The Best Shoes for Zouk Dancing (For any Budget!)

Whether you’re totally new to dancing and don’t know where to start, or a long-time dancer looking to “upgrade” their footwear choice, there are a ton of options when it comes to zouk dancing.

Here’s a thorough overview of the most common options (for both leaders and followers) for dancing indoors (ex. on a proper dance floor) based on my own personal experience of 10+ years of dancing and feedback from other zoukers.

Socks

Socks are obviously the most budget-friendly option, which makes this my go-to recommendation for folks who are just getting into zouk dancing and don’t want to “invest” in any kind of dance shoes. But that doesn’t mean they’re only for newbies! You may even see plenty of experienced dancers dancing in socks at socials simply because they like the ease of spinning and the ability to “feel the floor.”

Pros:

• You’ve already got some lying around your house!

• Quite slippery, making turning on hardwood dance floors a breeze

• Allows you to “feel the floor” through your feet, allowing you to control your movements by using your full foot articulation

• Takes up zero space to bring anywhere

• Great for practicing at home as well (they’re the slipperiest option for practicing on carpet, if you don’t have access to hardwood)

Cons:

• For some students, can feel too slippery, making it challenging to dance with control (accidentally over-rotating in turns, sliding through steps past where you’ve transferred your weight, etc.). And socks can be a slippery nightmare to dance in if someone’s baby powdered the floor!

  • Pro Tip: If you find yourself slipping and sliding too much, consider wearing ankle socks “halfsies” style, with half the sock rolled down your foot to expose your heel. This allows you to use your (sockless) heel as a friction point between part of your foot and the floor, turning it into a helpful brake pedal :)

• Zero support. Foot muscles fatigue faster without any arch support, potentially leading to some tired tootsies

• The (potential) stink factor, especially if you have sweaty feet

  • Pro Tip: Put on a fresh pair of socks before class / a social, don’t subject the room to your day-long-lived-in-and-walked-in sock funk

  • Pro Tip: Opt for moisture-wicking material if you can. Some people will even dance in wool socks for this reason, although those can get pretty toasty. Personally, I prefer just generic athletic ankle socks

Cost:

• $0 (and up)

Foot Undeez & Half Sole SHoes

This is another minimalist-ish option that’s a good pick for people who like to dance in socks, but want something a bit more “professional.” Half sole options offer foot coverage just where you need it (on the ball of the foot to facilitate spinning), but allow the heel to stay free for greater control on the floor.

The most common variations can be made of canvas or leather and basically feature the front half of a dance slipper and the back half of bands to secure the slipper to your ankle:

Example: Capezio Pirouette Li ($21)

A style I actually like better is the footUndeez originally popularized by Capezio (and since has been replicated by other brands). I wore these for a while at some congresses because I liked how they looked, but eventually ended up “upgrading” to shoes with more arch support. But they’re cute for folks who want the barefoot look!

Example: Capezio footUndeez ($21)

Pros:

• Great compromise between minimalist almost-barefoot feel without the over-slipperiness of socks

• Built-in reinforcement/cushioning at the ball of the foot prevents blisters

Cons:

• No arch support - feet may tire over the course of class or night of social dancing

• Not accepted for use in Jack & Jill competitions (which require full foot coverage)

• Rarely available in wide-width sizes

Cost:

• $10-$25 - “Name brand” dance shoes (like Capezio, Bloch, etc) are typically $20+, but there are plenty of cheaper Amazon alternatives for around $12

Canvas Ballet Slippers

For folks looking for full foot coverage, canvas ballet flats are a great cheap option.

Example: TJX Sports Canvas Ballet Shoe ($15)

I used these for a while as a cheap practice shoe but ended up “upgrading” to jazz shoes (and eventually Taygras) when I got more serious about dancing.

Pros:

• Cheap!

• Full foot coverage

• Minimalist sole (just fabric and suede on the ball of the foot) allows for nice foot articulation

Cons:

• Zero arch support

• Toes can feel smooshed together or “trapped” if the fit isn’t great (I’m actually not sure if this is true across brands, but in two that I’ve tried I felt my toes would kind of get smooshed in the toe area over the course of the night)

• Nude colors can get dirty as heck

Cost:

• $12-$25

Jazz Shoes

Jazz shoes were my go-tos for years before I joined the Taygra bandwagon (more on those later!). I love jazz shoes for zouk. These split-sole shoes are slightly stiffer than canvas ballet flats, giving them a bit more structure/support.

