Can you dance in regular heels?
You can, for a while. Here's what actually separates a dance heel from a fashion heel, and why your feet notice within 15 minutes.
Quick answer: You can dance in regular heels, and most people do for their first few classes. The problem is that a fashion heel is built for walking to dinner, not for bevels, pivots and floorwork. It will slip when you turn, tilt under you on a hip roll, grab the floor when you try to pivot, and burn under the ball of your foot within 15 minutes. A dance heel is built on a different last, fits snug on purpose, has full-length cushioning and can be re-tipped when the floor wears it down. If you're doing one class, wear what you have. If you're coming back, get a dance heel.
"Is this your first pair of dance heels? It's the first thing I ask anyone who walks into the store."
Why this is the first question I ask in store
I've been designing and producing dance heels for 12 years, and most people who come in for their first pair have already done a few classes in heels they bought for a night out, and they all tell me the same things: they feel wobbly, the soles stick to the floor and they're in pain, particularly on the balls of their feet. Then they tell me they thought they were just bad at heels.
The good news is, it's not you - it's the shoe. Here are the real differences between a fashion heel and a dance heel.
The last
Every shoe is built around a foot-shaped mould called a last. It decides how the shoe fits and how it moves.
Most heels sold as "dance heels" are fashion pumps with a few dance features added. VAMPs are built on a dance last. Big difference. One is shaped to look good in a photo. The other is shaped for a foot in a bevel.
The fit
Dance heels fit snug, and we do this on purpose. Excess room in the shoe can cause your foot to slide during movement and limits your ability to feel the floor. They give a little over the first few classes, then they hold.
The insole
Every VAMP has full-length memory foam under the whole foot.
Your feet will notice within 15 minutes, and that's the major difference. A fashion heel puts all your weight on the ball of your foot with nothing between you and the sole. In class, that's an hour of drops, bevels and floorwork on a hard surface. Cushioning is what lets you focus on the dancing instead of the pain in your feet.
The heel and the tip
VAMP heels are set slightly forward, so the heel sits under your foot rather than behind it. This keeps you balanced when you shift your weight or turn. The heel is also reinforced, so it won't tilt when you land on it.
The heel tip is replaceable. Dance floors wear tips down fast, so you replace the tip, not the shoe.
So, can you dance in regular heels?
Yes, for a class or two. Plenty of people start that way and there's no shame in it.
But if you've had two or three classes and your feet are sliding, your ankles are working overtime and the balls of your feet hurt, it's the shoe.
Can I wear my dance heels outside?
Yes, and everyone at VAMP HQ does. Just know that concrete wears the sole and tip down faster than a studio floor, so heel protectors are worth it if you're outside a lot.
Should I size up in dance heels?
No. Dance heels are meant to fit snug and they give a little over the first few classes. Measure your foot in centimetres and use the size chart for the style you're buying.
What heel height should a beginner start with?
3.5" to 4" is the standard for heels class. It sounds high, but you will be surprised at how much more comfortable they are than your standard high street heels.
Are VAMP heels vegan?
Most of the range is vegan PU or stretch microfibre. A few styles use leather or suede, each product page specifies materials used.
How long do dance heels last?
Depending on how you wear them and the quality of your studio floors, 1 to 3 years is a good guide.
Where I'd start you
Vanquish 3.5"
Our best-selling bootie, half an inch closer to the floor. If you only buy one pair, this is it.
Shop Vanquish 3.5" →
Bebè Black
The pump we built with Nicole Kirkland. Comes with removable straps, so you can start held in and take them off when you're ready.
Shop Bebè Black →
Voyage
A chunky heel for anyone who isn't ready for a stiletto yet. The most stable shoe in the range.
Shop Voyage →
Voodoo 3.5"
Our best-selling thigh high on a 3.5 inch heel. Stretch, vegan, and the easiest way into a thigh high boot.
Shop Voodoo 3.5" →Not sure which one is you? Email vamped@vampheels.com and tell us how you dance. We'll pick for you.
New to VAMP? Use code VAMP10 for 10% off your first order over $100.
Shop Beginner Dance Heels →
