Dancesport competitors don't need a lot of gear to make it on the dance floor. In fact, outside of the right pair of shoes and potentially a costume, they need virtually none!
Shoes
The ballroom dance shoe is the single most important piece of equipment a competitor has. A suede sole has the almost magic property of being slippery when light weight is applied, but sticky when heavier weight is applied. This property allows the dancer to move quickly across a smooth wooden floor and stop on a dime without losing their footing. There are an enormous number of styles of ballroom dance shoes, but most differences are pure aesthetics.
The only thing that matters technically to the leader is heel height. For smooth and standard dances, shoes with a low heel are required, so that the dancer can execute heel leads (placing weight on the heel of the foot) with a minimum of effort and without turning an ankle. For rhythm and latin dances, a higher heel helps the dancer shape his leg and thus hips correctly while placing weight on the toe of the foot. In all cases leaders wear black shoes, unless specifically matching a costume.
The only thing that matters technically to the follower is toe style. A closed-toe shoe is needed for smooth and standard dances for two reasons. First, it protects the followers toes, as these dances are performed in close body contact, and stubbing or clipping is a real possibility. Second, it provides added support stiffness to the shoe, making supporting one's weight on one's toes easier. An open toed shoe is needed for rhythm and latin dances, as it allows the foot more flexibility and control while placing weight on the toe of the foot. Followers should choose nude or black shoes, unless specifically matching a costume.
Shoe Brush
Those important suede soles need to be cared for, and the only way to do it is with a shoe brush. The shoe brush is a small brush with steel bristles. Depending on how it is used, it can clean or re-condition a suede sole.
The suede in a sole will pick up a great deal of fine dirt and dust from the dance floor, and that dust needs to be removed virtually every time the shoe is used, so it will not become slippery. A quick, light, sideways brushing motion removes the dirt without grinding down the suede.
The suede on a sole will wear down after extensive use, making it sticky in light contact, and slippery in heavy contact with the floor. This must be remedied by re-conditioning the sole with a shoebrush. Note that only brushes with backward-angled bristles can accomplish this. The re-conditioning is accomplished by pressing the bristles into the surface of the sole and drawing the brush up and back, in a quick motion similar to a cat's kneading. This pulls new fingers of suede out of the sole, and lengthens those that were partially worn down.
Notebook
As mentioned in the previous section, a notebook is valuable to your training. Pencil is preferable to pen, as you will often need to correct or change notes as you better understand the subject.
