Can I take my child to this ballet?

Many ballets are based on fairy tales and well-known stories. This makes it seem that the performances are appropriate for or even geared toward young children. While many ballets are beautiful and full of princesses and fairies, not all of them end happily ever after.

Most ballets are performed in theaters, which are sometimes not child friendly environments. Seats are set very close together, and some areas are very far away from (or too close to) the stage, which can make seeing the dancers difficult. It is not appropriate to leave your seat, talk, eat, or play during the performance, so some young children or others who cannot respect these rules do not make good audience members. If a child can attend a film at the movie theater with little or no problem, he or she is probably able to be a good audience member. 

A lot of ballets are based on stories that have been picked up by Disney or other movie making companies. When a ballet company puts on "Sleeping Beauty" or "Little Mermaid", do not expect the story to follow the Disney version. The music and costumes will also greatly differ from what is in the animated movie. As a parent, you may want to research the original story upon which the ballet and Disney film are based (some of the originals can be sad or violent). If you don't feel like your child can handle the original story, he or she may not be ready to see the ballet. If you think your child is ok to attend, have a discussion with him or her about what to expect. If the ballet is very different from the Disney version of the story, it is not "wrong". It is very disruptive to the audience and rude to the dances and choreographer if children (or adults) exclaim their disappointment that the ballet is not a total copy of the Disney movie. 

Some ballet companies (usually big companies in big cities) have special daytime performances geared toward young children or people with disabilities. These shows are usually shorter and may have different music, lighting, or endings to make them less sad or scary. If your child would do better with a performance like this, contact the companies in your area and see if they offer children's shows. Even if they don't currently offer such programs, many companies take audience needs and requests into account when planning programs for upcoming seasons. 

It's also ok to go to the ballet as "parents' date night" or "girls' night out".  Don't take your child to an event he or she can't handle. There will be plenty of ballets in the future to enjoy as your son or daughter becomes more mature.  

Appropriate Halloween costumes to wear to dance class

Does your studio allow you (or your children) to wear Halloween costumes to class in the days leading up to the holiday?  If so, here are some guidelines on what to wear to make sure you are safe, comfortable, and able to have a good time.

1.  You may not be able to wear the costume you plan to wear for trick-or-treating.  You may need to pick a different costume that is easier or safer to dance in (or is more appropriate for the family environment of a dance studio).  Costumes based on accessories like tutus, secure hats, or capes/jackets are usually good choices.  You can also choose dancewear in certain colors in order to emulate a character.

2.  Wear your usual dance clothes under your costume.  If you normally wear a leo and tights to ballet or jazz pants and a tank to tap, wear these clothes under your costume (or as part of your costume).  You must wear your usual dance shoes, even if they do not go with your costume.

3.  Be aware that many commercial Halloween costumes are made of non-breathable polyester material.  Wearing them while you dance can make you very hot and uncomfortable.  It is ok to take your costume off if you feel too hot or faint.  Parents, avoid sending your child to dance in full costume if your child has a very heavy, warm costume and/or has health issues like asthma, diabetes, or heart problems.

4.  Avoid costume items that can be tripped over (like cat tails), easily fall off (like unsecured hats), or obscure your vision (like masks).   Do not wear a wig or jewelry.  Also, avoid costumes that are very scary or “adult”/offensive.

5.  Face paint or elaborate makeup tends to melt off when you sweat, so while it is a totally acceptable choice, it may not be the best for staying on.

6.  Need some examples or inspiration? 

-Princess: crown and skirt/tutu

-80’s workout Barbie: leotard over dark tights or leggings, legwarmers, sweatshirt, high side ponytail with scrunchie

-Red riding hood: red cape with hood

- Boo (from Monsters’ INC): hair in pigtails, pink shirt, purple leggings

 -Cat: all you need are ears! (this can easily work for another animal like a dog or a bunny)

- Nerd: suspenders and nerd glasses (works well with jazz pants)

-Peter Pan: green shirt or leotard, hat (easily secured with bobby pins

-Tweedle Dee/Dum (good choice to coordinate with a friend): yellow shirt, red pants, blue bow tie

- Vampire: black and red dancewear, red lipstick, short cape

- Tourist: Hawaiian shirt (if you can, add cargo shorts)

- Superhero: any colored leotard or shirt and bootie shorts, leggings, or pants (match character’s colors), short cape.  Print out the character’s logo and pin it to your chest.

