​Champions choose Aida. That's the catchy slogan that started popping up all over my Facebook news feed in the past year. I began hearing about Aida shoes from the Pros in my studio and I noticed the Aida booth at more and more competitions. What was so amazing about these shoes that I suddenly couldn't turn a corner in the dance world without bumping into Aidas? Well, I decided to invest in a few pairs and find out for myself. For the past three months, I've worn my Aida shoes for almost every practice and at three comps, and I'm happy to say they were worth every penny!

What other brands have you worn?
Before jumping into my experience with Aida shoes, let me provide some quick context for what I am comparing them to. For the past few years, I've worn Supadance shoes for both smooth and rhythm, and Ray Rose practice shoes. Before that, while I was still deciding how much of a financial commitment I wanted to make with my dance shoes, I wore some Arthur Murray brand shoes and Stephanie dance shoes.

The Pros

• Custom fit - I have weird feet. They're short in length, wide in the front, and narrow in the heel. And while that combination of peculiarities may be unique to me, I know many others who have odd quirks to their feet. Whether they're super narrow, two different sizes, or ridiculously high in the arches, everyone has different feet, so it would make sense for everyone to have different shoes. Now I've ordered "custom" shoes before. In fact, I thought I had a pretty good fit with my last pair of Supadance shoes. I went on the Supadance website, chose my size, width, heel height and heel shape, then signed off on the extra charge and zero return policy since my requirements were special order. It wasn't until I had an Aida rep measure my feet, have me try on 10 different pairs of shoes (no exaggeration), and walk me around in them did I realize what I had been missing out on. I discovered my feet were actually a full cm shorter in length than I had been ordering, and I needed a triple wide for the front of my foot to be comfortable in rhythm (a width that I actually haven't seen offered by other companies).

• Custom fit continued ​- ​Having shoes that feel like they are molded to my feet has made such a difference in my dancing and my level of comfort. I'm far less wobbly now that my foot is actually against the back of the shoe, and I can actually spread my toes out when I take a step to have more balance. The number of features they can customize on the shoe is incredible and the best part about going to their booth was they had tons of the features available for me to figure out what combination worked best. In the past, I've gone to vendors at comps and asked if I could try on shoes in a wide to know if I needed wide or double wide. Often I was met with the response that they didn't have any with them, so I was once again left guessing. At Aida, they had both wide and double wide for me to try on. And when the double wide was too small and they recommended the triple wide, they guaranteed me that they would fit or they would exchange them for free since I couldn't try them on. That guarantee was so comforting having had past experiences where I've bought shoes that ended up not fitting and being unable to return. Plus, it turns out they were right, so I didn't need to take them up on it :)
• Stability - These shoes feel solid! If you read the company's website or ask their reps, they'll explain to you the science behind the heel placement and how they balance the shoes, but the short story is these shoes helped me feel more connected to the ground and like my weight was finally in the right place on my foot. I've noticed my balance has improved (though these shoes won't magically fix all your balance issues if you're not doing all the proper dance-y things :)) and I'm more stable when I take a step.
• Cushioning - Now, I did something I would never recommend, and I am still a little shocked I did. I wore my smooth shoes from Aida at the Superstars comp without breaking them in first. I bought them, put them on my feet, and hit the floor. Before you call me crazy, I promise I had a reason. I was dealing with a foot injury, and the pressure from pressing into the floor made the pain worse. My Aida shoes had much more padding than the shoes I had been wearing, so I decided to try them out. I figured it couldn't be any worse, so I put some KT tape around my heel and the front of my shoe (where I would typically get blisters), then went out for my first smooth heats. The difference these shoes made was incredible! My pain was minimized and it felt like I was stepping on little cushions. I was able to get through the competition successfully before I took a break to let my foot heal. While I would have stubbornly danced through the pain (note: I don't condone this, I'm just apparently a masochist) even in my old shoes, the Aida shoes made the experience much better. Once I was able to get back to dancing, I noticed the padding on the shoes didn't flatten out, and even after a couple of months in them, my shoes are still just as comfortable as when I first put them on.

