I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Enjoy your holiday and Black Friday shopping, but don't let the celebrations keep you out of the studio too long! Keep up your stretch and strength regiments even if there is no class or rehearsal to keep you busy.
Christmas came early at my house... My mom presented me with an enormous goodie bag filled with Nutcracker essentials, including scented epsom salt, foot massage lotion, sports drinks, trail mix, warm-up booties, new tights and briefs, hair pins, band-aids, and gift certificates to my favorite nail salon and boba tea company! My mom is the best! I am so thankful for my family and the support they give to me and my art.
If you need to stock up for your Nutcracker or winter performances, or if you need to buy gifts for a dancer, some online dance retailers are running Black Friday specials.
Discountdance.com is having sweepstakes for shopping sprees. Follow this link after 12 am on Friday the 28th to get a special code good for a mystery coupon or credit amount.
Capezio.com is having a similar deal. Follow this link to get a coupon code good for a credit amount. You will have to like Capezio on Facebook before you can get a code. This link is already active, and I used it to win a $15 store credit!
Getdancewear.com is having several promotions for large orders. Use the codes childleg or adultleg to get a free pair of either child or adult legwarmers with an order of $100 or more. Use the code friday12 to get 12% off an order of $125 or more or the code friday15 to get 15% off an order of $200 or more.
Many local dancewear stores are having sales as well. Many of them assume that since people are out doing their Christmas gift shopping the won't want to spend money on leotards and pointe shoes. Because of this, they will run great sales to try to draw customers. Drop by your local dancewear store on your way home from your Black Friday mall run and see what's marked down!
I heard a tidbit (probably on the Today Show or one of those other informal news programs) that having dessert with every meal can help stave off cravings for sweets, which in turn will make you less likely to overindulge. I think this sounds like a great idea. I think everyone should maintain a healthy diet, but I don't think dancers should completely deny themselves. A handful of Halloween candy or a few slices of pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving won't hurt you, especially if you keep up your regular level of activity. I like trying to have a tiny dessert with my meals (during my regular schedule, excluding holidays and celebrations) because it's fun and it keeps me from craving candy after class.
If you are still loaded from Halloween, have one piece of candy after breakfast, one piece after lunch, and one piece after dinner. If you want to mix it up with something a little healthier, here are some easy ideas for adding a sweet finish to your meals.
Breakfast:
--Add a couple of tablespoons of flavored coffee creamer to 8 ounces of coffee or tea. If you don't like coffee or tea, try a cup of cocoa instead.
--Throw a handful of dark chocolate chips on top of your oatmeal to make your breakfast taste like a cookie.
--Follow your ham and eggs wit a slice of toast spread with nutella, or buttered and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
Lunch:
--Have a couple of squares of dark chocolate to finish off your meal. Dove makes cute individually wrapped chocolates with fun sayings on the wrappers. Chocolate covered nuts and dried fruits are great options too.
--In addition to your water bottle, pack yourself a mini fruit smoothie (homemade or a 10 ounce bottle of Naked Juice) to drink when you conclude your midday meal.
--Make cheesecake dip for your fruit and veggies: Combine 1 8oz container of greek yogurt with half of an 8oz container of plain cream cheese. Add about 1/4 cup powdered sugar (or to taste) and a little cinnamon. Mix well.
Dinner:
--Make a mini apple cobbler: chop one apple into bite sized pieces, toss them in a bowl, and microwave for 1 minute. Add 1 tsp of honey, a shake of cinnamon, and a crumbled graham cracker on top.
--Fix up some "fro-yo" in your blender: Add 1 cup of frozen fruit (berries work well) and half a frozen banana, then pour in just enough vanilla soy milk to cover the fruit. Blend until it reaches a thick, soft serve ice cream consistency, the pour into a bowl and enjoy.
--There's nothing wrong with a traditional dessert like cookies every once in a while. Just try to go for something lower in sugar and higher in other healthy(ish) ingredients, like oatmeal raisin or gingerbread.
Do you have a favorite healthy dessert? Share what you like in the comments!
Raynaud's disease, also called Raynaud's phenomenon or Raynaud's syndrome, is a condition that causes extremely reduced blood flow to the fingers and toes in cold or stressful environments. People with this condition often experience their phalanges turning white, blue, or mottled red and feel extreme cold, numbness, pain, and tingling in the affected areas.
If you are a dancer with this condition, you probably know that it can be difficult and dangerous to dance with painfully numb toes. With winter weather setting in and Nutcracker and winter performances coming up, it's time to tell you some tips that may help you dance with less discomfort. I have Raynaud's disease, and my toes are more severely affected than my fingers. I have developed some techniques to help deal with the condition.
**Note: Raynaud's disease is a relatively common stand-alone condition that usually affects just the phalanges. Occasionally it can be a symptom of other disorders such as lupus. If you are noticing the symptoms for the first time, see your doctor to make sure it is just Raynaud's and not something more serious.
Here are my tips for toes:
1. Wear wool socks and Ugg boots (or similar fleece or sheepskin lined winter boots) when you are on your way to dance. These will help keep your feet warm, so your toes are less likely to get cold and numb.
