DANCE SHOE GUIDE
Finding the perfect dance footwear for Lindy Hop isn’t as straightforward as grabbing ballet slippers or tap shoes off the rack. Your dance shoes need to strike that delicate balance between grip and glide while keeping your feet happy through hours of swinging out.
What Makes Good Lindy Hop Footwear?
The ideal dance shoe combines three essential qualities: flexibility that allows your foot to move naturally through each step; soles with that magic “Goldilocks” grip level—enough traction to prevent slipping while remaining smooth enough for turns; and comfort that carries you from the first song through the last encore without complaint.
Below are options we’ve personally road-tested on countless dance floors. Some links are affiliate/sponsored (we gotta keep the studio lights on somehow), but we genuinely swear by every shoe listed. If they didn’t work for us, they wouldn’t be here.
FROM CHLOE HONG
We’ve found Fuego Shoes hit that sweet spot between grip and spin on virtually any floor.
Since they’re actual dance sneakers, your feet will thank you after hours on the floor. Honestly, we don’t think you can dance in more comfortable shoes.
Not a sales pitch: We use these, maybe you should too? But we’re not your parents, we can’t tell you what to do—your feet, your choice. If you’re curious, use code RHYTHMSTUDIO for 10% off
CHLOE HONG SHOES
When South Korean dance legend Chloe Hong decided to create footwear, she brought her performer’s understanding to every design. Her shoes strike that rare balance where elegance meets functionality—making “fancy comfortable” in a way that truly deserves recognition.
Let’s be transparent: these aren’t budget options. However, the craftsmanship and thoughtful design have proven worth the investment for us. These shoes maintain their quality through countless dance floors and late-night performances when lesser footwear would have surrendered.
Your feet might send thank-you notes to your wallet if you decide to make the splurge. Quality dance shoes are an investment that pays dividends in comfort and longevity.
DIY DANCE SHOE HACK
THE LOCAL OPTION
A final option for those who don’t want to order online is to do it yourself. Laura Glaess on the Lindy project has a quick guide for glueing suede onto the bottom of any shoe of your choice.
However, if you don’t want to go to all that trouble, simply take your brand new shoes to any cobbler around Hong Kong. They will probably be able to help you out for a small fee. We like to use Shing Do Shoe Repair in Central, check out the link below.
Of course, using this route won’t be as high quality or long-lasting as any of the other professionally made shoes above. But you definitely can’t beat the choice of the DIY method.