The Cons

• $$$ - At $220 a pair, these are probably the most expensive dance shoes I've seen. That being said, I think they're worth every penny. Aside from all the benefits listed above, if you've ever ordered a new style of shoes and gone through the pain of shipping them back and forth to the company, then you know how quickly those shipping costs add up. If you get fit for your Aidas with one of their reps, you'll know you're getting the right fit and avoid all shipping costs. Plus they do run the occasional sale. They recently had one for Memorial Day and when I spoke to one of their sales reps he told me they run their best specials around Black Friday - so if you plan in advance you can snag them for a little less. 
• Flexibility - For the first few weeks wearing my shoes, they were a little stiffer than my previous Supadance and Ray Rose shoes. I heard similar things from some of the Pros I spoke to about their shoes. After those first few weeks though, I found that I was able to point my feet in them without as much effort and the flexibility was comparable to my other shoes.
• Locations - There aren't tons of studios that carry these shoes and they aren't at every comp, so it can be challenging to find a location to go try on new shoes. That being said, once you know your style and customizations, you can re-order online. Another challenge to contend with is how popular their booth is when you can get to it. My first time trying to get Aida shoes was actually at USDC (September) last year. There were so many Pros clamoring to get their shoes that I was passed over several times, and I ended up leaving quite disappointed. Several of my other friends have had this experience as well. I recommend going in the middle of the day when there are fewer people around and they aren't getting ready to pack up for the evening. At Superstars, I visited the Aida booth again (this time at around 11 am) and had a totally different experience. The rep was able to spend 20 minutes fitting my feet and having me try on different shoes until I found the perfect pairs.

Overall Recommendation
While I do miss the easy slip-on buckle of my Supadance shoes and the prettier flesh color (hint, hint, Aida if you're looking for new features to add!), I don't think I'll ever switch again. These shoes delivered on what they promised and fixed problems I didn't even realize were coming from my shoes! The improved feeling of stability, perfect fit and extra comfort of these shoes make them my new favorite shoes and worth the investment. I highly recommend stopping by their booth at the next competition in your area and trying on a pair for yourself. 

Feel free to share your own thoughts on Aida shoes in the comment section below, or whatever your favorite brand may be. And as always, until next time, happy dancing!

Recently I was lucky enough to work with Ilya Rezin (Rhythm champion and judge!). I had never worked with him before, and I was excited for my session with him, especially after watching him win with numerous students at past competitions I’ve attended. After a challenging, but invigorating, hour-and-a-half session, he was kind enough to sit down with me and answer some questions around competing.

Leading up to a competition, what advice do you have for people to prepare whether it’s mentally or what to focus on?
“Just do rounds. Rounds and rounds and rounds and rounds, because most of the time the problem at the competition is that with the increase of stress you lose stamina. Once you lose stamina, you can’t keep going. There are a few problems. Number one is floor craft. People are not used to it, so you need to train floor craft. If you don’t have a crowded floor when you do rounds, you can put 20 balloons on it and turn the fan on, and then avoid the balloons. That’s problem number one, so you can train to that. Number two is stamina. You need to do rounds and rounds and rounds. The week before I wouldn’t suggest changing anything. I would just suggest running through your choreography. Make sure it’s in your muscle memory, and make sure you can do it whether you’re tired, early, late, regardless. If you don’t like to be in front of people, then make sure you invite people to watch you do rounds.”

What do you look for when you’re judging?
“I’m a technician, so for me the most important thing is your ability to fill up the music. You’re dancing to the music, so you should be able to dance to the music not with the music or next to it. I will look at your ability to use the legs to transform it and your ability to bind yourself within the two counts. You should show exactly how much it takes you to get from one foot to another, rather than just doing the foot action and walking through it. I look at musicality; then I look at footwork and your ability to go off the standing leg versus just slapping the feet around. The third thing I will look at is your isolation and body movement. If you’re a female, I will look at how your back is moving, because for me, it’s a clear indicator whether you know how to use your sides or not. If the back stays flat while you’re dancing, then that tells me you’re not really sure how to use your center.”

With regards to what you should wear at a competition, in your opinion, what do the best students in this country look like?
“Well they look like pros.”

And what does that include?

“It should include your hair style, your makeup, your tanning, your shoes, and your dress. It’s a visual sport, so you get judged by the way you look more than by the way you dance. You can dance like a pro, but if you’re going to look like a beginner then you’re not going to get marked or you’re not going to be able to present everything as a package. It’s a package deal, so the way you look is just as important as the way you move. I think that the best way for the beginner dancer to place well is to wear an expensive dress, because the point of the dress is to hide all the imperfection and reinforce your assets. You want to show off more of your assets and hide your liabilities. That’s the point of a dress that’s done well. If you don’t move somewhere (on your body), then a little fringe here, a little fringe there, and oh my gosh you’re moving. I think you need to invest. I think it’s just as important as investing in lessons.”

So there you have it! Some expert advice from one of the top rhythm dancers, and excellent insight into what judges look for in students. Tune back in for my advice on how to look professional without breaking the bank and for a different perspective on judging from the one and only Johnathan Roberts! Until then, happy competing and happy dancing!

