shoes

Do I have to buy shoes for this class?

No. If all else fails you can get by with heavy socks. However, dancing tango is easier and more comfortable with good shoes.

What sort of shoes should I wear?

The best shoes for tango are ones that are flat on the bottom and a bit "slippery"; usually leather or suede bottoms work best. Don't use shoes that slide off your feet easily (like women's dress heels without straps). Shoes that have good traction make tango difficult because they don't let you pivot easily - and they may make your knees unhappy if you try.

Dance sneakers are a popular choice for practicing tango; the bottoms are typically slippery enough to let you pivot and they're not too expensive. Street sneakers vary: old worn-out flat ones can work, but most are too sticky.

I've heard that you can make a tango practice shoe by taking nearly anything that's comfortable and flat and gluing a leather sole to the bottom (or having a cobbler do it for you), though I haven't tried this myself.

If you want to buy a real dance shoe that'll look cool at milongas, make sure it's something that's comfortable, probably closed-toe for a beginning dancer, with a leather bottom, and if you're a follower probably something with a heel (not too high unless you know what you're getting into) and straps across the ankle or instep to keep it on. Leaders typically wear flat-bottomed dress shoes, again with a leather sole for pivoting on the ball of your foot.

The hard part is that (a) few stores within driving distance carry a reasonable selection, and (b) dance shoe sizes don't match street shoe sizes well, and they often take time time to deliver - so ordering online can be problematic. And shoes that are specifically designed for tango are pretty expensive.

Can you give me some specific suggestions?

Here are a few ideas and images from online vendors, with prices and links as of Jan 25 2007. For more, try googling phrases like "tango shoes" or "dance sneakers".