Jordan Chiles performs during Tuesday’s “Wicked Night” episode of “Dancing With the Stars.”
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Jordan Chiles is briefly trading in gymnastics for dance as she competes on the 34th season of “Dancing With the Stars.” While gymnastics is mainly a barefoot sport, the type of dancing she is doing on the reality competition series requires some expert-level support from the kind of shoe brands professional dancers rely on.
So far into the season, Chiles has swapped between two professional dance shoe brands: International Dance Shoes and Arika Nerguiz. On Tuesday, the gymnast performed the rumba alongside her dancing partner Ezra Sosa during the show’s “Wicked Night.” The duo danced to “For Good” from the soundtrack of the famous movie and Broadway show.
Chiles glided around the dance floor in the Mia T-Bar heels by International Dance Shoes in a tan shimmer color. The Mia T-Bar is one of the British brand’s most popular styles, thanks to the sandals’ intricate vamp design. The shoe features four thick straps that are woven together to create a delicate design at the center of the foot, but it was also made to be closed enough to keep all the toes and the foot in place. It gives the appearance of a caged sandal but features an open-toe design.
The T-Bar is designed to add a stylish element to the heel and to provide extra support and security while dancing. The lightweight shoes are also made with gel-cushioned insoles for comfort on the dance floor, and are said to be ultra flexible to help maximize the point of the toe. The shoes feature a slim strap around the ankle with a rhinestone-encrusted buckle.
The design is made to order in England, and the width, sole color, heel type and heel height can all be selected on the website, based on the dancer’s needs. The heel heights range from 2 inches to 3 and a half.
Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa backstage on Tuesday.
Disney via Getty Images
There are also different heel styles available, like a Voguel heel, an IDS flared heel, a slim heel, low heels and more. The Mia heels are available in a range of colors and can also be made from vegan leather. Prices range for around $145, depending on tariffs and shipping costs.
Chiles’ other shoe of choice so far has been the Arika Nerguiz Alameda style in a light nude. The limited-edition heel is a closed-toe dance shoe with a 3-inch 1940s heel and a medium width. The shoes are handmade in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Tuesday’s performance earned Chiles’ first perfect 10 scores. Her performance with Sosa earned a score of 39 out of 40 and tied for the week’s highest score. There are now nine couples left on the show, after Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold were eliminated after “Wicked Night” in week six.