The shoes are a complement that cannot be missing when dancing flamenco, since the toe and heel are used to give rhythm and enhance the sound of the movements. The taconeo is the rhythmic combination of sounds that the dancer performs using the toe and heel of the feet. Here we explain how your flamenco shoes should be and where to buy them.
How to choose your flamenco shoes?
Shoes are an essential tool in this style of dance. For this reason, when you go to buy your flamenco shoes you should take into account different aspects: resistance, quality and comfort.
In this type of footwear, the toe and heel are very important, since both are fitted with metal nails to make a sound when dancing. If the shoe has been made by a good craftsman, the sound of the laces will be soft, but at the same time will allow us to mark the rhythm of the dance with each movement.
Types of heels
The heel of flamenco shoes for women is usually made of beech wood, although they can be lined on the sides with suede, nappa or patent leather for better aesthetics. There are 3 types of heels:
Cuban heel
It is a wide, straight heel that sits on top of the sole. This is one of the best options for beginners in the dance, since being wider, they provide greater stability. It usually measures between 3 and 5 centimeters. Thanks to the Cuban heel food, you will avoid ankle sprains in your beginnings in the world of flamenco.
Heel spool
This type of heel is wider at the joint and base, being narrower in the center. This gives it a peculiar appearance that is quite striking and elegant. The usual measurements are between 5 and 7 centimeters. They are recommended for professionals because it is a thinner heel than the others.
Garrucha
The garrucha heel is used for the manufacture of flamenco shoes. It is halfway between the Cuban heel and the spool heel. It is usually used by professionals with a medium/high level of heel strike. It measures between 5 and 6 centimeters.
Difference between a semi-professional and a professional shoe
Both semi-professional and professional shoes are generally hard shoes, which you have to get the sound out of and make them yours with use, as the leather itself will give way. These have numerous spikes on the toe and heel to produce sound when dancing.
The main difference between a semi-professional and a professional flamenco shoe is the sole, since the rest is made practically the same and they are usually hand-sewn.
Professional shoes have a double sole of a special thickness and higher quality than semi-professional shoes. This sole produces a better sound and offers greater consistency when dancing. In addition, they have anti-slip edges.
The best flamenco shoes
There are different brands of footwear popular in the world of flamenco dance. These are the best known and offer excellent quality:
Gallardo
Gallardo is a firm popularly known by flamenco professionals. They have a store in Madrid and another one in Seville, but also an online store. Both their semi-professional and professional shoes are handmade. In addition, they are customizable, and you can choose between different leathers, colors and heels.
Senovilla Footwear
It is a company dedicated to the manufacture of footwear for flamenco dancing 100% handmade. They have a wide variety of colorful and original shoes. Their heels are made of rosewood, which gives them an exceptional musicality. They have several stores: in Madrid, Jerez, Seville, Tokyo and Los Angeles.
Don Flamenco
It is a boutique in Madrid that sells handmade flamenco shoes and other flamenco accessories such as castanets, earrings and shawls. They have different models of footwear for both semi-professionals and professionals.
Almoradux
It is a brand of flamenco dance shoes for amateurs and professionals. They are made in Valverde del Camino (Huelva) and can be found on their own website or in specialized stores. The official website offers the possibility of making your own personalized model. A peculiarity is that you can even choose an embroidery on the leather.
As a last recommendation, we just want to remind you to take into account your level and technique to choose the right shoes for you and for the use you are going to make of your flamenco shoes.
