Tango shoes: how to choose the first pair? A short guide

A model from a very popular and renowed brand for female tango shoes: Comme Il Faut

Let's face it: tango shoes look great. But how to choose our first pair in order to dance comfortably and in good balance? Here as some tips:

• Size: shoes should fit comfortably, but not be large enough for the foot to move inside. The toes shouldn't hang outside of the shoe, and it shouldn't be longer than the foot (not more than 1/2 cm approximately).  Between a slightly tight shoe and a wide one, always go for tight, since they will be made with leather and stretch with time.  There is also the possibility to have them stretched by a professional.
• Heels: tango shoes for women come with with heels that usually span from 6 all the way up to 9 centimeters, depending on the brand and model. Heels help followers find their balance more easily during many steps such as the caminata (backwards walk), adding elegance and refinement to the tango. It is highly advisable to start using proper argentine tango shoes as soon as possible, since the feeling of a training dance shoe and a "real" tango shoe can differ quite much. It is also recommended to start with lower heels and then go up when and if one feels ready. Tango shoes for men usually come with heels between  1,5 cm to 4 cm, with higher heels used only in more traditional contexts and almost disappeared from today's dancefloors. 
• Features: for women, choose always shoes with strap on the ankle, since it provides additional support.
• Sole:  soles for both roles usually come in suede or leather. Suede requires more care (they need to be brushed) , whilst leather have more durability and usually slide better.  Usually suede soles are more flexible, which adds more connection to the dance floor, but they will provide less support to the foot, therefore leather soles are more recommended for the beginning.

Where to find?  There are several possibilities:
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• Tango events around Sweden: usually in the majority of  tango events and festivals there is always a stand selling shoes. 
• Our recommendation: the best option in terms of quality/price are custom-made shoes to be purchased online. You can be sure to purchase a tango shoe that is high-quality and perfectly tailored to your foot, many times at a reasonable price. Students and teachers alike recommend:

           -   My Tango shoes by Mono (https://www.facebook.com/MyTangoShoesByMONO/)
           -  Binicideri (https://www.facebook.com/binicideri/) 
           -  Cardou (https://www.facebook.com/ChristieCardou/)
           -   Concordance (https://www.concordanceshoes.com/ )
           -  Alegriatango (https://www.alegriatango.gr/)
           -   Italian Tango Shoes (https://www.italiantangoshoes.com/en/)

• Post on Facebook groups: you can try to search if there is someone selling second hand shoes, or ask around to more experienced dancers if they are willing to make you try a pair (that you could afterwards buy online, for instance). There are also some independent sellers in Göteborg and other areas, who buy in stock and order online cyclically.
• Dansbutiken in Göteborg sells dancing shoes and sometimes tango shoes as well : https://www.dansbutiken.com/dansbutiken-goteborg
  
• La Vikinga tango (http://www.lavikingaboutique.com/): a physical (located in Malmö) and online store for  tango shoes handmade in Argentina.

Famous brands: NeoTango, Comme Il Faut, 2x4, Fabio Shoes, Flabella, Lolo Gerard

In case you are interested in your first purchase and couldn't make up your mind about it, don't hesitate to contact us or comment below ;)

​Hasta luego!
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