Best Dance Shoes

What is a Mary Jane style shoe?

Definition: A mary jane shoe usually refers to a girl's or woman's shoe that is styled after shoes children used to wear.

Mary janes can have varying heel heights and come in a variety of styles, but what makes them mary janes is the strap that crosses the middle top of the foot - sometimes shoes called mary janes will have multiple straps crossing the top of the foot.

Traditionally, a mary jane shoe has a short, rounded toe box, and very flat heel, although now nearly any style or height of shoe can have mary jane styling.

Also known as: scoop, Mary-Janes, MaryJanes

Mary Jane is an originally American term for a kind of strap shoes that typically have low heels, rounded closed toes, and a buckled strap across the instep. They are often made of black patent leather, although some current incarnations are also made of canvas or suede.

Traditionally Mary Janes are a variety of shoes worn mainly by girls. In modern times they are worn by women of all ages. However, while Mary Janes may be considered formal for girls, they are informal when worn by women.

Are Mary Jane style shoes good for dancing?

Your dance shoes will directly affect your dancing. In general, any shoe with a smooth leather sole that allows for easy turning and spinning is the best. Once you’ve found a sole that works well for you, look for a comfortable shoe that fits well and doesn’t slip and slide around on your foot. This often means choosing straps or laces to keep the shoe secure when you’re dancing. That's where the Mary Jane style comes in - it allows for breathing yet keeps your shoe snug to the foot.

While a strapped or closed shoe may not always be your first choice in style, it can make a big difference when you’re dancing. Some women really like dancing in pumps; others find that a shoe that’s not strapped onto their foot will fall off too easily, especially when trying to keep up with slick dance maneuvers. It’s painful to constantly scrunch up your toes to keep your shoes on, and it’s bad for your feet. When you can trust your footwear to be there for you, you can focus your attention on great style and technique, instead of working so hard to keep those stylish but flimsy shoes from flying across the dance floor!