Because Egyptian dance is based so much on subtle movement of the torso, many new dancers have difficulty figuring out how to initiate the movement. I’ve been teaching Oriental Dance for a while now, and I’m pretty good at helping people learn to move their bodies.   I take pride and joy in my students’ achievements, small and large. “I got it!” is the best thing to hear!

You need to figure out what you’re going to do with your feet. Many dancers dance barefoot; I haven’t until recently, because it hurts if the surface is not designed for bare feet. While some dancers love ballroom shoes, I find a heel uncomfortable. I dance on my metatarsal a lot, but I like to use my foot muscles to achieve this, not count on a heel to do it for me.  And sometimes, for some movements or steps, I like to be on flat feet.  Thus, I usually perform in Achilles sandals.  There a lots of options.  Find what works for you. Ballet slippers are a good, inexpensive first option.

The floor at Pilates Bodies Studio is designed to be danced upon in bare feet, so that would be a good place to start.  See if it works for you, then start trying shoe options.

Here are some links to shoe providers on the web.  There are also dance supply stores in the greater Portland Metro area which carry many of these shoe types.

Aruba’s Oasis - handmade dance sandals.
Discount Dance Supply
Dance 4 Less
Dancewear Solutions
Mesmera - has her dance sandals made by NativeEarth.
Tribe Badir - Mulas (for hanging out) and dance sandals
Turkish Emporium - These are Oriental Dance Slippers - funky, but authentic.