From: htr@world.std.com (Helena T Robinson)
Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing
Subject: Re: Shoes, etc.
Summary: A few comments, plus contact info
Date: 11 Jan 93 01:53:08 GMT
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA

In article <C0IBvG.BoA.2@cs.cmu.edu> air@cs.cmu.edu (Alex Rudnicky) writes (in part):
>The following post is from a friend who's having difficulties with 
>their posting software:
>
>
>I am avid dancer and find different dance forms such as squares,
>contras, clogging, swing and vintage each requires a slightly
>different pair of shoes. Even more so, different floor conditions
>require different shoes (for example slick wood, sticky wood,
>linoleum, or if desperate to dance, cement floors).  Investment in a
>few good pairs of dance shoes is well worth it.  Although I have two
>stock pairs that I can survive with in just about any conditions, I
>have been known to attend dance weekends with 10-12 pairs of shoes if
>I am not sure of the floor quality ahead of time. Of course this is
>extreme.

Good points!  I seem to recall packing 3 pairs for a one-day convention:
Rockports for walking around between halls (have to go outside between 
buildings), lo-heeled s/d shoes, and heeled round dance shoes.  sigh!

>I have found that mens shoes are often made better and have *less*
>pointed toes (which makes dancing feet much happier).  The Capezio
>men's character shoes are not made small enough for my feet (womens
>size 7) and Tom McAnns stopped making their boys oxford that was very
>comparable (and that I presently live in for clogging and square
>dancing and actually walking) so I no longer have a personal source
>for this sort of shoe.  It is possible JC Pennys has an oxford in boys
>sizes.

Nothing can be more frustrating than a manufacturer discontinuing your favorite 
shoe!  I wore the Coast "Spinner" for the better part of my first 12 years of 
dancing.  The "Dixie" is the closest equivalent available now (one-inch heel 
with strap, nice supoprt), but they're not as widely distributed as other 
styles, so I'm always on the lookout for good sales to stock up.  It also took 
a long time to find a replacement for my "alternative" - the old-fashioned Hush 
Puppies oxford with the plain chushion crepe sole.  This ceased to be made for 
women close to 10 yrs ago, much to my chagrin.  I've finally found hope in 
Rockport walkers with Vibram soles (I know several men who dance in these as 
well, including my husband).

>An excellent source for quality womens shoes, (although I am not fond
>of their men's shoes) is a mail order company called "Coast Shoes".
>This is a square dance shoe company and they have a whole line of
>dance shoes that are the perfect compromise between the jazz flats and
>the oxfords.  They are mostly suede bottomed, leather shoes, with some
>support but soft enough to move in.  Most of the shoes have some
>insole cushioning, which jazz flats sorely lack.  The shoes come in a
>range of heel heights from flat to slight heels to high heels.  Now
>after all this I have to admit I lost their address but they have a
>booth at NEFFA every year and maybe if someone from NEFFA is reading
>this they might be willing to track down an address and post it.

Info:  Coast shoes Inc.  13401 Saticoy St., No. Hollywood, CA   91605
       1 800 COAST-51

>Also, even when not specified by the dance organizers, the softer the
>sole the better for the floor.  Many dancers are loosing their dance
>halls because of floor damage.  Its best to not wait until the floor
>is damaged to start worrying about keeping it nice.

How true!

I also noticed some comments about ankle support, a subject near-and-dear to 
my heart ;-)  I've been wearing a bandage for square dancing for many years 
now.  The one I recommend is made by Futuro, and can be found in drugstores 
and/or sporting goods shops.  Besides its support qualities, it's also 
flesh-colored, so it's not as obvious as others.

Happy Dancing!
Helena Robinson
htr@world.std.com