2. Put on your dance shoes as soon as you get to the studio. Sit down while you change your shoes, and don't let your bare feet touch cold tile or wood floors. Put warm-up booties or socks on over your shoes if you can to keep your toes toasty.
3. If you usually dance barefoot for modern or jazz, ask your teacher if you can wear socks or jazz shoes. Wearing a sock or shoe can help protect your toes from getting cold from touching the floor. If you do ballroom dance, you may want to dance in practice sneakers instead of open-toed ballroom heels.
4. If you are already experiencing numbness when you get to the studio, try to get the blood flowing before you put on your dance shoes and start dancing. Massage your toes with your hands. Apply a mentholated pain relief cream or balm like IcyHot or Tiger Balm; these products encourage blood flow to the affected area. You may also try carrying a heating pad or handwarmer pack in your dance bag; heat up either item according to its directions, then place it under your toes until they begin to feel normal. Be careful not to get your toes too warm--these items can sometimes burn.
5. Always use your usual padding in your shoes. If you are dancing en pointe, use your regular toes pads, spacers, etc. It can be tempting to go without padding if your toes are numb or add extra if your toes are feeling the post-numbness pain. Either taking away or adding more padding can cause blisters and other injuries, so don't do it. Just wear the pads that you normally do.
6. Once your feet have warmed up, don't let them get cold again. This is especially important during rehearsals and performances if you have a lot of waiting around between your dances on stage. Move around, do exercises, wear warm-ups, or stand on a heating pad if you have to.
Do you have Raynaud's disease? Do you have any tricks for keeping your toes happy? Share in the comments!
Here is a video from Gaynor Minden that explains the construction of their revolutionary high-tech pointe shoes.
Now that you've heard from Gaynor Minden, I'll give you a little overview of the way the dance community sees Gaynors.
The video mentioned that some older dancers and instructors have ideas about suffering to become a ballerina. This is true. Even now in 2014 some dance teachers allow their students only traditional pointe shoes and minimal lambswool padding. Some teachers do believe in training through the pain, but many see their methods as strengthening. When a dancer wears only very thin padding in her pointe shoes, she will develop callouses that will protect her feet and allow her to continue wearing minimal padding (or even no padding) as she becomes more advanced.
Another major reason that some teachers do not prefer students to use Gaynor Minden pointe shoes is because they are not constructed like traditional pointe shoes. They also don't "work" in the same way. If a teacher is instructing a whole class of students en pointe, she may teach the class some exercises to break in shoes. Because Gaynors do not break in like traditional shoes, these exercises would be confusing to a student wearing Gaynors and they could be harmful to the integrity of the shoe.
Because Gaynor Minden pointe shoes have padding and shock absorbing material in them, it can be difficult for dancers to feel the floor under their toes and heels (where most of the padding is located). For dancers that have danced predominantly in traditional shoes, this can be a difficult transition that leaves her feeling off balance.
Several customizations can be chosen to get a Gaynor Minden pointe shoe that works best for an individual foot. Dancers can choose the size (length), width, box shape, shank hardness, and heel cut. Additional customizations can be made by special order. Even with all these options, Gaynors still have a relatively short, tapered box and very low wing. Dancers who need a long box, very square box with a high crown, and long wing will not be accommodated well.
Gaynor Minden shoes are meant to feel like they are already broken in. While there is still a process of breaking in the shoe (wearing it while dancing to form the fit to the foot), the shank does not soften over time. Dancers who are used to hard shoes may find the Gaynors to feel too soft, even in the hardest shanks. It is widely believed that using a shoe that is soft does not strengthen the foot. Some dancers find that a softer shoe just strengthens the foot in a different way since it forces the dancer to pull up and articulate the foot more.
Some dancers do like Gaynor Minden shoes and find them to be the best choice. Generally dancers who do well in Ganyors are absolute beginners (especially adult beginners) who like a shoe that is easy to roll through, and advanced and professional dancers who need a comfortable shoe that lasts a long time and is quiet on stage.
In my opinion, Gaynor Minden pointe shoes are a good option for dancers with narrow, medium, or wide tapered feet and narrow square feet. I think young (and adult) beginners who cannot get up on the platform of a traditional shoe can be accommodated well in a Gaynor. Advanced dancers who have "had it" with the pain and hassle of pointe shoes can sometimes find relief in a Gaynor. I absolutely encourage the option of the high-tech shoe when traditional shoes just aren't doing the job.
However, when it is possible, I prefer to encourage traditional pointe shoes when they can get the job done. I believe that a dancer's first pair of pointe shoes should be a traditional shoe (if a suitable shoe can be found) so she can get the experience of feeling the hard paste box with the floor right under her toes. After this first experience, it is ok to experiment with different makes and models, including Gaynors, to find the best shoe for the individual foot and dance experience.
I have tried Gaynors, but I only wore them briefly before I decided that they were not the best shoe for me. I prefer to feel the floor under my toes in my traditional pointe shoes. I am open to the option of Gaynors in the future, especially if I perform frequently as I age and experience changes in my feet.
