Swing Dance Shoes: What to Buy, What to Avoid and Why

By Lindy Hopper, Editor

You can start in shoes you already own – but the right sole makes turning easier and kinder on your knees. Here's how to choose.

Do you need special shoes at all?

Not for your first class. Plenty of people learn their first swingout in whatever smooth-soled shoes they already own, and teachers would far rather see you turn up than stay at home worrying about footwear. The one thing that matters from day one is the sole: it should let your foot turn on the floor without snagging, and it should not be so slippery that you skate about like Bambi on a frozen pond. Comfortable, flat or low-heeled shoes that stay firmly on your feet will see you through a beginners' course.

Once you are hooked, though, the right pair of shoes makes a surprising difference. Lindy Hop involves a lot of small pivots, quick changes of direction, kicks and triple steps. A shoe that grips too hard fights every turn and puts strain through your knees; one that slides too much makes you tense up to stay upright. Getting the balance right is most of what "dance shoes" means in the swing world.

It is all about the sole

Swing dancers talk about soles far more than they talk about uppers. Here are the main types you will come across.

Suede

Suede – the brushed underside of leather – is the classic choice. It slides enough to pivot cleanly but has a slightly velvety texture that gives you some control, so you feel planted rather than skittish. Most purpose-made swing shoes use it. Its weaknesses: it picks up dirt, goes shiny and slippery with use, and is ruined by wet pavements, so it is strictly an indoor sole.

Leather

A smooth leather sole, as on many traditional men's brogues and women's dress shoes, slides more than suede. On a well-kept wooden floor it can feel fast and free; on a polished or dusty floor it can feel downright dangerous. Many dancers start in leather-soled shoes from their wardrobe and find them perfectly workable.

Hard synthetic soles

Some dance shoes use hard-wearing synthetic compounds that glide on wood, a little like leather, but last longer and cope better with the odd damp patch. They suit dancers who want something lower maintenance.

Rubber

Ordinary trainers and rubber-soled shoes grip strongly. That is great on a slippery floor and terrible on a "sticky" one, where your foot stops dead mid-turn and your knee carries on. If you only own rubber soles, look for a smooth, flat tread rather than a chunky pattern, and be gentle with spins. Some dance sneakers have a rubber sole with a smooth circular pivot point under the ball of the foot, which helps.

Flexibility, heels and fit

Beyond the sole material, three things decide whether a shoe works for Lindy Hop.

• Flexibility. You want to be able to roll through the ball of your foot, point your toe and bend at the arch. Pick the shoe up and flex it: if it barely bends, your footwork will feel clumsy and your calves will tire faster.
• Heel height. Lindy Hop is a grounded dance, danced with soft knees and weight over the balls of the feet. Most dancers, whatever role they dance, prefer a flat or low, broad heel. Higher, slimmer heels are possible, and some experienced dancers love them, but they are not a good place to start.
• Fit and fastening. A loose shoe that slips at the heel will fly off on a kick. Lace-ups, T-bars, Mary Janes with a strap and buckled styles are all popular for exactly this reason. Shop in the afternoon, when your feet are at their largest, and wear the socks or tights you will dance in.

Cushioning is worth thinking about too. A thin, flat sole can feel lovely for an hour and punishing after a four-hour social. A cushioned insole can be added to most shoes and is one of the cheapest upgrades you can make.

Your options, from free to fancy

Our shops directory lists UK suppliers of dance shoes and vintage-style footwear, so you can browse, compare and – best of all – try things on in person where possible. We do not recommend any particular maker: what feels perfect on one dancer's foot can pinch another's, and floors vary so much that the best shoe is often the one you can adjust.

Reading the floor

The same pair of shoes can feel completely different from one venue to the next. A sprung wooden floor that has been well looked after is a joy in almost anything. A varnished community hall floor can be sticky, especially on a humid night. Polished floors in hotel ballrooms can be slippery, while concrete, tiles and carpet make dancing hard on the joints whatever you wear.

Seasoned dancers carry a small kit to cope:

• A wire suede brush. A few quick strokes across a suede sole lifts the nap again and restores grip when it has gone shiny. Brush outside or over a bin, not on the dance floor.
• A spare pair. Some dancers bring one grippier and one slidier pair and swap after the first song or two.
• A pair of old socks. Pulled over a too-grippy shoe in an emergency, a sock adds slide. It is not elegant, but it saves knees.

Never use powder, talc or anything else on a floor to make it slippier unless the venue explicitly allows it. It changes the floor for everyone, and what helps your turns can make someone else fall.

Looking after dance shoes

Treat dance shoes as indoor shoes. Carry them in a bag and change at the venue. Walking even a short distance on pavements grinds grit into suede and leather soles, and a single puddle can leave suede hard and patchy. If your soles do get damp, let them dry naturally away from radiators, then brush.

Give shoes a chance to air between dances, and if you dance several nights a week, alternating two pairs helps both last longer. When a suede sole eventually wears thin, a cobbler can often replace it, which is usually cheaper than a new pair and keeps a shoe you love going for years.

A note on vintage shoes

Genuine 1930s and 1940s shoes are beautiful, but they are best kept for admiring. Decades-old stitching and glue were not made for kicks and swivels, and old leather can crack without warning. If you love the look, reproduction styles give you the same silhouette with modern construction. Our guide to vintage and reproduction clothing for dancers covers the rest of the outfit.

Quick checklist before you buy

• Can you pivot on the ball of your foot without sticking or skidding?
• Does the shoe bend easily under the ball of the foot?
• Is the heel low and stable enough for you?
• Does it stay on when you kick?
• Would it still be comfortable after three hours?
• Can the sole be brushed, re-soled or adjusted if the floor is wrong?

If you can answer yes to most of those, you have a dance shoe – whatever the label says. For more on outfits, see what to wear to swing dancing.

Ready to put them to work?

The best way to find out what shoes suit you is to dance in them. Find a beginners' course on our beginners' courses page, look for a class near you, or browse the full class directory – and bring a spare pair just in case.

Try it on the floor: How to Do the Swingout · How to Do the Lindy Circle · How to Do a Tuck Turn · The Charleston: Kicks, Swivels and a Very Big Grin

Read next

• Lindy Hop Instruction: Every Style, Every Level
• 6-Count and 8-Count: Lindy Hop Rhythm Explained
• How to Do Swivels

Sources

1. Swivells – Why the sole matters in swing dance shoes
2. Tickts – Guide to UK swing and Lindy Hop events

Last reviewed 2026-10-23.