Example: Capezio Women’s Economy Jazz Shoe ($35)

Example: Lindoes Unisex Jazz Shoe ($18)

Pros:

• An affordable investment ($25-$45)

• Split-sole allows foot arch to be preserved (aka “you can see your pretty toe point when you point your toes”)

• Front sole and heel are typically made of EVA plastic, which is stiffer and more resilient than suede

• Hugely popular, available in lots of sizes (including wide widths)

Cons:

• Stiff EVA sole limits the sensitivity / feeling of the front of the foot between the floor (less foot articulation)

• Can turn into sweaty little foot saunas - because they’re typically made of leather, these babies trap heat & sweat which can get toasty. Definitely need to air these babies out after dancing!

• Not vegan (if that’s important to you)

Cost:

• $25-$45

• “Name brand” shoes will be closer to $40

• Personally, I’ve preferred the comfort of my $40 Capezio jazz shoes over the no-name cheaper knockoffs that I got off of Amazon once to try and save a couple bucks

Dance Heels

Heels aren’t super common in zouk. While there are a handful of dancers, both amateurs and pros alike, who dance in heels (especially pros who perform a lot), most dancers choose to prioritize comfort and the easier technique of dancing in non-heeled shoes.

I came to zouk from salsa, so I had several years under my belt of dancing in heels, and even wore them for a zouk performance or two, but these days I never zouk in heels (heck, I rarely even salsa in my heels any more!). I typically don’t recommend them for folks who don’t come from a dance background (ex. salsa, ballroom, etc) where they’re already very comfortable dancing in heels.

So if you are already comfortable dancing in heels, by all means you can absolutely zouk in them - but be warned that it will be more challenging.

Example: Very Fine Bling GOld Glitter Satin Heel ($149)

Pros:

• Gorgeous!

• You may already have these from another dance style that you practice

• Suede sole is great for spinning

Cons:

• Expensive, especially if you are looking for flashier performance heels

• More challenging to balance (and catch yourself if you get off balance)

• Requires more ankle strength and engagement to keep weight off of the heel when dancing

Cost:

• $60-$200

Dance Sneakers (Taygras, Fuegos, and More)

Dance sneakers are arguably the most popular option for “beyond beginner” dancers (at least in the US - you will see them everywhere at congresses). Taygra shoes specifically have enjoyed such cult-level popularity within zouk, it’s become a running joke that they’re practically part of the zouk uniform.

The two most popular brands, by far, are Taygra and Fuego. There are a handful of other more “traditional” dance shoe brands (like Sansha) that have non grip-y dance sneaker options, but they’re a bit clunkier and admittedly less popular). There is even variation among each brand’s shoe offerings (for example, Fuego recently released a split-sole dance sneaker). In the future I’ll make another post going into more detail about the variations among the shoes (especially comparing Taygras vs Fuegos, which is a common question), but for the purposes of this post we’ll just look at “dance sneakers” as a categorical whole.

Example: Taygra Corrida ($88)

Example: Fuegos Low-Top ($110)

Example: Sansha Salsette 1 ($30)

Pros:

• The most supportive option - your tiny feet muscles will thank you!

  • Pro Tip: Some brands have more support than others. Taygras are admittedly known for being “less supportive” out of the sneaker options, so many folks (like myself) put in padded insoles to make them more comfortable for a long night of dancing

• Much more variety of colors/styles. High top, low top, you choose! Taygras alone are available in 30+ colors

• Some can be worn as both street and dance shoes. Fuegos market this as one of their differentiators. While you can absolutely wear Taygras as street shoes as well, I don’t because it shortens their dance life

• Often available being sold by vendors at zouk congresses/festivals (so you can try them on before you buy)

• Many are vegan / animal-product free

Cons:

• Pricey (at least for the “popular” name brands). Both Taygras and Fuegos will cost you around $100

• Thicker sole reduces sensitivity of foot contact with the floor

Cost:

• $80-$120

All that said, I dance in Taygras. They are absolutely my preferred dance shoe despite being on the pricier end of the spectrum ($80+). I danced in jazz shoes for so many years because I thought all the Taygra shoe popularity was just people wanting to be in the “cool” crowd, but holy heck was I wrong. They are orders of magnitude more comfortable than jazz shoes, and I can frankly dance better in my Taygras than in socks or in my jazz shoes. I do wish there was a cheaper brand on the market because Taygras don’t last forever (1-2 years depending on how frequently you dance), but in the meantime I will be continuing to replace my Taygras with more Taygras when they wear out.

[12/11/23 EDIT: I recently purchased a pair of low-top Fuegos and am really enjoying them. They are considerably more supportive than Taygras, so great for nights when my ankles/feet are feeling more fatigued. When I get a chance to write it, I’ll link to a blog post comparing Fuegos vs Taygras)

Dance Sandals

This is a new style I’ve seen pop up just recently - while there are only a handful of options on the market, I’m a fan and I hope some more brands add shoes in this style! Dance sandals offer some of the style/aesthetic of traditional latin heels, but in a flat sandal.

