As a dancer, one of the most frequent questions I get asked is about my dance shoes. People are curious about the brands I wear and where they can find similar styles. Well, today I’m letting you in on a little secret: I design my own dance shoes! I collaborate with a skilled theatre shoe workshop in St. Petersburg to bring my visions to life.
My journey into designing dance shoes began in 2011 when I immersed myself in the vibrant world of Swing and Charleston. Like many dancers, I embarked on a quest to find the holy grail of dance footwear – shoes that were comfortable, beautiful, and highly functional. The search proved challenging. I encountered shoes that were too stiff, too bulky, too slippery, or uncomfortably sticky. Some were visually appealing but sacrificed comfort for style.
Frustrated with the limited options, I took matters into my own hands. In 2012, I created my first shoe design for my dance troupe, the ChazzMim Show. This marked the beginning of an exciting, albeit challenging, endeavor. As you can see in our “Les Marionettes” show, the shoes played a crucial role in our performance. It was a true learning process. I worked with several shoe artisans, refining the design until I achieved the perfect form that met my specific needs.
Design Philosophy: Color and Elegance
Two key elements drive my dance shoe designs: color and elegance.
Colors for Leg-Lengthening
I believe shoes should enhance a dancer’s lines, particularly leg lines. This is why I gravitate towards beige and golden tones for most of my dance shoes. These shades seamlessly blend with various skin tones, creating the illusion of longer legs, which is especially flattering on stage and in dance photos.
Beige dance shoes designed for swing dancing to elongate legs
Golden dance shoes for Charleston performance, blending with skin tone
You can see these color principles in action in performances like my “Butterflies” jazz number for Oscar’s Jazz.
Elegant Styles Inspired by Tango
Elegance is another cornerstone of my design philosophy. Tango, with its sophisticated and graceful aesthetic, has been a major source of inspiration. My “Jazzville” model, also known as the “Endless Leg,” perfectly embodies this elegance. It’s my absolute favorite design. For performances, I have a dazzling sparkly light gold version of the “Jazzville.”
Elegant 'Jazzville' dance shoes in light gold, inspired by tango
Sparkly gold 'Jazzville' dance shoes for stage performance
These beauties were also my footwear of choice for the Chicken Rhythm dance on Ukraine’s Got Talent. For those who appreciate vintage aesthetics, the “Medalion” model offers a classic touch.
Vintage style 'Medalion' dance shoes for swing and vintage dances
Dance Shoes in Action
To truly appreciate dance shoes, you need to see them in motion. Here are some snapshots of me dancing in my custom-designed shoes, showcasing their functionality and style:
Dance shoes in action, showcasing flexibility and comfort
Professional dancer wearing custom dance shoes during performance
Dance shoes on stage, perfect for swing and Charleston routines
Beige dance shoes complementing a beige dress for elegant dance look
Could These Be Your Next Dance Shoes?
The swing dance scene has witnessed an explosion of new shoe brands in recent years, creating a vibrant and diverse market. Initially, designing shoes was purely a personal project. However, some of my dancer friends in St. Petersburg have adopted my patterns. It seems there’s a growing interest in dance shoes designed and selected by professional dancers.
This leads me to a question for you: Are you intrigued by my designs? Would you be interested in owning a pair of these dance shoes yourself? Let me know your thoughts!
