There is a new trend going on at professional dance classes in town, and I wanted to bring it to your attention.
Do you wear dance shoes in your jazz dance class?
In the past, the warm-up was always done without shoes so that you could warm up your feet. Then, everyone would put on their shoes for “across the floor” exercises. Afterwards, you would keep your shoes on the rest of the class for the combination.
Now, I’m noticing that dancers keep their shoes off for the entire class and dance barefoot. This is both good and bad. It’s great if you are trying to strengthen your feet, and it helps to keep you from sliding on a slick, dance floor. It’s also a necessity if you are taking a form of dance that requires bare feet.
However, if you are taking a Broadway jazz or traditional jazz class, it’s important to get used to dancing in jazz shoes. And if you are female, you’ll need to learn how to dance in character shoes with a heel.
Why?
When was the last time you saw a Broadway show or dance video where all of the dancers had bare feet?
Most shows require dancers to play a character, and that character usually wears shoes, on a hardwood floor. Also, it’s a safety feature. At auditions and on stages, the production companies like dancers to wear shoes to protect their feet.
Now, many shows require the dancers to go without shoes. But for most, big auditions and performances, they’ll require you to wear dance shoes.
… so with this in mind, if you are only used to dancing without shoes, you may want to start practicing with shoes. It feels completely different. Your turns, leaps and footwork will be different. And if you start auditioning, you want to know what it’s like to dance in all kinds of shoes on all kinds of surfaces.
Personally, I like to warm up without shoes and then put my shoes on to dance. They help me turn, slide my foot and more. Plus, they are essential for tap dancing!
Do you dance without shoes? Let me know your thoughts below. Also, check out this article for more information on what dance shoes to wear to dance class.
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