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!

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 & Italy	Other Europe	UK & Aust	Inches	cm
4	33.5	35	2	8 5/16	21
4.5	34	35.5	2.5	8 1/2	21.5
5	35	36	3	8 11/16	22
5.5	35.5	37	3.5	8 13/16	22.5
6	36	37.5	4	9	23
6.5	36.5	38	4.5	9 3/16	23.5
7	37	39	5	9 5/16	23.5
7.5	37.5	39.5	5.5	9 1/2	24
8	38	40	6	9 11/16	24.5
8.5	38.5	40.5	6.5	9 13/16	25
9	39	41	7	10	25.5
9.5	40	42	7.5	10 3/16	26
10	41	42.5	8	10 5/16	26.5
10.5	41.5	42.5	8.5	10 1/2	26.5
11	42	43	9	10 11/16	27
11.5	42.5	44	9.5	10 13/16	27.5
12	43	44.5	10	11	28
13		45	10.5	11 5/16	28.5
14		45.5	11	11 11/16	29.5
15		46	11.5	12	30.5
16		46.5	12	12 1/2	31.5

Men's Tango Shoe Size Conversion

US	Europe	UK & Aust	Inches	cm
4	36.5	3.5	8 15/16	22
4.5	37	4	9 1/16	22.5
5	37.5	4.5	9 1/4	23
5.5	38	5	9 1/4	23.5
6	38.5	5.5	9 5/16	24
6.5	39	6	9 1/2	24
7	40	6.5	9 11/16	24.5
7.5	41	7	9 13/16	25
8	41.5	7.5	10	25.5
8.5	42	8	10 3/16	26
9	43	8.5	10 5/16	26.5
9.5	43.5	9	10 1/2	27
10	44	9.5	10 11/16	27.5
10.5	44.5	10	10 13/16	28
11	45	10.5	11	28.5
11.5	46	11	11 3/16	29
12	46.5	11.5	11 5/16	29.5
13	48	12.5	11 11/16	30
14	49.5	13.5	12	30.5
15	50.5	14.5	12 5/16	31
16	52	15.5	12 1/2	31.5

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