Capezio BOLT Dansneaker

Less than a year ago Capezio added a new dansneaker to its basics range of dance sneakers and right away it won favour as a great dance sneaker for Zumba.

The BOLT’s success as a dance sneaker can be attributable to Capezio’s long heritage in making dance shoes, more than 125 years in fact. They are light, tough, supportive and offer grip that makes it the only shoe we recommend you do Zumba on a carpet in. A big feature, of course, were the Black, Pink or Ice Blue embroidered sections down the side, making them an item to colour match your dance outfit with. But now we have three more colours for you:

BOLT's new colours

Arguably one of the finest dance sneakers for all forms of dance, including dance fitness and Zumba, the Capezio BOLT Danseaker has 3 fab colours to go with the existing Black, Pink and Ice Blue: say hello to Yellow, Purple and Green.

These new colours also come with a choice of the standard Black laces or laces that match the colour of the embroidery, making them very eye catching indeed.

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Last week prototypes of the entire range arrived at Dancemania and we gave them a good looking over.

The Dance Fitness Sneaker range

The same mould for the sole is used across the range of 5 styles, so the difference between the styles is not what’s beneath your feet but what is wrapped around them. Essentially there are 3 distinct designs: Lightening S0924, Apex S0920 and Traverse S0922, all of which are low sided sneakers that are common place in many classes. However, the Apex and Traverse designs also come as a hi-top, or mid side boot: Apex Mid S0921 and Traverse Mid S09232.

Here is a reminder of what the shoes in their various styles will actually look like:

Bloch Lightening S0924

Bloch Apex S0920

Bloch Traverse S0922

Bloch Apex Mid S0921

Bloch Traverse Mid S0923

First impressions

These sneakers look and feel fabulous! As you would expect from Bloch the sneakers are well made and well thought-out. The colour combinations used are a delight for the eyes and there is something for everyone. The biggest disappointment is that while some of the styles are ideal for men, the first production runs will only produce shoe sizes up to 7(UK), which is going to disappoint a great many women too. However, I’ve no doubt that once these beauties become popular moulds for larger sizes will soon follow.

- the layered, composite sole

The promise of this shoe is that its lightweight multi-layered sole will provide bounce and shock absorption for jumps, and that a combination of high-tech materials will offer optimum support and flexibility in a full sole sneaker. Well that is certainly achieved, the shoe fits well and of course is very comfortable, but the strangest of things is that you control how much grip the shoe has with the floor by putting pressure on differing parts of the sole.

The diagram above shows an exploded view of the sole’s composition:

1 is the base layer to the sole and provides much of the cushioning;
2 adds to the cushioning and provides grip for the heel, ball and toes giving balance and control.
3 provides grip on the edge of the foot, offering stability in neutral positions as well as during quick foot movements. This layer also provides braking when in a slide.
4 is the spin spot, which is made of a high density material that looks like glass but is some sort of plastic. It is very shiny and proved very slippy too.

Our guinea-pig was the lucky Zoe; she tried our prototypes out on various surfaces. She found them to be comfortable yet thought the soles took a bit of getting used to, particularly the spin-spot. Whilst actually performing spins Zoe found she could control them by going on demi-pointe and using layer number 2 in the toe to increase the braking as required but she found being on the ball of her feet a challenge because the spin spot was just too slippy. No doubt once you get used to them the slippiness will be mastered, but by making the spin-spot so slippy so that rotating in these shoes places no undue stress on your joints Bloch have made them rather skittish.

So, these shoes are like an F1 race car in that they are both light, quick and responsive but also like an F1 race car at the feet of a novice these shoes could easily see you crash into an undignified heap.

The final production sneakers

Bloch have already received our feedback and their own conclusion is that the prototype spin spot was just too slippy, so look forward to the production sneakers being more controllable than these prototypes.

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Bloch may well have an answer to this short coming with the 2012 release of their new Dance Fitness Sneakers, which incorporate innovative modular soles. The thinking is that where a single compound sole can be a ‘jack of all trades’ a modular sole composed of many compounds could well be a ‘master of them all’.

Dance fitness sneakers by Bloch

This is Bloch’s first sneaker specifically designed for dance fitness but they are a leading innovator in dance shoes. Any of you that have worn the Bloch 538 Boost DRT Dance Sneaker will already know how great their shoes are for Zumba, so these new sneakers are going to be rather special.

Bloch claim that with this technically superior lightweight sole these revolutionary sneakers will offer optimum ability to execute the full range of movements needed in dance fitness, even for those with little or no dance experience.

