Heel work, or ‘Shoe work’ for the Lead, is the later stage of footwork training where we work on how the heel and shoe meet the floor. This is only done once balance, stability, and consistency have been achieved in one’s walk. One does not attempt heel work, until these have been mastered. To be clear, most teachers put the Follower (and Lead) immediately into Tango shoes expecting them to ‘survive’ without first knowing how to walk without them. Heel work requires first and foremost that one understands how to move, efficiently. Most people don’t. They just assume that the technique for walking is the same as it would be when walking on the street. It’s not. Because of this misunderstanding, most people drudge along in shoes that they haven’t been properly trained to dance in yet. In short, the body must be prepared BEFORE you attempt the finishing work of ‘heel work’.