Heel Sizes – the Myths and Truths about Wearing High Heels. 
By Edie, The Salsa FREAK

In high school I was one of the shortest people in my entire class.  As a teenager, I was the first to wear 3 to 4-inch platforms on a daily basis.  I became so comfortable with them that I used to show off by racing my classmates down the hall, running in my platforms, while they were in their athletic tennis shoes!   

Now, on the dance floor, you wouldn’t catch me dead in those things.   Not any more.  

              Why? 

COMFORT, 

CONTROL, and 

BALANCE

Wearing taller than 1.5” platforms is not worth it anymore for me.   Ever since I switched from a very high, 2.5 to 3-inch heel to a lower 1.5-inch heel, the following benefits have taken place:

     ·  My dancing has improved because I can maintain better balance 
           and body control with a shorter heel.

· My spins are faster and more controlled. 

· When my partners and I perform acrobatic tricks on the dance floor, I can land hard without the fear of spraining an ankle. 

· I no longer feel the pain and agony in the balls and arch of my feet the next day after an entire night of dancing. 

· I can actually get out of bed and walk on the floor with no pain shooting up my leg.  

· I no longer fear people accidentally kicking my heel out and spraining my ankle from the height of the heel.

· I now have NO FEAR on the dance floor when lunatic partners put me in every awkward super-hard, and highly technical move imaginable. 

· My shoes no longer stretch out and lose their shape around the toe area.  

· I can dance with the shortest of men much more comfortably.   I just stand up straighter and am on my toes more with taller guys. 

· I’m not always thinking about “my shoes”. 

· I have a better, more enjoyable time at clubs.  

· I don’t get as tired. 

· I dance more often during the night, hence sweat more, and get more of an aerobic workout with a shorter heel.

 The Myths:

  Myth #1:  “I need high heels to make my legs look longer.”  

The Truth:   If that’s the case, get the same-colored shoes as your skin, or wear clear, plastic dance shoes.  The same color will lengthen the look of your legs. 

 Myth #2:  “I need high heels because they make me look sexier.” 

The Truth:  If that’s the case, then you need to get your head examined.  Great posture, a great smile, and a great attitude are what are sexy.  Cindy Crawford is sexy.  We see her upper body and even legs in magazines all the time.  How often have you seen her SHOES?  

 Myth #3:  “I need a high heel because I’m wearing a dress.” 

The Truth: Whether you’re in a dress or pants, high-heeled shoes cause more damage to your feet and lower back than lower-heeled shoes.  It’s true, high heels make your overall look appear taller, but you also appear to look unstable, and will have lower-back problems in later years.  There is no reason to wear high heels if you’re wearing a dress.  Stand up straight, smile, and adjust your ATTITUDE, not your shoes.  Finding a beautiful dance shoe with a lower heel, and one that just barely covers the top cleavage of your toes is very sexy.   Wearing toe-cleavage-revealing shoes the same color as your skin will make you look as if you had high heels on.  

 Myth #4:  I need high heels to remind me to act more lady-like.” 

The Truth:  Many are reminded of being a “woman” by wearing higher-heels, only because of the pain they’re in with those things on.  

Why torture yourself?  

WHAT'S THE POINT? 

Learn how to walk and act like a “Lady” whether you’re in high heels or going to the gym in your tennis shoes.  It is very difficult to maintain perfect posture with high heels without eventually bending your back a bit.  Don't wear high platforms out dancing - especially partner dancing.  Try walking sexier, smiling more, and having great posture in lower-heeled shoes.  Don’t clog around as if you had tennis shoes on. 

I know I will be receiving lots of hate mail about this – but go ahead, bring it on.  Let me know if you have any more “Myths” you’d like to challenge me with, and I’ll write about them.

 Take care, and happy dancing! 
- Edie, The Salsa FREAK