Is there a trick to dancing in heels over 2 inches?

Question

I am not a very good dancer but I would like to become better. Is there some kind of way to practice dancing on 2+ inch heels solo? Like here at home how do I practice without a partner? Are there things to remember as you are dancing on heels that high? Rules? Practice excersises?

3 inch heels????????

Answer 1

The best way to learn to dance is by dancing. Walking in your dance shoes won't help you much.

The only type of dance shoes I know that come with a 3" heel is a Latin sandal. Court shoe usually has 2.5" heels. That's most typical for competitive ballroom. I'm not sure what do you mean by solo, but you're supposed to support your own weight in any case.

If you're talking about street shoes - it may or may not be possible. Not all street shoes are dance-friendly.

You need your feet and ankles to become stronger and more flexible. And you need dance shoes with the heels that feel a bit high, but still comfortable enough so you can actually stand and walk without your legs trembling. Learn to dance in those. Work your way up. If you can't straighten your knees - the heel is way too high for you. If you can't raise on your toes and lift the heel off the ground - the heel is too high for you.

As for exersises - the best one I know is to stand on your high toes (I mean, still on the ball of the foot, but as high as you can). Put most weight near the big toe. Don't allow your feet to roll out. Do sets of 10. Another good one is waving with your foot. Arch your foot, let the toes be relaxed, then flex it, arch and flex. This helps with flexibility as well as strength.
Things to remember: don't let your foot roll out. This is dangerous. Use the inner edge of your foot.

Walking around in them won't help you. It is much harder than dancing the way they were designed for. Walk-on used to be the worst torture of the whole peformance for me. Because then you're supposed to walk like a normal person, from heelto toe, not on your toes. Now I can actually dash across the whole dance floor, but I've been dancing for 6 years.

I dance on 3" heels. It's not supposed to be painful, and it's not. Yeah, your skin is unhappy at first but then it gets rough in the right places and it doesn't hurt anymore. Remember, if it hurts - your body is trying to tell you something...

All that said, the maximum height of the heel that you'll ever be able to wear is determined by your foot size. If your foot is smaller than size 6 your max might be at 2.5" but your foot still would look nice and arched. If you have very large feet you may be able to progress past 3" without a problem.

mari athenan put it very nicely too.

Answer 2

The trick is to not let your heels touch the floor. You can practice that. I am a "toe walker", i can actually run faster when my heels don't touch the ground. Practice by walking barefoot at home, not on your toes but on the part of your foot that comes before the arch. Also,wear open toe heels. I can walk /dance for miles in 5 inch heels, but i could not in closed toed heels:they squeeze my toes and cause pain. We have many different foot shapes: some people are flat footed, etc. If it causes you pain while doing it barefoot on a soft surface like carpet,soil, or grass, your feet probably are not shaped for it. Even in sandals my feet are more comfortable putting the weight on the front half of my feet and not evenly distributing the weight evenly,I also experience less back pain i think because it does something to keep my spine in better alignment. Its just i don't do it at work:I don't want to look weird! (if I am walking on slick wet surface I can walk faster stepping with my lateral side of my foot and ending the step medially (outer to inner).This is how my feet are built, I am also missing a ligament genetically between my big toe and 2nd toe: hence i can write with my toes. If anyone reads this, add to my response, I know it is genetic but would like to hear form others that can do this.

Answer 3

How To Dance In Heels

Answer 4

First you need to be able to walk successfully in heels!

Once you can walk properly in heels wear them everywhere. Dancing in heels is all about confidence and balance which comes from wearing heels all the time. Dancing in heels then becomes second nature.

Don't think for a minute you can put 3" heels on just for dancing.

Answer 5

Well when your dancing with the heels don't think about it. Mostly you just dance on the balls of you feet anyway but with over two inch heels you need to get used to standing a little taller. Walk around the house on the balls of your feel as it you were wearing the shoes or with them on if you don't have to worry about scraching wood floors. Just get used to using the shoes and using the balls of your feet to dance. After a while you'll get used to it and not have to worry about anything but the dance steps.Good Luck.

Answer 6

Ummm. If you're going to try that then skip that drink I suggested on your last message!

Sorry I'm a guy and dancing in heels sounds impossible, although I know you ladies manage somehow.

Answer 7

You must buy the very best shoes you can find. They give you sturdy support and that makes everything else easier.

You do realize that you're going to end up crippled by bunions, don't you? That's what heels do to women eventually.

Answer 8

Put all your weight on your toes and ignore the pain.

Answer 9

maybe you could walk around in them more and see if that helps?...

Answer 10

yOU DON`T TAKE THEM OFF