From the dance floor to the atelier.

How does a wedding dance teacher become a bridal shoe designer? Which one do you think helps more women? If you said shoes, you're right. I loved being a dance instructor, but when it became clear that women were desperate for dressy, comfortable shoes, the die was cast. They'd come for lessons in shoes they couldn't dance in or had to take off because they hurt. I'd go to their weddings and dance for hours in ballroom shoes while brides and other women ran around barefoot because they couldn't stand their shoes any longer. What a pity to be dressed to kill from the ankles up only to have killer shoes ruin the effect. Not to mention tripping on a dress that's too long without your heels on. My calling went from dancing to making fancy footwear.

From Fred Astaire to first dances

I was a typesetter and graphic artist who went country dancing for fun until I found the elegance of ballroom to be more my style. Fred Astaire Dance Studio hired me, and it was while teaching people for weddings that I realized they needed focused training instead of normal dance lessons. So I'd choreograph first dances and coach my students for that special moment.

After a year, I left FADS and had the time of my life teaching and performing in nightclubs, cruise ships, corporate events, private parties, TV and stage shows. Plus I launched A Dance To Remember, my company just for wedding dance lessons. I gave students a framed choreography script of their song lyrics and dance moves to help them remember and rehearse. It even had their photo and wedding date on it. Graphic art skills come in handy! And girls had to bring their wedding shoes to dance class to see if they could actually dance in them.

Brides and ballroom shoes

The tail started to wag the dog in 2007. Dance students were buying existing ballroom dance shoes from me; my unintended shoe business was growing. Women who heard about Angela's shoes wanted to try them on, and not just brides. I wanted something fabulous to offer them. I believed women deserved better styling, fit, and quality than what they got in normal ballroom dance shoes.

It took years of overcoming many obstacles before we achieved the Angela Nuran brand of couture special-occasion shoes, the fashion and quality a bride wants with the comfort and fit a dancer needs. Shoes worthy to wear with fine wedding dresses and evening gowns, yet comfortable enough for hours on your feet.

An evolving collection

Bridal salons began to carry the brand and we worked hard to enhance the collection: switchable jeweled brooches that adjust shoe width and let women customize their shoes; optional straps to make a shoe fit better or add panache; silk we could dye any color; appliques, beading, and bespoke adornments. It became a very versatile collection where nearly any woman could find what she needed.

With heartfelt thanks

The history of Angela Nuran Shoes wouldn't be complete without expressing heartfelt gratitude to those who helped the company thrive, especially Ashley, Betty, Esther, Erik, Moises and Ki. My husband, Paul Cosentino, continues to help in more ways than I can say. His business expertise is great, but his patience, sense of humor and winsome personality don't hurt a bit. Thank you to all the gifted folks who played a role in bringing the vision of Angela Nuran to life, and to the retailers who believed in and supported our line.