June 2016 Favorites ( Summer Intensive Edition)

Dancewear:

Mirella Pinch Front Seam Cami Leotard:  This leotard in black is the perfect summer intensive leo.   I wore mine several times over the course of my intensive program.  It's a cami, so it's great for warm environments and challenging classes that make you sweat.  Black is the most common color for dress codes, but the style also comes in red, purple (pictured), white ,and light green, so there are plenty of choices.  With a pinched front and princess seams, the style is elegant and flattering on most body types without being distracting or overly revealing.  Finally, the fabric is a soft synthetic that feels similar to cotton, but doesn't trap heat or show sweat stains as much. (Available from discountdance.com)

Sansha SA1 split sole ballet shoes:  These canvas shoes can outlast leather ones!  That makes them one of my all-time faves.  They are extremely thick and durable, but the canvas is comfy and glides nicely on wood and marley floors.  I highly recommend this shoe for dancers headed to intensives.  Male and female dancers are easily accommodated:  the shoes come in 20 sizes, 3 widths, and an ever-increasing array of colors (including ballet pink, black, white, gray, and various flesh tones).  The shape can be a little "unrefined" for small narrow feet, but seriously nothing can beat the quality and longevity of these shoes.  Sizing can be funky, so refer to my article on Sansha sizing here or get fitted at a dancewear store. (Available from discountdance.com)

Streetwear:

Birkenstock "Arizona" sandals:  After a long pointe class, there's nothing better than letting your feet air out for a while.  These sandals have the freedom of flip-flops, but they also have serious support.  All Birkenstocks have arch support built into the footbed, so your ankles will be properly aligned (no pronation here!).  The buckles on the sandals are adjustable, so you can make the crown of each shoe flatter or taller as you need. (Available from birkenstockusa.com)

Skincare:

Simple Skincare Micellar Cleansing Water:  This cleansing water is kind of like a cleansing toner.  Squeeze a bit onto a cotton pad and wipe it across your face to remove makeup/dirt/sweat or just refresh hot tired skin.  No rinsing is needed; you're all clean!  This is a great product to use on your face, neck, chest, and underarms to freshen up between your intensive classes and evening activities.  This cleansing water is formulated to be safe for sensitive skin, and it's available at most drugstores.

Makeup:

Benefit Speed Brow:  For most classes where I know I will get super sweaty, I don't like to wear makeup.  If I have breakouts, I'll just dab concealer on those spots.  However, sometimes I think I look a little underwhelming with a bare face.  If I'm about to have class with a guest teacher or well-known pro, I want to look my best.  This brow gel is enough to pull everything together without being "too much makeup."  It comes in one universal shade, which is a sheer taupe-brown.  My hair and brows are a kind of light brown/dark blonde shade, and this is so perfect.  It grooms my brows, gives them a hint of thickness, and holds them in place even when I sweat.  Sometimes I even use it as mascara too! (Available from sephora.com)

Food:

Carnation Instant Breakfast:  This powder is meant to be mixed with milk to form a quick, nutritious breakfast.  I like to think of it as a super-energy multitasker.  The powder comes in vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry flavors that can be prepared several ways.  If you don't like to eat much in the morning, try mixing a packet with coffee or hot water to make a "latte" or "hot cocoa" packed with energy and nutrition.  If you (like me) have trouble maintaining your energy level during long technique classes in sweltering studios, mix a packet with cold milk (soy and almond milk work well too) and take it to class in a water bottle.  You can take sips throughout class, and it will provide you with a steady stream of calories and energy.  For an enhanced snack or dessert, mix some powder with yogurt or oatmeal.  I also love that the packets are individually sealed, so they can be carried in a purse or dance bag for easy access. (Available from most grocery stores.)

Help! My soft shoes have holes!

Any soft dance shoe (ballet shoe, jazz shoe, modern pirouette shoe, ghillie, etc.) made of canvas or leather can get holes in it.  Soft shoes often get holes when they are old and worn out.  In this case, holes at the toes are a natural result of good use, and they symbolize that it is time to buy a new pair.  Sometimes soft shoes seem to get holes really quickly—the toes can be destroyed while the rest of the shoe still looks new.  When this happens, there may be a problem. 

