentine tango shoe suppliers are very helpful with sizing, and very experienced, and can offer good advice about sizes. If you're buying tango shoes by mail, with quite a lot of stores, you can email them a drawing of your foot, and they'll tell you which size they think you need.
To make the drawing, stand on a piece of paper on a hard surface, and draw round your foot with the pencil vertical (they'll adjust the measurement to account for the width of the pencil). Then draw two lines – one going down the 
length of your foot, from the middle of the heel to the longest point of your toes, and one going across the widest part of your foot. On those lines, mark off centimeter intervals. Then write down the precise total measurements as well. Do this for both feet, as they won't be quite the same. If you've marked the centimeters, then you can email the drawings or fax them, and the people in the shoe store will still be able to see the measurement accurately.
Argentina
35
36
37
38
39
40
USA
5
6
7
8
9
10
Europe
35
36
37.5
38.5
40
42
UK
2.5
3.5
4.5
5.5
6.5
7.5
Centimeters
22.8
36
37
38
39
40
In case for any reason the staff can't help you work out your size, here's a tango dance shoe sizing guide for women. Basically, Argentine sizes run about the same as American street sizes, plus 30. For example, I take a 37 or 38 in Argentina, and in the US I take about a 7 or 8. In the UK I take about a 5.
One thing to note if you're a European shopping for tango shoes – if a shoe claims to be a 38, then that's probably an Argentine 38, which is not the same as a European 38. So be careful to check!