Which heel height should I choose for tango practice?

First of all, what are we talking about?

In fact there is no simple answer, because there is no norm or standard on this point. Each brand calculates its heel height as it wishes.

Look at the diagram below: we see 2 identical shoes (strictly the same height) with different heel heights, simply because the shape of the heel is different.

And to complicate everything, know that a heel that measures 8 cm in size 38 will barely reach 7.5 cm in 35 and exceed 8.5 cm in 42! And yes, the heel "grows" with the shoe (and that's also why making a shoe is complicated).

However, whether you buy a size 35 or 42, the same heel height will be indicated.

Often it is the height corresponding to size 37 that is given, but there is no standard, nothing obliges the brand to follow any rule, and in any case we do not know how the measurement was plug.

Lalatango measures its heels from a size 37, starting from the middle of the high heel (the small element which is on the ground) and going up vertically. The measurement is then rounded off, in order to simplify and avoid talking about "7.1 cm" or "7.9 cm" heels for example!

You see this heel height thing is to die for, and I suggest not making it a fixation... It's much more important to wear shoes with good arch support, like the Lalatango, which the comfort will make you forget how high you are dancing.

I often hear beginner dancers point out to me that it is not advisable to wear very high heels over time. Far from me the intention to counter an opinion which would come from a health professional, but I take the liberty of pointing out to them that when this advice is given, it generally applies to the wearing of shoes for normal use, it that is, to walk or stand.
While here, not only are we talking about dancing, but it's also about Argentine tango!
The shoe is no longer to be considered as a simple shoe but rather as technical equipment, a bit like we would consider a ski boot... for skiing.

The closed embrace posture (milonguero style) that we take when dancing the tango requires the dancer to be tilted forward. This position is simply more comfortable with heels. If you dance flat, or with small heels, you will tend to overwork certain muscles and tendons, sometimes causing painful tendonitis in the foot - as I see in some cases.

But another characteristic of the tango makes the heels even more useful: in Argentine tango, the dancer mostly "walks" backwards. Take the test in front of a mirror, lean forward and step back: thanks to high heels, you put the back of your foot down more quickly, which rests the calf and its entire muscle chain and helps you maintain balance.
And when she walks forward, the dancer does not plant the heel on the ground in the same way as during a classic walk. In other words, the positions of the body when dancing the tango are not identical to those of everyday life.

The height of heels most often recommended in tango is 8 cm. It's my favorite height to dance the night away.
Aesthetically, the higher the heel, the more sexy the silhouette and the rolling gait.

Give yourself some time, feel free to wear the shoes home at first. Heels are mostly a matter of habit.

It is true that, whatever the height, dancing in heels causes very significant pressure on the toes and metatarsals. Lalatango shoes have been developed to reduce this pressure, thanks to these two main characteristics:

- The shape of Lalatango shoes is designed to provide optimum support for your arch. With its perfect arch, it ensures exceptional comfort for dancing the tango until the end of the night!

- The Lalatango are equipped with several millimeters of an exceptional material, Poron®, an ultra-absorbing pain-relieving podiatric foam that CONSIDERABLY reduces the pain caused by hours of practice of Argentine tango with many pivots.

In the end, it is you who decides your favorite height. The important thing is that you feel comfortable dancing. You can also go gradually!
And if you suffer from a particular injury or deformity, follow the advice of health professionals.