I recently got this pair of Burju sandals after seeing another zouker with them at a social and asking her how she liked them. I’ve only worn them a handful of times but so far I’m a fan! They look great, I like having a “dressier” option for times when I want to dress up for a social (instead of my typical hobo/pijama/athleisureware comfort aesthetic I rock with Taygras). And the sole is hard rubber (non grippy), making it feel like more of a solid traditional sandal when dancing (and also meaning you can wear it as a street shoe).

Example: Burju Legato $65

Example: DANZNMOTION Hermes Lyrical Sandal ($50)

Pros:

• They look fab (IMO)

• Variety of color options (at least from Burju’s sandal)

• Lace-up style makes these very comfortable and easy to adjust for various feet widths

  • Side note: I was worried the laces would be uncomfortable and dig into my skin (like I’ve had happen with non-dance lace up sandals) but that hasn’t been an issue with these. Very comfortable!

• Some brands (like Burju) can also be worn as street shoes

Cons:

• Pricier (~$60)

• Few brands/options (the only other I’ve seen are Burju and DANZNMOTION)

• The “laces” are long, meant to be worn “gladiator style” (which can slip down your leg

  • Pro Tip: If you don’t want to worry about the laces slipping, just wrap ‘em around your ankle a couple of times. OR just trim ‘em shorter if you don’t want the extra length

Cost:

• $50-$70

Dance Booties

This is another style I’ve seen pop up from time to time (I’ve actually seen it most among kizomba dancers, but occasionally pops up in the zouk scene). Booties are typically split suede-soled shoes made of either canvas or leather and hit above the ankle.

I have not personally ever worn dance booties, so consider this all anecdotal feedback.

Example: Sansha Canvas Dance Boots ($45)

Example: GFranco Ivo ($115)

Side anecdote: These shoes were designed in collaboration with kizomba/zouk artist Ivo Vieira, who was the first person I ever took a zouk workshop with back when I was a baby beginner zouker!

Pros:

• Unique, look slick AF

• Minimalist fabric/suede split sole allows for lots of foot dexterity (similar to ballet slippers)

• Slightly more ankle support than a ballet flat (but note, the main fabric is quite soft, so unless you lace the boots tight this is pretty negligible)

Cons:

• Pricier

• Not many brands/options

Cost:

• $45-$115

Custom-Soled Sneakers

I’ve never tried to re-sole any shoes myself (because I love my Taygras), but I’ve had friends who’ve tried this approach (with varying success). If you have a pair of shoes that you love, you can take your shoes to a cobbler or buy adhesive suede sole covers yourself to “DIY” a danceable shoe using a shoe you already love.

Depending on the shoe, it’s not as simple as slapping the suede on the bottom (for example, trying to just use adhesive on a ridged rubber sole of an athletic shoe probably won’t work great), so you’ll need to do a bit more research if you want to go this route.

Example: Soles2Dance Stick-on Suede Soles ($26)

Pros:

• Can be used to make other shoes more dance-friendly

Cons:

• You will have to DIY this yourself (or pay a cobbler $$$ to suede your shoes). From my friends who have tried this themselves, the suede bottom hasn’t lasted a super long time

Cost:

• Varies

NOT Recommended:

It may also be helpful to review two options I specifically don’t recommend:

Dancing Barefoot (No Socks)

SO much of zouk dancing requires being able to pivot on the balls of our feet (for both leaders and followers). Unless you’re a ballet/contemporary dancer who has hardcore foot callouses and can easily spin barefoot on the floor, I really don’t recommend this. Pivoting on the feet is hard on sticky barefoot feet, which not only will make you a slower and less responsive dancer, but it can potentially tweak the shit out of your knees (no fun!)

Wearing Worn-Out Street Shoes

Some folks wear old street shoes that are so beat/roughed up that all the grippy traction is gone, allowing to pivot as needed. The only reason I don’t recommend this is because street shoes are often not allowed on studio dance floors - they have the potential to track in crud from outside and scratch/damage the floor. So respect the studios you’re training at and please swap out your shoes for class, or dance in socks!

Save your worn-out street shoes for outdoor zouk socials if you’re lucky enough to live in a city that does outdoor dance events (like Boston’s fabulous Zouk on the Docks crew!)

What Are Your Favorite Zouk Shoes?

Are you part of Team Taygra? Or are you a slippery sock enthusiast? Let us know in the comments!