FOOT!
“Let’s get up and move a little (dance).”
Probably something that is getting more and more important in our times, when we work from home or study from home. It is too easy for any body to sit for long hours and feel, “Oh, so comfortable.” Unfortunately, as many would have been through the experience, the body will suffer the consequences of the long hours of sinking into gravity in oft times, odd ways the moment we really get up. By getting up, the first thing that we do is, plant our feet onto the ground. Either with both feet together or one foot at a time.
*TRY IT! Get up now!
Needless to say, footwear and of course foot care is one of the many important parts of dance and even just general movement, such as walking. Let’s dive into the first of the “Dance, Bottom-up” series by Tarinao, where we will be covering the essentials of dance and movement you need to know, beginning from your—feet!
Footwear
How to decide what to wear?
1. Dance styles
You need different footwear for walking, running, hiking, diving and skiing; you need different footwear for different dance styles. Why? Let's picture this:
Running with slippers vs running with light sports shoes built specifically for running.
Walking on heels vs walking with orthopaedic sneakers
Ballet class barefoot vs ballet class with well fitted ballet shoes
Could you imagine the pain of wearing the wrong footwear for an 8-hour day? The pain on the feet causing the inability to walk properly or even stand, let alone dance. The right footwear for any specific dance style is important to ensure that you can keep standing on your own two feet for a sustained amount of time, with proper support and maximum comfort while preventing unnecessary pain and injury. Some footwear is more intricate (e.g., ballet pointe shoes) and would require you to work with a trained expert or professional fitter to get the best shoes that could bring out your feet's highest potential, in terms of aesthetic, strength, and of course freedom of movement.
Types of footwear, but not limited to:
Barefoot—contemporary, Indian dance
Socks—contemporary dance
Jazz/Tap shoes—jazz/tap dance
Sneakers/Sports shoes—street dance
Latin shoes/Heels—ballroom, latin, pole dance
Ballet shoes—ballet, Chinese dance
2. Flooring types
The material on the outermost layer of a dance floor, which is the part that your feet will be coming into contact with, directly sends feedback to your body, on how to move. For example, if you are moving on a slippery floor, your body will respond by dancing more cautiously. It can be hard to control the environment we dance in, but we can always learn about it through the feedback we get from moving in space and adapt whether through our movements or through a more suitable footwear.
Types of flooring, but not limited to: