Look for a shoe with little or no tread on the bottom. You should be able to twist and turn on the dance floor without sticking. Although it's ok to try out your first class wearing your running shoes, if you want to make Zumba a routine you need to invest in better shoes. Running shoes with tread on the bottom are designed to keep your foot in one place and in a straight line. In Zumba, you're going to be moving your foot out of that line. Wearing the wrong shoes over and over again can put your ankles and knees in danger.
I wear Nike cross trainers. Check it out- almost no tread on the bottom.
If you're going to be attending a lot of Zumba classes, you might want to consider two different pairs of shoes. Since I teach between 5 and 7 classes each week, I alternate between two pairs of shoes. I've found that dancing in the same shoes day after day makes my feet sore. It also led to a nasty case of achilles tendinitis in 2011.
Don't be afraid to dance around the store when you're trying on shoes! Here's a list of motions you should try out BEFORE you invest in a pair of Zumba shoes:
- Jumping up and down
- Twisting your feet from side to side
- Turning around
- Running
- Salsa step
My last piece of advice is to not be afraid of splurging on a good pair of shoes. A quality shoe will last longer than a cheap one, and it will be kinder to your feet. It's absolutely worth it to buy a better pair of shoes.
Keep dancing!
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