No dancer, regardless of skill, can float across high-traction rubber gym mats in athletic running shoes. When Domingo demonstrated the movement on Late Night, both he and Meyers were wearing hard-soled dress shoes on a polished studio floor. That combination minimized floor drag.
For those practicing at home, wardrobe choices dictate early success:
- Hard leather soles offer the lowest friction coefficient on wood or tile. Rubber-treaded sneakers grip the floor aggressively and stop the slide in its tracks. Beginners should start in cotton crew socks before transitioning to dress shoes.
- Hardwood, smooth linoleum, or polished concrete are ideal practice surfaces. Thick carpet introduces resistance that ruins the illusion.
- Keep the torso upright and slightly forward. Leaning backward into the slide causes the heels to catch, destroying the continuous line of movement.
