Choose your shoe style based on the type of ballroom dancing you'll use them for. There are different shoes for almost every imaginable dance -- waltz, cha-cha, swing and Latin are a few examples. Women's shoes include both closed- and open-toe styles. Men's ballroom dance shoes are black Oxfords.
Find out your shoe size. If you're a novice dancer, you should visit a dance store to purchase your first pair of shoes. Most dance shoe sizes don't match up with your regular shoe size, so trying them on is essential. Try on multiple pairs of shoes for fit and comfort before purchasing. The heel for women's ballroom dance shoes varies from 2 to 3 inches depending on the style of dance. For Latin dances, the heel for men's ballroom shoes ranges from 1 to 2 inches. Standard men's ballroom dance shoes don't have a heel.
After you know your size and the style of shoe you like, purchasing them online will probably save you money.
Check with your dance studio or instructor to see if there's a preferred shoe color. Many dance studios have guidelines on what shoes and what colors they want their students to wear. Women's ballroom dance shoes are available in white, black and tan. Men's ballroom dance shoes are available only in black.
Make sure the soles of your shoes are made of chrome leather (suede). Ballroom dance shoes that are made with leather soles are slippery and more expensive. Shoes made with chrome-leather soles offer grip for dancers on wooden dance floors.