Shoes
What type of shoes should I use for sean nos dancing? It’s a common question of beginners and a common discussion topic of all sean nos dancers. There is no single correct answer; the choice of shoes is open to personal preference. Sean nos is a percussive dance, so your shoes must make noise, but beyond that it is just a list of “should”s that are up for discussion*:
1) In addition to deadening the sound, rubber or any grippy-soled shoes that do not slide easily over the dancing surface cause a certain amount of “jamming” of the joints, which can cause injury. Your choice of shoe should have a smooth, hard sole.
2) Closed shoes are generally “safer” than open shoes, as you can’t accidentally “fall out” of them or accidentally kick them off while dancing. Additionally, closed shoes cause your foot to land at the same place in the heel cup each time, which is less strain on the foot and ankle. Especially if you have joint issues, or are a very athletic or vigorous dancer, you should choose a closed shoe.
3) Sean nos dance is relatively high-impact. The shoes you choose should have adequate support for your specific situation (joint health). I prefer an extremely rigid sole due to my foot arch issues, but some dancers prefer a very flexible sole, to allow them more dexterity. If you wear an orthotic, you will definitely want to wear them inside whichever shoes you choose.
4) Many mass-produced shoes, even those made specifically for percussive dancing, have a very narrow toe-box. A shoe that is too narrow for your foot results in compression of the metatarsal bones, often leading to injuries such as Morton’s neuroma. Your shoes should have a wide enough toe-box so that your forefoot can spread to its full natural width, even when you have all your weight on the ball of your foot.
5) The “native habitat” of the sean nos dancer is at a social event - a party, session, etc. Musicians in these scenarios are not amplified., and sean nos percussion is considered to be part of the music. Your shoes should not be so loud that they stand above the music. Some sessions of course are quite loud, and many dancers these days (especially teachers and professionals) dance sean nos as a solo performance accompanied by music. In these situations it is quite understood that they need to be heard more that someone just dancing along to a session does. These dancers use extra layers of leather, wood, or even metal taps on their shoes. Each material makes a different sound, so listen to them for a while before choosing whether you want to add them to your shoes.
6) A well-made leather shoe can be adapted and repaired, whereas it is unlikely that standard glued-together shoes most common these days can be changed or repaired in any significant way. If you are going to stick with sean nos for a while, consider looking for a leather shoe.
7) Heel height is open to personal preference and comfort. Heels that are > 1.5 inches make it more difficult to execute some sean nos moves in the Clare Battering tradition, which involves a lot of heel work. However, if you naturally dance high up on the balls of your feet, having a taller heel could allow you to get heel-strikes in more easily.
8) If you can, try out some shoes of different weights before you comit to buying. Extra weight helps you get a louder sound, but some people find heavy shoes fatiguing.
A good professional dance shoe can cost hundreds of dollars. Some dancers are very happy with a standard students tap dance shoe (ordered without the tap), especially when they are starting out. Be careful of some “ballroom dance” shoes, as they can have suede soles, which make little sound. Many dancers troll thrift stores and resale sites like ebay looking for men’s leather Oxfords or wing-tips. These can get you good shoes at quite a low price, if you are willing to invest the shopping time. Occasiionally you can find a women’s leather-soled shoe in those venues, but in my experience they usually have glued-together parts and non-slip soles, and the ability to remove that and put on a hard leather sole is something that is difficult to determine until you have them in hand. Here are some shoes I have owned or have heard about that are worth consideration:
Capezio Men’s Oxford Tap - This is the shoe I started out in. However they have changed the specs considerably since then and are now far too narrow for me, even though I do not have a wide foot. I would suggest checking out a variety of student beginner tap shoes of various brands if you want a new but inexpensive shoe.
Matteo Grounded Soul (GS) 1 (Tap Shoes (dancingfair.com)) - This is one of the shoes I am currently using and I can’t say enough good things about it. It has a nice wide toe-box, comes with an extra leather wedge at the toe, and is all-leather and constructed so it is infinitely repairable. I did have mine cutom-made with a shank (not available any more). The designer is a Certified Pedorthist, (listen to Matt at Dancing Fair Talks Tap Dance Shoes (Part 1) (itaponline.com)).
more to come…
*DISCLAIMER - I am not trained in dance or sports physiology, so the above information is from my personal experience only. You should do your own research on the best shoes for you, and perhaps even consult an expert if you have any foot, leg, or spine issues.
