Put your right foot in, put your right foot out, put your right foot in and shake it all about.

Dancing for 48 hours straight isn't easy on anyone's feet, but some shoes can make it easier than others can.

At least two local shoe stores are up to the challenge of fitting all of the dancers for Thon.

Active Footwear, 236 E. Calder Way, has been helping Thon dancers pick out their dancing shoes for the last 16 years.

"Stability shoes are shoes that are going to offer them a lot of support," said Kerry Kassab, owner of Active Footwear. "They should always make sure they get them roomy enough, because their feet are going to swell."

Kassab added that dancers aren't the only participants in Thon who need good shoes on their feet.

"We get a lot of captains too," he said. "Sometimes, they are on their feet just as long as the dancers."

For Thon-goers who haven't purchased their sneakers for the event yet, there's no need to worry.

"We're still fitting people today, and we will be probably until Friday," said John Myers, a manager at Rapid Transit Sportswear, 115 S. Allen St. "[Ideally], you should try to get them a week or two in advance to try to break them in."

While high heels and platform shoes were the dancing shoes from the '70s, Thon-goers are opting for shoes with more cushioning.

"Running shoes are the most common, because most of the time they are going to give you the most cushion and support," Myers said. "They are easier to break in and are more comfortable and it's functional after Thon as well."

The only downside to running shoes is that they have a mesh upper covering on the inside of the shoe that may cause bruising, Myers said.

Generally, newer shoes are better for the 48 hours of Thon because of the breaking down of shoes that occur, but both Kassab and Myers agreed that dancers should get their shoes long enough in advance to have the shoes broken in prior to the actual weekend.

Having shoes that fit comfortably and are broken in will cut down on the bruising and injuring of feet. Wearing more than one pair of shoes during the weekend can also help with unwanted sores.

With that, kick up your heels and dance!