-Cowboy/girl: hat (secure with bobby pins or strap under chin), bandana around neck

-Doctor/nurse/vet: lab coat and/or scrub top

-Clara (from Nutcracker): white or light pink nightgown, hair bow

-Sports star: any jersey

Dancers should learn to sew

Sewing may not seem like a skill that goes hand in hand with dance, but it is actually very important. All dancers who take ballet should know the basics of hand sewing. In the "olden days" (approx. year 2000 and earlier), all ballet shoes (pointe and flat) were purchased unsewn. There were no elastics sewn on the shoes, and some didn't come with elastics either. Dancers had to purchase them separately and sew them on their dance shoes. Today, many flat ballet shoes come pre-sewn with either one or two elastic straps. However, not all do, and sometimes the pre-sewn straps are too tight, too loose, or not in the right place. It is a very useful skill to be able to sew on or alter a shoe's elastics for enhanced looks or comfort.

All dancers who dance en pointe must know the basics of hand sewing in order to sew the ribbons and elastics on their pointe shoes. Sansha pointe shoes come with elastic pre-sewn on one side, but all other brands require dancers to acquire and attach their own ribbon and elastic. It is lazy and irresponsible to expect another person to sew your pointe shoes for you. It is totally acceptable for a mom or other family member to help a young dancer with her first pair or two of pointe shoes, but the dancer should try to do most of the stitching herself. 

Remember that you do not need to learn fancy stitches or do anything other than the bare minimum. Learning this simple skill can really help you be prepared and responsible with well-fitting dance shoes. 

Item review: convertible tights by Dance Class (Trimfoot)

I got these tights as a sample.  They are the CVT401 Adult convertible tights.

I was initially excited to try these tights because they have a very high spandex content.  They are 15% spandex (even higher than Capezio, which was the reigning champion with 14%).  In general, the higher the spandex content, the stretchier the tight and the less likely it is to get runs.  These tights were very soft and stretchy when I put them on.  

My enthusiasm faded almost immediately when I started looking at the product, not the package.  The package claimed that the tights were pink, but the were a very distinct tan color (pictured above) that is nowhere close to pink (even neutral ballet pink).  There is no way I could wear this color to my regular ballet classes, so I wore the tights to an open technique class.

These tights do not have a sewn on waistband; it is just knit in.  I don't prefer this, but I know other dancers who do.  It's just a personal thing.  These tights also do not have a tag, which I like (tags are often itchy for me).  However, this makes it impossible to tell the front from the back without closely examining the convertible feet.  The way the convertible feet are set up, the toes are not reinforced and the convertible foot is so wide that it almost resembles a footless tight.  When the tights are put on correctly, the convertible foot comfortably hugs the foot and it looks like it does in the picture.  However, I foresee a lot of younger dancers unfamiliar with convertible tights accidentally putting them on backwards.

After I wore these tights to one class (granted, it was a stretch and strength based class), they had a run in the inner thigh.  After I washed them one time, the stitching in the gusset (crotch) was coming undone.

These tights seemed so promising, but they really fell flat.  Overall, I give them a 2 out of 10 (good feel, poor look, poor ease of use, and awful quality).

Tiny Tips: use a wine bag to organize shoes

Is your dance bag a chaotic mess because you have multiple pairs pointe shoes, ballet shoes, and jazz shoes to keep track of?  You can easily organize your shoes using a wine bag. Wine bags are small re-usable totes separated into 6 sections.  They are available at most grocery stores that sell alcohol (you do not have to be 21 to purchase a wine bag) and usually cost about $2.  Once you have a bag, pair up your shoes and slip a pair into each section.  You can also slip things like leg warmers or a leak-proof water bottle into the compartments if you don’t fill them all with shoes.  Keep the wine bag in your dance bag so your shoes stay organized.   Dance Theater of Harlem’s Ashley Murphy uses this organizational method, and so do I. 

Help! My teacher doesn’t like the pointe shoes I was fit in!

So you were fit in pointe shoes at a dancewear store.  Then you showed them to your teacher (hopefully unworn and unsewn).  Good for you.  That’s something you should always do when you change to a new pointe shoe.  Then your teacher delivered the news:  She doesn’t like them. 

Unfortunately this happens sometimes.  In this post, I will outline what to do if your ballet teacher does not like the pointe shoes you were fit in.

