Zumba has well and truly taken hold of the dance world and dancewear for Zumba has also hit the markets by storm. There are so many dance trainers and sneakers that boast the best for Zumba, but what is really essential? There is no one answer as it depends entirely on the dancer’s physiology and their physical abilities but the wrong choice of Zumba shoes will lead to discomfort and injury.
Zumba shoes need optimum grip, not too much that you stick to the floor but enough that is firm but allows the movement to be performed. Zumba requires you to be agile, to spin, turn and change direction in an instant and to do that you need to be sure footed, so running trainers are not suitable with their hard, dense soles. They could lead to knee or ankle injuries if your leg twists during a turn. Dance sneakers are made specifically for indoor use and their soles are softer than standard trainers so will grip a smooth floor adequately without sticking. A shoe with a spin-spot is also helpful, a special feature designed in the tread of the shoe that lessens the grip when turning and spinning without reducing the grip when moving backward/forward and side to side.
Unlike standard shoes dance sneakers can also come with a split-sole, which makes the shoe more flexible, allowing the foot to move in ways a full-soled shoe would not facilitate. Dance sneakers are also much lighter than other trainers or shoes, made from materials such as canvas and leather with thinner soles, meaning you can Zumba and Dance for longer! Zumba is full of Latin dance moves that require you to create impact on the floor whilst being light on your toes. In this sense, padding is needed in order to prevent injuries to the heels or bruising to the feet. Some Zumba shoes even provide thicker soles for pneumatic shock absorption whilst staying light and breathable.