Personally I can’t wait to get my hands on a pair to test.

Bloch’s innovative sole

The lightweight multi-layered sole provides bounce and shock absorption for jumps. A combination of high-tech materials offers optimum support and flexibility in a full sole shoe.

The key to this sneakers success could well be the way that the smooth, less grippy spin spot is surrounded by more grippy pads that will allow control of spins and slides through braking.

The spin spot

High density smooth spin spot assists in free movement related to spinning and sliding.

Pads surrounding the spin spot give balance and control.

Outer side of sole acts as a brake when sliding. The grip offers stability in neutral positions as well as quick foot movements.

What the shoes will look like

As this is a new line of fitness sneakers the innovative sole will be incorporated in a collection of different shoe designs, which you can view below:

Lightening S0924

Apex S0920

Traverse S0922

Apex Mid S0921

Traverse Mid S0923

What do you think? Is there a style that has caught your eye? Please give us your thoughts on these sneakers and if you have any questions then let us know. We will be getting some in as soon as we can so that we can do an objective review, so watch this space.

[UPDATE: We have now had our hands on these lovely sneakers so read our post "A first glimpse of Bloch's Dance Fitness sneakers for Zumba".]

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Important: Never wear sports trainers for Zumba as their soles provide too much grip in the tight turns and many people have ripped their knees, ankles and even hips by dancing in them.

Dance Sneaker Design

Studies* have shown that there are differences between the feet of men and women, which are not due to men typically having bigger feet than women, and designers of dance sneakers take these differences in to account when making their shoes. A rule of thumb is that unless a style of dance sneaker is specifically identified as ‘for men’ or ‘unisex’ then it has been made for women. However, do not let this put you off!

Statistically some men will have female feet and conversely some women will have male feet, yet they will continue to wear shoes that were not designed for their type of feet. So the point is wear shoes that feel most comfortable on YOUR feet.

As with all shoes, when trying out a new pair of dance sneakers it is important not only that the shoes feel comfortable when you stand, with no crushing or cutting, but that they feel comfortable when you move around in them, with no rubbing or chafing. If you can try out a few dance moves then that would be best.

For men the points to focus on when trying on Dance Sneakers for the first time are the heel cup and width across the ball of the foot. Some men may find that their heels are too big for the shoe’s heel cup, so in my recommendations below I identify potential problems with heel cups for each style of shoe. For a given length of foot men typically are 5% wider across the ball than women so I have chosen my recommenations with this fact in mind.

How do your feet feel? Dance sneakers feel totally different to wear than street shoes or sports shoes so you may feel the effects of your feet experiencing euphoria as they are set free to flex and articulate as never before in shoes.

Dance Sneaker Style

Most dance sneakers are split-sole, which means that the heel and ball of the foot have their own unique sole. This aids bending and flexing the foot, which is important in dance and fitness.

The split-sole can be low profile or high profile as demonstrated in the photo. The benefit of high profile is exceptional shock absorption.

It is usual that men do not wear high profile split-sole dance sneakers. Although there is no physical reason why this is the case I have limited my recommendations below to only dance sneakers that have a low profile sole.

recommended zumba shoes for men

Capezio BOLT Dansneaker

Made by Capezio, these are our most popular shoe for men doing Zumba and are available in half sizes up to UK Adult 12.
I assume that most men will be happy with this style in Black but this sneaker also comes with Ice Blue embroidered ‘ribs’, which look very good. You can also get the ‘ribs’ in Hot Pink too if you feel especially daring.
The tech-mesh uppers allow for some expansion across the ball of the foot whilst the lack of a rigid heel cup makes this sneaker better suited to men with broad heels.
Take a look and buy now >>

Bloch Wave Dance Sneaker

Latest styling from Bloch, another company famed for quality dance sneakers.
Choice of three colour combinations, but I’d expect the Graphite appeals to men most.
Available in half sizes up to UK 11.
The rigid construction of the heel cup and sides may constrict men with wide feet.

Take a look and buy now >>

Bloch Twist Dance Sneaker

Another design from Bloch. High density tpu outsole with functional spin spot. Excellent breathability and at least two colours that any man would be happy to wear – Silver & Black. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with men wearing Pink these sneakers in Pink may be pushing the boat our too far.
Available in half sizes up to UK 11.
The heel cup is less constricting than that on the previous sneaker and the width across the ball of the foot should be able to expand better too.

Take a look and buy now >>

Bloch Criss Cross Dance Sneaker

This Bloch sneaker benefits from an upper composed almost entirely of mesh for reducing weight and maximising breathability.
Adult sizes up to 11½.