1.  Ask your teacher what about the shoes she does not like and write this information down or store it in your phone.  Sometimes teachers are partial to certain brands, shapes, types of ribbon and elastic, etc.  It is totally ok for teachers to have opinions like this, but as professionals they need to know that their favorites do not necessarily work for everyone.  Ask your teacher if she thinks your pointe shoes are unsafe or harmful for you to wear.  If she says yes, plan on returning them.  If she says no, ask if you can keep this pair for now and try a different option next time.  If you can keep this pair, make sure you remember what your teacher doesn’t like about them so it can be corrected in your next pair.

2.  If you need to return your shoes, check the store’s return policy.  Each policy varies, but usually pointe shoes can be returned in original condition with the box and receipt within a few days of purchase. (If you drove from out of town for your fitting, call the store and ask what they would like you to do in terms of a return.  Many locally owned stores are forgiving and may extend the date on the return policy so you have time to make another trip.)  Most fitters are willing to re-fit a shoe that a teacher has disapproved, but remember that fitters are human and may feel hurt that their fitting wasn’t “good enough.”  Be kind when you are explaining that you need a refit, and show the fitter the information you got from your teacher about what needs to be changed. 

3.  If the fitter has any difficulty with the refit (either personal/attitude or with physically finding a better shoe), try to call your teacher during the fitting.  You can talk to her or have the fitter talk to her so that everyone understands what is going on.  You can also ask to speak to the store manager, owner, or a more experienced fitter (if there is one).  If there are difficulties, remember that as the dancer it is not your fault.  Do not settle for a shoe that does not work for you.

4.  If the fitter is still unable to find a better shoe, re-schedule your fitting for a time when your teacher can come with you and actually see the shoes on your feet.  If you leave a fitting without a shoe, most stores charge a fitting fee but will refund it later if you come back and purchase a shoe.  Be prepared for this; it is the store’s way of paying employees for their time spent fitting.

5.  Hopefully you will find a shoe when you have your fitting with your teacher.  If things are still not going well with this fitting, work with the fitter and your teacher to find the most “okay” shoe for you right now, and be prepared to look at other options such as taking a weekend trip to the next town to get fit elsewhere.

6.  Once you find a shoe that you and your teacher both like, make sure you know exactly what it is (write down the brand, model, size, width, and all specifications so you can find it in stores or online).  If you go through puberty, gain or lose weight, or become pregnant, expect your feet to change.  You will probably need to change pointe shoes at least 2 or 3 times over the course of your time as a ballet student.  Continue to work closely with your teachers and fitters to always find the best shoe for you.

7.  If your teacher seems unreasonably picky about your pointe shoes and puts you through a fitting ordeal multiple times even when you and the fitter are happy with your shoes and feel confident that you are safe, consider working with a different teacher or at a different studio.  Some teachers are “stuck in the past” and think that everyone needs to be in a Capezio Pavlova when Capezio Pavlovas are not ideal shoes for all dancers.  This kind of inflexible thinking is not professional, and it does not help dancers work their hardest to become professionals themselves (which, after all, is what dance teachers are supposed to do). 

8.  If a fitter repeatedly pushes a shoe on you that both you and your teacher don’t like, don’t work with that fitter anymore.  Fitters usually receive in depth training on pointe shoe safety and fitting, but sometimes that is overshadowed by sales training.  Your safety and satisfaction should be the fitter’s main goals.  Unfortunately, bad fitters are out there, just like bad teachers.

Online resources for dancers

All dancers need places to explore information about technique, trends, and upcoming dance events.  The internet is a great place to start when researching anything about the dance community.  I strive to make my blog one of these resources, and here are some more good ones to look at.

**Note: most of these are related to ballet, since that is my main style of dance.

1.  The website of your local dancewear store.  For me, that is http://www.nmdancewear.com/ since I live in Albuquerque and my local store is New Mexico Dancewear.  Many local dancewear stores have information about the products they carry, as well as info about upcoming events in the local dance sphere.

2. Discount Dance Supply: http://www.discountdance.com/index.php  Even if you don't shop online, Discount Dance is amazing to use as a resource.  Most of the products they sell have reviews attached to them, so you can see what other dancers think of specific products before you buy them.  You can also find the specific style numbers to all the products sold on their main pages on Discount Dance.  If you need to place a special order with your local dancewear store, you will most likely need the specific style number of the item you need.  If you follow Discount Dance on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram, you can see fashion picks and technique tips from the professional dancers who model most of the items on the website.