As always, talk to your dance teacher and seek advice and a professional fitting at a local dancewear store before you make the decision to change pointe shoes.
Do you like Gaynor Minden pointe shoes? Leave a comment!
It's great to support your dancer when he or she performs. If you are not a dancer yourself, the etiquette of the theater may be new to you. Here's a little overview of expected behavior from a theater audience.
1. Dress appropriately. Most of the time, theater dress ranges from business casual/ "church wear" to formal. At the very least, men should wear kakis and polo shirts and ladies should wear dress slacks or skirts and blouses. If you can help it, do not wear jeans. If there is a reception or party after the show, it's better to dress fancier.
2. Arrive on time. Normally the performance will start 5 to 10 minutes late. This is usually due to staging difficulties. Audience members should always arrive at or before the starting time listed on the tickets. It is exceptionally rude to arrive after the program has started, as opening the door of the dark theater can let in light and distract the performers and other audience members.
3. Don't leave your seat, talk, or get out your phone until intermission/the end of the show. Unless you are having an emergency, stay seated. You can go to the bathroom and check your messages at intermission or after the program ends. Any noise you make is distracting to the audience and the performers. The only general exception to this is if you have a child with you. If the child is misbehaving, take him or her into the lobby for a while until the behavior is under control. If you have a very young child (under 5 years old) or a child with behavior problems, it may be best not to bring the child to the performance.
4. Don't critique the performance (at the performance). If something goes wrong, like a dancer falls, don't mention it in a negative way. You may say it was a "good recovery" if you bring it up at all. If your dancer asks you for any critiques, you may give them honestly at home after the performance.
5. If you attend opening night, bring a small gift. Flowers are the traditional option, but anything in a flat box (like chocolates) or envelope (like a fancy card) works too. Don't feel obligated to spend a lot of money, this is mostly a gesture to your dancer that you care and to others that you are proud of your dancer's achievements.
Any other questions about specific situations? Ask in the comments!
With Nutcracker and winter recitals right around the corner, here's my guide to basic stage makeup. This look is suitable for all female parts, from baby angels to solo divertissements. This face can also be used as a baseline for more specialized stage makeup looks for different characters.
Do you have a special way you do your stage makeup? Need advice for a particular part? Leave a comment below!
When you have to wear a uniform to dance class, it can be difficult to distinguish yourself from others and show your personality. My studio has this little saying: "What you wear is about the art of ballet, not a personal statement." I agree, however it makes it more fun to dance when I feel happy and confident about what I'm wearing.
Depending on the style of dance you do and how strict the dress code is, some of these suggestions may be more difficult to pull off than others. I hope you find them fun and helpful!
I am assuming an base of all black or black leotard and pink tights.
1. Small colored crystal post earrings.
These can be found almost anywhere (the mall, online, even Walmart) and they are generally inexpensive. Even the strictest schools usually allow small, subtle jewelry
2. Colorful hair accessories
These simple clips are fun and easy to use. Put a couple in your hair to keep "fluffies" away. You can use nail polish to dress up plain ones you already have.
I love these neon headbands from UnderArmor. They are super bright and fun, and they stay in place very well because they are made for athletes.
You can find small colorful bows all over-- try your local dancewear store for styles especially for dancers. They are also available at the mall, Walmart, etc. You can also try making your own with some ribbon scraps, hot glue, and barettes.
3. Ballet belts
These are meant to be worn around the waist to help you align your hips in front of the mirror, but they can also be a fun fashion statement.
4. Fun warm ups (if allowed)
Bloch booties keep feet warm between classes, and their bright colors make you hard to miss.
These Gaynor Minden warm ups are made of nylon from bamboo, so they are soft, warm, and sustainable. The colors are bright and the cuts of the shrugs and shorts are flattering on everyone.
Striped legwarmers are always fun and fashionable. This short length is easy to wear in class--the teacher can still see most of your leg.
5. A pretty dance bag
These bags by Jumeaux Dance Bags (search twinstalkballet93 on YouTube or Jumeaux Dance Bags on Facebook for more info) are super cute, and they are created by dancers, for dancers.
You can never go wrong with a classic print from Vera Bradley. There are tons of patterns and colors to choose from.
6. Subtly colorful make up
A teal liner under the eyes brings some color without overwhelming the face.
Find a subtle pink lipstick that flatters your skin tone. You can rock it in the studio and on the street!
A soft pink shadow on your lid makes you look sweet and sophisticated.
7. Kinesio tape
All dancers get injuries from time to time. K tape can help relieve stress on sore muscles.
Kinesio tape comes in all kinds of fun colors. Choose your favorite bright color like pink or turquoise to add color to your look and cheer yourself up even though you're sore.
8. Colored trim on leotards (if allowed)
Yumiko Dancewear allows you to customize your leotards with base and trim colors. If your studio allows, choose bright contrasting trim to go with your basic black.
Black and pink is always a classy and flattering choice.
8. Colored nail polish (if allowed)
If you're gearing up for a performance, use nude polishes only. But for class, choose something cheerful and not too neon, like this pretty lilac shade.
Share in the comments how you add color and personality to your class uniforms!
