Tango Salon Shoes
Check out this Men’s Wingtip in beige leather and leopard suede. This shoe was also ordered with a Latin heel – which has some taper to the sides, and is 1/4 inch higher. We think the results are fantastic. See the full palette of available colors in the Men’s Wingtip Gallery.
Here is the Men’s Oxford in a new burgundy leather. In traditional men’s clothing, burgundy is a mainstay as a shoe color, because it harmonizes with various suiting fabrics – grey, brown, olive, navy, and tan. Now, you can add this rich and versatile color to your dance shoe collection. See the full palette of available colors in the Men’s Oxford Gallery.
Buenos Aires is where tango originated. The tango scene in Buenos Aires is big and vibrant. On any night, you can choose from a number of tango dance venues. The picture above shows Confiteria Ideal, and tango friends John Hauge and Judy Hall – from our November 2010 group trip.
Tango shoes are typically leather soled. This is what we use and recommend. While many dance halls have wooden floors, some have polished stone, linoleum, or terrazzo. Leather soles provide adequate traction on all these surfaces, and are easier to maintain than suede soles – which tend to pick up and retain more goo and dirt. And, many people go from their hotel/apartment to a cab, to the dance hall, in their dance shoes.
We are very pleased to announce that production will soon begin on a new women’s model. It is called Bonita, and will be a closed toe, open shank tango and ballroom dance shoe. It incorporates all of our design goals: elegance, comfort, function, and a vintage flavor. The Bonita will be available in a full range of sizes and half sizes, and narrow, medium, and wide widths. It will also be available in all the colors currently offered for the Lucita and Oxford models.
I just had this 5.5W Lucita made up for myself with a 2″ Cuban heel, for long teaching and dancing sessions. The black suede is so elegant, and the rhinestone shoe clip from shoeclips.biz adds a little glamour.
Rebecca and Bill Kissel – friends and tango dancers, make their own specialty soaps from natural ingredients. Their latest creation, called La Tanguera – the female tango dancer, has a mild scent of tangerine. The grey high heels are Tango Salon Shoes. And, the beautiful artwork on the soap label is by Rebecca. Go to http://www.secondhanddogssoap.com/.
We just received a pair of Men’s Oxfords in dark taupe leather (pictured below). They really are handsome. We also have examples of the Men’s Wingtip model in a variety of color combinations. Look in the Men’s Wingtip Gallery.
“As studio owners my husband and I recommend Tango Salon dance shoes to all our students including our ballroom dance students. In addition to being well-made, the shoes are comfortable and attractive. The variety of colors available is fantastic!”
Tommy and Linda Glass
Most Argentine tango dancers opt for leather soles. They function well on a variety of floor surfaces – from pristine wooden floors, to linoleum / vinyl tile, to polished concrete. When I get a new pair of tango shoes, I scuff the sole bottoms with 100 grit sandpaper – just enough to take the shine off. I am careful not to sand the sole edges or let the sandpaper come in contact with the uppers. Doing this light sanding, periodically, removes dirt and grit and helps maintain the right amount of traction.
The Lucita ankle straps come with extra length, to trim to suit. Expect to shorten them 1″ to 1.5″. You can take them to a local shoe repair shop, or do it yourself. On your own, use sharp scissors, and cut on an angle – similar to the end of the strap. If need be, with a toothpick, add a tiny dab of glue inside the ends.
