Tango Genial Blog (En)

Reading time: 4 min.

I love flat shoes.
Really.
I am absolutely PRO flat shoes in tango.

They take the strain off your body, they’re easier on your feet, they give you stability and grounding you can barely achieve in high heels.

Flat shoes are comfortable, healthy — and, when done right, even more elegant than many people think.

But… and here comes my big BUT:

What I don’t understand is this:
Women put on flat shoes — and then spend the entire night dancing on the balls of their feet.

Why???

Well, that’s a matter of taste…
Personally, I think it often looks stiff and awkward — but fine.

More importantly, though, it costs you exactly what flat shoes are actually meant to give you:

Stability. Grounding. Relief.

Because if you spend all night balancing on the balls of your feet, you’re doing your body no favors.
On the contrary: your weight is distributed on a tiny point the whole time. You’re not even “resting” on a heel anymore.

Your calf muscles stay under constant tension. Your core cramps because you’re always searching for balance.

And worst of all: you lose so many beautiful ways to use your foot to interpret the music.

There are situations where it makes sense to stand more on the ball of your foot even in flat shoes:
When your partner is very tall and would otherwise pull you out of balance.
When you want to dance closer to his chest, heart to heart, instead of clinging somewhere around hip level.

That’s okay.
As long as it’s a conscious choice — and not just a bad habit.

This also applies to professionals.
Because sadly, I see it all the time: even many pros stay up on their toes in flat shoes.
And everyone who looks up to them copies it.
That’s a shame — and it’s not a good example.

Flat shoes aren’t just about comfort — they’re also a tool.
They can help you dance better, with more balance and less pain, with more control and less wobbling.
So use them that way.

Heels down, whenever you can.
Because your body will thank you.
Because it will improve your dance.

And because a confident woman stands firmly on the ground and doesn’t let every little mistake of her leader throw her off balance.

If you’ve made it this far in the article, you’ve already proven you care about your technique. That’s exactly the mindset I love to see in my students.

And because good technique starts with good shoes and good guidance:

Use my Rumpf discount code when ordering your next pair of flat shoes — because your feet deserve to feel as good as your confidence looks.

And if you’d like to work on your technique, balance, and confidence in a private setting — send me a message and let’s book a private lesson together. Online lessons available as well.

We’ll look at exactly how your posture and footwork reflect your confidence (or don’t yet) — and bring it all back to the ground.
Your ground.

Because heels down is just the beginning.

📩 Message me to book your private session now!