 Picture yourself sitting in a sunbeam, daydreaming about your wedding. As butterflies float by, your thoughts drift to your first dance and how you are going to float across the floor in the arms of your loved one, then the phone rings and your are jerked back to reality. You then get up and trip over your shoes... what do you plan to put on your feet for your big day?
All good things start from the ground up. Knowing where to put your feet helps you respond effortlessly to the beat. But I know I am not motivated to move anything that is in pain. And I can not enjoy where I am if my feet are not happy. So to dance with happy feet, I must look at how the shoe fits.
Fashion dictates that tall and narrow heals are desirous. However, standing for an hour in front of a minister on a cement floor can tax even the strongest of ankles. Then to dance the night away on weary and warn feet is a less than enchanting thought.
In the world ballroom championship, there is a dress code that ladies pumps can not be higher than 2 ½ inches tall. They found that this is the optimum height to allow ease of movement while still creating a lovely leg line. Taller than this changes the ladies ability to move. How often have we teetered on tall heals sacrificing grace of movement? Some ladies avoid the vertigo from such choices and go with tennis shoes. While they have the advantage of comfort, they are not quite as elegant as the contemporary wedding gown. A stylish ballet flat will do the job with style.
Some good advice is to have two pairs of shoes. One for going down the aisle, and one for the reception. Then you can adjust to your needs. The change of shoes can perk you up as you pack in the dancing at your reception. (I personally did this at my wedding! It made all the difference!)
Once you have settled on a shoe, wear it out. Buy your shoes at least a month in advance of your wedding, and put them to the test. We recommend that students practice in their shoes to see how they feel. You can do this as well by wearing them to clean your house at the end of a long day when your feet are tired and swollen. This will give you a good idea of how they will feel at the end of your wedding day. Then by doing this in advance, (like a dress rehearsal) you will know what to expect, and have time to make any adjustments (or new purchases) in plenty of time.
Finally, happy feet like to know where to go. Once your shoe fits, get them in for some dance lessons. Then your feet can learn defensive driving. Knowing where and when to go is great collision control!
Holly Collins is the owner of Adventures in Dance, a complete service dance studio located in Downtown Littleton. She has been in the dance industry for more than 15 years and is certified in international and American styles of ballroom dance. For more information about Holly and her studio, visit Adventures in Dance or www.adventuresindance.com |