Take a look and buy now >>

Capezio Freedom Dansneaker

This multi-articulating split shoe from Capezio is so flexible the entire shoe can be folded or rolled and put in your pocket. Adult sizes up to UK 8½.
Although this shoe does not have a spin-spot, is not available in sizes larger than 8½ and has minimal shock absorbing qualities I’ve included it here because it is a great dance shoe that is specifically Unisex. I would not recommend this shoe to beginners due to the lack of shock absorption.

Take a look and buy now >>

If the Freedom takes your fancy but you’d like something a bit brighter and more eye-catching then there is of course the Freedom2 – based on the Freedom the Freedom2 has it all, including a choice of three bright sole colours.

References:

* Wunderlich RE, Cavanagh PR. (2001). Gender differences in adult foot shape: implications for shoe design, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 33(4):605-11.

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Capezio BOLT Dansneaker

The BOLT is a Black split-sole dance sneaker with embroidered decoration in a choice of three colours: Hot Pink, Ice Blue or Black (Sorry, we don’t yet have a Black to photograph).

(Click on any image to enlarge it.)

The split-sole is low profile, offering a typical dance shoe rounded rather than angular tred and incorporates a “Y” shaped flex notch. Up close you can see the importance of the flex notch when you twist and bend the sole because the sole moves in three segments, which will allow the foot within the shoe to flex and make better contact with the floor than it would do if the sole was one solid lump.

The sole is made from CME, and whilst I have no idea what that is I can tell you it is extremely light, like a stiff Angel Delight and weighs only 6oz. It is non marking and features a flat platform for toe stands, which shows its pedigree as a dancer’s shoe.

The BOLT’s uppers are made from SBR (Styrene-Butadiene-Rubber) giving the shoe excellent resistance to abrasion. The SBR is perforated for ventilation and integrated with a poly mesh to resist propogation of any damage to the upper. The shoe is strategically strengthened with nappa PU, that has a soft buttery feel, and the decorative embroidery that act like ribs in a soft corset. The collar and tongue benefit from lots of padding and the laces are ‘stay tight’ poly/cotton laces.

In addition to the ample cushioning effect of the SBR heel comfort is provided by a removeable EVA footbed.

Available sizes are UK Adult size 2 to UK Adult size 12, including half sizes.

Are they great for zumba?

Yes they are!

We gave a pair to our friendly resident dancer and Zumba fitness exponent Sammy and got her to do a few moves, including the all important spin. It is a sad fact that many who do Zumba still wear sports or running trainers and frankly they are no good for dancing in. The biggest problem with trainers is they are too grippy, a single energetic spin or turn can result in a torn knee and they often do.

The BOLT sole, as you would expect, provides the right amount of grip for dancing and the spin-spot channels cut in to the sole are there to facilitate rotation. Sammy experienced no catching, dragging or slipping whilst performing in them other than when we tried them on carpet, which is where many do their Zumba – in front of a TV working out to a Zumba DVD or to Zumba on the Wii. On carpet spins are not advised but at least with Capezio’s BOLT they are possible.

Sammy found the BOLT Dansneakers to be extremely comfortable, supportive and stable and allowed the maximum amount of flexing in the foot that a dancer would require. Needless to say Sammy wants to keep them, and who can blame her!

Take a closer look at a pair of BOLTs and Sammy’s spin test in this video:

Get a pair now

The Capezio BOLT Dansneaker are not available for sale until Mid December 2011 but you can pre-order your pair AVAILABLE NOW! so be sure of getting them in time for Christmas and that New Year resolution to get your dancing shoes on, only this time your dancing shoes will be BOLT Dansneakers!

ORDER A PAIR NOW!

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Pineapple Adult Dancewear Fashion

Who would have thought it but Orange and Charcoal work together so very well. Don’t believe it? Well look for yourself as this seasons twin colour combo gets to work on Pineapple’s classic designs such as the retro hoodie, crop tee and especially effectively on the Dbl band crop pant, whilst new styles such as the slit top brings in the well-loved Pink.

It wouldn’t be a Pineapple collection without their Pineapple Retro Hoodie and Pineapple Retro Trackie Pants now would it? So here they are!

The fabric used by Pineapple has always been so unbelievably soft to the touch and it still is. These hoodies and trackies drape lightly over your body and yet keep you snug and warm.

We think that Orange, be it dusty peachy orange, and Charcoal contrast naturally and stylishly with this design – what do you think?

