In a previous article we explained why it matters to choose the right dance shoes, and logically the same goes for Cuban salsa. And more generally, what are the best Latin dance shoes?
Cuban salsa, or Cuban casino, is a circular dance that involves almost constant movement, turns, changes of direction and more.
Beginner salseros and professional dancers have the same needs: comfortable dance shoes that protect their joints and help them move in their dance – here, Cuban salsa.
We’ll share the criteria for choosing your salsa shoes, how to buy Fuego shoes 10% cheaper (promo code) and why you should protect your joints right now.
💰 You can get 10% off your whole basket, all year round, by clicking here:
Cuban salsa, a dance you walk
Cuban salsa, whose original name is “casino” (later Americanised as salsa), is a dance with roots in Africa and Spain. It’s a grounded dance (Africa) with the music and Latin seduction of Spain.
It’s a street dance, danced flat-footed (not on the balls of the feet), grounded. In Cuba, everyone dances in trainers or sneakers, the most comfortable shoes.
They say there: “if you can walk, you can dance”, because this dance has you moving almost continuously, walking, forwards, all the time.
That’s why we recommend dancing Cuban salsa in trainers, and even better, buying dance sneakers, like those made by the American brand Fuego!
Fuego dance shoes: the best for Cuban salsa?
In short: for us, yes: they are lightweight dance sneakers (174 to 408 g depending on the model), with a semi-smooth sole and pivot points, vegan and unisex, available as low top, high top, wedge or Split Sole.
We have presented all the Fuego shoe models in several articles, and to the question “What are the best dance shoes for Cuban salsa?”, the answer right now is FUEGO!
The brand offers different types of dance sneakers: classic low tops that look like Adidas Stan Smiths, high tops, wedges (Fuego Wedge) and ultra-light shoes with a sole split in two (Fuego Split Sole).
All their shoes are vegan and unisex. Men and women can dance in comfort and in style (which is even more true for men, who used to have to make do with “clown shoes”).
Many colours are available, so there’s something for everyone: white, black, green, lavender, glossy black, red, mocha, etc.
We and our dancer friends have been using Fuego pairs for years and it has really been a game changer.
Why the weight of a dance shoe matters
Fuego dance shoes are designed to be sturdy, comfortable, stylish and lightweight.
Here is the weight of each model:
- Low top: 273 g (Jade green and blue), 255 g (Derek Hough) and 238 g (the others)
- High top: 258 g
- Wedge: 408 g
- Split Sole: 174 g
To help you picture their respective weights, here is a fun comparison:
- Low top: weighs as much as an adult hamster 🐹
- High top: weighs as much as 2 large eggs 🥚
- Wedge: weighs as much as an American football 🏈
- Split Sole: weighs as much as half a loaf of bread 🍞
Discover the Wedge and the Split Sole here:
Because the dance shoes are light, you get less tired, your feet feel more rested, your joints are under less strain and you can dance more, more comfortably.
Among salseros and salseras (Cuban salsa dancers), the best-selling Fuego shoe is unsurprisingly the low top.
💰 You can buy the Fuego Low Top (-10%) by clicking here:
Look after your joints!
Don’t wait until you reach a certain level to look after your joints by buying your first pair of dance shoes!
If you want to take up a dance, take a few classes to try it out, ten or so for example, then invest in good dance shoes – it’s very important.
Every turn (or spin), change of direction, etc. puts stress on your joints, especially your knees, then your ankles. Sticking with the example of Cuban salsa, when travelling, counts 4 and 8 are often small slides on the spot to change direction or reposition.
You wouldn’t believe how many professional dancers have knee problems, so you might as well have the right gear from the start.
Fuego shoes offer several advantages to avoid all this and enjoy your dancing to the full:
- Pivot points: to make your turns, rotations and spins easier.
- A semi-smooth sole: slides and changes of direction are easier thanks to the smoother outsole (unlike a regular trainer), while the few ridges on that same sole give you grip on the floor. The right compromise.
- The insole is comfortable and absorbs shocks well.
- Weight: as we saw earlier in this guide, the weight of the sneaker is an important criterion.
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