I asked myself this very question right before my first competition. As a notorious procrastinator, I started packing the evening before the competition around midnight. The result of waiting until the last minute, and having no idea what exactly I would need, was 3 suitcases, 2 tote bags, and 4 garment bags for 2 ½  days of competition. A couple of weeks ago I competed in Killick Klassick (2 days of competing for me), and despite once again waiting until the last minute (30 minutes before I had to leave to be exact), I managed to pack everything in 1 suitcase and 2 garment bags and still left on time. How did I manage this? My competition-packing check list! I’ve uploaded my lists (women’s and men’s versions) to save you the time of compiling your own. Feel free to download a copy and customize it as you need to depending on your personal preferences, and don’t hesitate to comment with any of your must-have items that aren’t on the list! I’ve refined this list several times over the years, but I’m sure it will continue to evolve. Happy packing and happy dancing!

• Women's Packing List
• Men's Packing List

As I thought about all the things I want to write about, and tried to figure out where I should start, I remembered the very first question I had when I started dancing: what the heck do I wear? When I first walked into the dance studio on July 22nd 2009 (yes, I’m crazy enough that I remember the date), I was a bit apprehensive and had no idea what to expect. I was greeted by Richard, the friendly receptionist at the time, and he asked me what brought me in. After chitchatting a bit, he asked me if I wanted to get started—since they had an instructor available in about 15 minutes. PANIC! I had not mentally prepared myself for dancing right away, and I looked for any excuse to schedule my first lesson at a later time. “Oh, I’m not dressed to dance” is what I blurted out. I had come right from work and was wearing some khakis, a tank top with a pink cardigan over it, and some ballet flats (again, I’m kind of a crazy details person). Thankfully, Richard accepted that excuse (maybe he saw the fear in my eyes) and scheduled my lesson for the next day. When I got home that night, I realized I had absolutely no idea what to wear—even though I had given my outfit as a reason not to dance. Flash forward to now and I can give you some advice that I wish I had received before my first lesson. Simply wear something that you’re comfortable in! I’ve seen people take lessons in jeans, skirts, dresses, work clothes, workout clothes, casual wear, and (my personal favorite) leggings with a flowy top. I’ve seen girls in crazy-high stilettos and guys in running sneakers. As long as you’re comfortable, and not self-conscious about the outfit, you should wear what you’d like. Now as you start progressing, and depending on your goals, I might recommend switching over to practice wear or more athletic clothing—but more on that in a later post. Now, there are a few recommendations I have for your first lesson no matter what your clothes:

• Make sure your shoes are comfortable; if you opt for high heels, make sure you aren’t wobbly in them. Aside from making it harder to learn, if you’re constantly thinking about how smooshed your pinky toe is or worrying if you’re ankles are going to buckle, you could actually injure yourself or at the least give yourself some unpleasant blisters. Now, sneakers may also be a little hard to dance in since they grip the floor too much to allow for super-easy rotation, but for the first few lessons you should be fine. I’ll post later on what shoes to invest in if you plan on dancing for a while.
• Make sure you’re covered. Ladies, there is a good chance you’ll do a few turns and maybe even be dipped. Super fun, but also potentially super revealing! If you’re wearing a skirt or dress, I recommend some shorts underneath for modesty’s sake. My personal favorites are by Capezio (link at the bottom of the post). I’ve had a few pairs for several years now and they still have their shape and stretch. They come in a variety of lengths and colors, so you can choose some that are long enough for you to feel comfortable and match your dress (not necessary unless you’re doing a performance, but certainly fun).
• If you’re self-conscious about your legs, you can always wear tights or stockings. If you plan on dancing for a while, and maybe even performing or competing, I recommend investing in some fishnets. I don’t mean your normal fishnets from Macy’s, or even the more risqué burlesque-ish fishnets you may be picturing (that was my first mental image when I was told to get some fishnets). I’m referring to dance fishnets. I personally love my fishnets from Capezio (I promise they’re not paying me to write this; they just make really good dance clothing). They’re made for dance, so they’re both super stretchy and durable. I’ve had mine for 3 years, and despite quite a few snags during quick changes, they’ve never ripped. I got mine in Caramel, which is a slightly darker tone than my natural skin color—to better match my legs when I tan for competitions.

To finish my story, I ended up wearing business casual clothes to my first lesson with some strappy kitten heels. I was a bit self-conscious until I looked around and noticed several people had also clearly come from work. After that, I was able to focus completely on my lesson and proceeded to be swept off my feet by the joy of ballroom dancing. I hope you are as well!