A staple of Pineapple dancewear is the Pineapple crop tee and here it is paired with the Pineapple Double Band Crop Pant, which is my personal favourite as the Orange waist band and logo contrast so effectively with the great fitting Charcoal crop pant. Not shown here is the crop top in Charcoal.

Next we have the Pineapple Retro Trackie Pants again this time paired with the Pineapple Script Strappy Top seen here in Orange, of course, although we could have gone with the Charcoal.

The sneakers here are Pineapple’s Hybrid super lightweight lace up sports casual in Black and Gold.

The Pineapple Script Strappy Top seen above in Orange also comes in Pink, which as we see here works very well with the Pineapple Retro Crop Pants in Pink.

Fight off those winter blues with this warm pink ultra soft Pineapple Fleece Hoodie with matching Pineapple Fleece Trackie.

How about this trio of beauties (from left to right):

Black Pineapple Oversized Fashion Tee with foil print motif paired with Pineapple Foil Crop Pant.

Pink Pineapple Raw Edge Top also paired with foil print motif paired with Pineapple Foil Crop Pant with Pineapple’s Hybrid casual sports sneaker.

Pineapple Dbl Dance Top paired with Pineapple Retro Crop Pants.

Pineapple Kids Dancewear Fashion

This season’s Kid’s clothes are all about “Love DANCE” and dot “DANCE” foil print motifs on the new Blue, Black and Pink. All of the classic styles have survived the cut and have been combined with the new colours and new motifs. In common with the adult range the foil print stands out as an attention grabber in strong light.

Here we see the autumn 2011 shades of Blue and Pink used for the Blue Love Dance Hoodie and the matching Love Dance Trackie and the Pink Sparkle Hoodie and matching Sparkle Trackie. As you can tell these trackies and hoodies are cut for comfort and so come slightly oversized so be sure to order the usual clothes size as buying the next size up isn’t necessary.

The “Love Dance” hoodie and trackie also comes in Black.

In this picture Roxy is wearing Pineapple’s Kid’s Geo Boots, which come in Purple or Pink and are fabulous.

In Black and Blue we have the Pineapple Kids Double Dance Vest and the double layer Pineapple Kids Love Dance Top.

The Love Dance Top goes well with the “Love Dance” trackie in Black or Blue while the Double Dance Vest goes with crop pants.

I spy those Pineapple’s Kid’s Geo Boots again in Pink/White.

What a fab combo this Pineapple Kids Dot Dance Top makes with the Pineapple Kids Dot Dance Crop Pant. Both have the “DANCE” Pineapple logo in dotty foil print, which is stylish and eye catching, especially when the foil reflects light right at you, it really stands out.

For extra versatility why not swap-out the Pink crop for a Black pair to create a seriously classic look.

The colder weather may well be on its way but that doesn’t stop a dancer from wearing her crops – tops and pants.

Blue and Black (crouching) Kids Retro Crop Hoodie paired with Blue Love Dance Trackie, and Black Kids Dancers Crop Pants.

Standing we see the same Kids Dancers Crop Pants but with the Black Kids Love Dance Hoodie, which also comes in Blue.

Pineapple Sale Items

If getting lots of new colours and designs with every new range of Pineapple clothes wasn’t good enough news for you then surely you must be rather excited at all the ensuing bargains that result in the end of line discounts. As Dancemania stocks the new Pineapple range it must make room by clearing its warehouse of the old Pineapple stock.

Go now to Dancemania’s sales page and amongst all the dancewear and gymnastics clothing bargain discounts you will find many fantastic Pineapple bargains too.

Enjoy!!

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“… thank you for giving me a chance to tell you how great my purchase is. You are so right to be proud of your products as it is my best purchase this year. I am a 3rd year nursing student on a very busy Acute Assessment Unit. These sneakers feel they have been designed for nurses as it prevents, cushions and supports the feet, especially the heal and arch, allowing a pain free 12 hour shift. I would go as far has to say “its like walking on air”. I would recommend this product for any healthcare professional who is primarily on their feet for long periods of time.

An absolutely fantastic product and one that will be used through out my career. I think it is paramount that these shoes should be advertised for nurses, “God send”. “

So which shoes gets such high praise? It’s Roch Valley’s Impact Dance Sneaker. The mesh and nubuck uppers ensure airflow is maximised around the foot keeping it cool and refreshed and the arch overlap provides the ideal support. The shoe is lightweight and includes air cushions within the thick none-marking soles, so you really do walk on air.

Dancemania is very greatful to Mrs Mitchell-Hilborn for taking the time to provide us with such useful feedback. We hope that it proves useful to you too.

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