10 Signs You’re Wearing the Wrong Tango Shoes
Anyone who says “a poor craftsman blames their tools” has never danced in the wrong pair of tango shoes.
Here’s 10 signs a pair is a poor fit for you:
You’re in Pain
Sore feet and muscles are the hallmarks of a great milonga, but tango shoes that cause pain, regardless of how many hours you’ve danced, are no bueno.
Beware the tango shoe that pinches your toes, digs into your heels, or blisters your skin; if it hurts when you first try it on – even a little – it will agonize and injure when you wear it over time.
2. You’re Constantly Readjusting
A loose strap here. A misaligned heel cage there…
Your tango shoes should fit like a second skin, with no spaces or gaps. Aside from adjustments when you put on your shoes at the beginning of a tango event, the rest of your evening should be readjustment-free.
If readjustments are your constant companion, it’s a sign that your shoes are too big.
3. Your Toes Hang
As mentioned up top, a proper tango shoe fit differs from your street shoes. They should wear like an exact extension of your foot; any bigger, and you’ll end up with loose, migrating shoes, any smaller, and your toes will hang off the edge of your sole.
Aside from being an indication that your tango shoes are too small, hanging toes are vulnerable to being scraped across the floor and stepped on by errant leads.
4. You’re Wobbling
All tangueras wobble when they first start their tango journey, but the wrong pair of tango shoes can make wobbles worse.
When shoes induce wobbles, anatomical incompatibility is likely the culprit; all tango shoes are built to be perfectly balanced by expert cobblers, with evenly distributed weight from heel to toe, but the incorrect heel height, heel cage type, and strap specifications for your body type and ability can force you to fight between your natural center of gravity and the center of gravity created by your shoes.
5. Your Heel is Too High
Most tango shoes for followers are heeled. Ranging from 6 cm to 9 cm in height, heels lengthen the leg, perk up your glutes, and allow you to dance comfortably on your toes.
There is, however, too much of a good thing when it comes to tango heels, as a heel that’s too high forces you contort in uncomfortable ways. Besides the aforementioned wobbles, feeling stretched, hyperextended, and detached from your body are signs that a heel is too high for your anatomy and skill level.
6. You Can’t Feel the Floor
Feeling the floor is integral for tango dancers; you use it to generate long, powerful steps and grounded pivots.
Your connection with the floor is also why any tango shoe worth its salt has smooth, thin soles that are fashioned from either leather or suede. And while all tango shoe brands provide various levels of cushioning for the balls of your feet, said cushioning should never be so thick that you can’t feel the floor.
7. You’re Stagnating
Your tango shoes should grow with you, not hold you back.
If, despite accruing thousands of classroom, milonga, and festival hours, your dancing level refuses to improve, the issue might not be you. It might be your shoes.
8. Your Feet are Falling Asleep
All tango shoes feature ankle straps. Fashioned from thin strips of leather, ankle straps keep the shoe secure as you move. They’re designed to be tightened like a belt, however, they should never be so tight that they pinch your nerves.
Tingling sensations in your feet and ankles is a sign your ankle straps are too tight; if the discomfort can’t be relived by loosening the straps, you likely need to size up.
9. You Feel Emotionally Uncomfortable
When it comes to aesthetics, tango shoe brands have their bases covered. Every color, pattern, finish, and design you can think of is yours for the taking – all you have to do is choose the right combination.
The above is why the right tango shoe should make you feel great, both physically and emotionally. If you find that self-consciousness, embarrassment, and unease follow you around the ronda, your tango shoes, and whether or not they express who you truly are, should be reconsidered.
10. You’ve Accumulated Debt
It’s no secret that a pair of new tango shoes ain’t cheap, especially when purchasing from online and in-person vendors outside of Buenos Aires. Expense, however, is no excuse for spending above your means.
As a minimalist and anti-consumerist, I believe that you should always avoid accruing debt for non-essential items, and this includes tango shoes.
When shopping for a new pair of tango shoes, always set a budget and create savings goals that match your income level before making a purchase. If you can’t afford a new pair now, resist succumbing to FOMO, as it will likely still be available when you can.
