holy_fruit_filling
It depends on what style of dance you are competing in. I can only describe shoes for ballroom, as that is my style. Shoes for ballroom dance have suede soles, which allows you to turn and slide without being too slippery. The soles are also very thin, allowing you to feel the floor better. Stylistically, there are differences between Ballroom and Latin shoes - Ballroom shoes (for dances like Waltz, Foxtrot, etc.) look similar to a men's lace-up dress shoe, with a low heel. They also typically have a full shank, which means that there is a flat piece of steel that runs most of the way through the sole, which helps support the rise and fall through the feet that is characteristic of those dances. Latin shoes (for Cha Cha, Rumba, Mambo, etc.) typically have a split sole, which means the shank only runs part of the way through the sole, making the shoe more flexible, so you can point your foot more easily. In addition, Latin shoes have higher heels (usually 1.5 or 2 inches) to put your weight forward over the balls of your feet.