3.  YouTube.  Specifically check out these channels:

Kathryn Morgan .https://www.youtube.com/user/Tutugirlkem Katie Morgan is a professional ballet dancer coming back to the dance world after being diagnosed with hypothyroidism.  She has an amazing channel dedicated to helping ballet students on the road to going pro.

Twinstalkballet93. https://www.youtube.com/user/twinstalkballet93  This is a channel put together by twin sisters Kirsten and Kelsey, college students and ballet dancers.  They have lots of good advice, as well as tutorials and product reviews.

AnaheimBallet.  https://www.youtube.com/user/AnaheimBallet This is, obviously, the channel of Anaheim Ballet in California.  They have tons of dancer spotlights, as well as technique tips and tutorials.

4.  Magazine websites:

Pointe magazine. http://www.pointemagazine.com/  This is the "ballet Bible" magazine that gives info on fashion, technique, and everything happening in the professional world of Ballet.

Dance magazine. http://www.dancemagazine.com/  This is the site for Dance magazine, which includes many styles of dance like ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, and more.  Look for dancewear fashion, interviews with pros, and information about auditions.

Dancespirit magazine. http://www.dancespirit.com/  This is very similar to Dance magazine, but with a slightly younger target audience, I think.



Share your favorite dance resource websites in the comments!

What makes a dance teacher qualified?

Are you looking for a new private teacher or coach?  Here are some things to look for when finding a good teacher that can help develop a student into a professional dancer.

1.  College degree.  Degrees in dance come in many shapes and forms, and vary from school to school.  Generally a BA or MA in dance means that the teacher has experience and expertise in dance history, criticism, or choreography.  BFA or MFA in dance means that the teacher has experience in performance.  BA in dance pedagogy means that the teacher has experience and expertise in teaching dance.  A BA or MA in arts management or fine arts management (or a minor in fine arts management when paired with a degree in dance) means that the teacher has experience in dance as a business or studio management.

2.  Professional work.  Has the teacher danced professionally as a member of a company?  In a university performance group?  On Broadway or in musicals?  In film or other video work?  In what productions?  For how many years?  What parts did he or she perform? 

3.  Teaching from a syllabus.  Many ballet teachers work from established methods such as Vagonova, Cecchetti, or Balanchine.  Ballroom instructors may teach from the DVIDA syllabus.  Other styles of dance have their own methods.  In general, if a teacher is using a syllabus (correctly), students who learn that syllabus will be comparable to students at other studios also learning that syllabus.

4.  Where are former students now?  Does this teacher have former students that are now working professionally?  This is a huge predictor of how “good” a teacher is, but this information can be hard to come by.

A teacher that has a degree, professional experience, and uses a syllabus is usually a good, qualified teacher.  However, not everyone with a degree in dance pedagogy is a good dancer, and not everyone with professional experience is a good teacher.  Some wonderfully talented and successful dancers, choreographers, and teachers did not attend college.

 When “shopping” for a new teacher or private coach for yourself or an older child, browse a few local studios’ websites and find teachers with at least 2 of the following 3: a degree, experience, and/or a syllabus.  Then meet with the teachers and take class or lesson with each.  If you would like, you may ask the teacher about his or her qualifications (just remember to be pleasant and not accusatory).  After you have done your research, make a decision about who is the best teacher for you.  It is ok if your perfect teacher is different from someone else’s.

            If you are looking for a dance class for a child (or adult) beginning dancer, look more at the                studio reputation than the qualifications of the individual teachers.  Many classes for small                  children or adult beginners are taught by advanced students in high school or college.  These                teachers should do just fine as long as they are patient, kind, experienced dancers, and teaching            from a syllabus.

Tiny Tips: Grishko shoes cheaper from grishkoshop.com

It seems like discountdance.com should have the cheapest prices for all brands of dancewear.  However, this is not always the case.  Grishkoshop.com, Grishko’s official website, sells all models of their pointe shoes (discount dance only stocks some models).  Grishkoshop’s prices are lower than discountdance’s by an average of about $5 per pair (with some as much as $14 lower on grishkoshop.com), and grishkoshop does not charge tax or shipping.  Packages from grishkoshop do ship from Russia via registered mail and take about 4 weeks to arrive in the United States.  So, if you are able to order your pointe shoes well in advance, you can save a lot by shopping at grishkoshop.com!