Pole dancing heels originated in strip clubs. While the height can be intimidating for some, these heels are specifically made for dancing and they can be quite comfortable. After a couple sessions pole dancing in heels, you may never want to put on regular high heels again!
Wearing the proper heels when dancing can actually make some moves and transitions easier (although, some things are much harder!) and they can protect your toes in some advanced tricks (like kips and drop splits). They can aesthetically make the legs look longer and can change the way your body moves while dancing. Dancing in heels also has the benefit of making you feel like a badass!
You don’t NEED to wear heels to pole dance. The beauty of pole is that you can make it what you want! If you pole dance in bare feet for your entire pole journey, that is your choice. However, if you’re looking for that first pair of heels and don’t know where to start, let’s break down the choices.
Boots or Sandals?
Both are amazing!
Boots provide more ankle support and can cover the toes if you are doing floor work or more advanced tricks. However, boots will take more time to break in and are typically pricier than sandals.
Sandals can make those legs long even longer and show off beautiful lines. With Sandals, the clear plastic straps will stretch to your feet and break in faster than the harder opaque material. You will want to have a strap around the ankle to make sure the shoe stays on.
Material?
With either boots or sandals and any material, there will be wear as you slide around the floor and use them. You can get shoe covers to protect them (or DIY some using socks with the toe cut off!).
Toebox:
Getting the clear or tinted hard plastic on the toe box will not show as much wear. A chrome or painted finish on the toe box can scrape off as you do floor work.
Boot material:
Patent material has a lot of ankle support. It will be stiffer at first, sometimes too stiff, but can be broken in over time. This material can stick stick to the pole and enable you to climb with ease. Sliding and floor transitions will not be as simple in these as they also stick to the floor, however they can certainly be used for many aerial pole tricks and transitions.
Matte will move easier on the floor than the shinier material and will not scratch as quickly, but still provide great ankle support.
Suede are the softest fabric and allow for comfy, unrestricted movement. They slide very well on the ground (sometimes too well, more control is required at times), but they can scuff very easily.
Heel Height?
This is a comfort thing for each person, but many feel most comfortable starting in 7 inch heels and moving up to 8 inch heels after they get comfortable. 6 inch is an option to start, but many say 7 inch heels are easier to dance in than 6 inch heels!
The height is scary at first, especially if you are not used to high heels, but dancing in the right shoe will eventually feel way easier than dancing (or walking!) in normal heels. Warm up and strengthen those ankles and take it slow at first! Sign up for a class to start learning to walk in heels. Our classes 'Erotic Pole Flow’ or ‘Sensual Dance Flow’ can help to learn to dance in your heels. You can also start on the ground and put those heels on for ‘Floor Flow’!
Brand?
Pleasers is the leading brand in the market (and the brand we sell at the studio!), although there are some other quality brands that are making their way into the market. You’ll sometimes hear ‘Pleasers’ as a term used instead of “shoes”.
In any case, choose a quality brand of shoes that were made for pole dancing!
Some classic first pair of Pleasers:
Clear strap, Clear platform sandal
Pleasers don’t come in half sizes and it is generally better (especially with a boot) to take the next size up if you are a half size.
Ready to buy some heels? The studio puts in an order for shoes regularly. Browse the Pleasers website to find your perfect pair and then contact the studio to order it!