In general, leather shoes last longer than canvas ones.  Similarly, thin stretchy canvas does not have as long a lifespan as thick, stiff canvas.  Sometimes heavy canvas can even last longer than thin leather.  Canvas shoes are usually softer and cheaper than leather, so they can be appealing choices.  Leather shoes are often stiffer and more expensive, so they are sometimes overlooked.  However, they are one of the best choices for longevity.

When purchasing soft shoes, think about what you will be using them for.  Will you be wearing your ballet shoes in class every day?  Or is this pair for a recital?  If the shoes are for class, you will probably want to choose a more durable option, like leather or heavy-duty canvas.  If the shoes are only needed for a short run of performances, it may be better to choose very thin canvas that shows off the shape of the foot. 

Regardless of what style you choose, make sure the shoes fit correctly.  All soft dance shoes should fit snuggly.  There should not be a gap at the toes or the heel.  The shoe should not wrinkle up when you pointe your toes.  You should be able to feel the end of the shoe with the end of your big toe, but it should not be painful or squeezing.  If the shoe is too tight, your toes will exert a lot of pressure on the toe of the shoe, which can make it wear out more quickly.

Take good care of your dance shoes.  This includes being conscious of what kind of surface you are dancing on.  Marley tends to be the gentlest surface for canvas and leather shoes.  Wood floors are a little tougher, but they also don’t really damage dance shoes beyond the normal “wear and tear” that comes with dancing.  Carpet, concrete, sand, and grass are all extremely harsh surfaces for canvas and leather dance shoes.  Avoid dancing on these surfaces if you can.  If you are performing on one of these surfaces, know that your shoes will probably be destroyed by the time you are finished.  If you are practicing informally or warming up on such a surface (like practicing in the hallway before going on stage at a competition), do not wear your dance shoes when you practice.  Wear socks or warm-up booties instead.

If you notice your shoes are starting to get holes at the end of your big toe, try switching feet if your shoes do not have a designated right and left (ballet shoes, some modern shoes, and ghillies generally are not marked right and left).  This will place the hole at your pinky toe, and it may cause less trouble over there. 

If your shoes are canvas and the holes are still small, you can sew them.  Use a thick thread like embroidery floss or pointe shoe thread and use a whip stitch to cover the hole.  This will hold your shoes together for a few more classes.  However, after about 4 more hours of wear, the holes will probably open up again. 

Holes in your shoes are really only a problem if your bare foot is touching the floor (detracts from ability to glide and turn) or if you are performing (audience can see holey shoes).  So if neither of these things are happening, it’s ok to wear shoes with small holes.  It shows that you are a strong dancer.

Brand Spotlight: Danshuz

Danshuz is a 55-year-old brand that prides itself on offering good quality dance products for a variety of styles of dance that ship quickly from their California warehouse to many local dancewear stores in the United States.

pronunciation	Dance-shooze (German word)
website	danshuz.com
styles of dance included	ballet, modern/lyrical/contemporary, jazz, tap, hip-hop, character
types of items	shoes, bodywear, warm-ups, accessories (most items aside from shoes are sold under the name danzNmotion)
country of origin	US
price point	moderate
quality	decent
availability	Widely available in local dancewear stores, somewhat available online from sites like discountdance.com.  Must order through a store; individuals cannot order online directly from the company.
sizing	shoes (all types): street size to up 1 size (US sizing) leotards/bodywear: runs absolutely huge, all dancers need 1 or more sizes down from their usual size. warmups: also run big
Jillian’s top pick	Neoprene half soles
Jillian’s item to avoid	acrylic legwarmers (they look very 80's aerobics) and leotards with lace detail (the lace falls apart easily)

Is it too sexy? Dancewear, costumes, and lingerie

This issue often comes up with competition and recital costumes.  Are they “age appropriate”?  Are certain item categories or specific items too sexy for the family-friendly stage?  Often this is a question that is best answered through careful consideration by the dancer, teacher, and parent.  Some people are comfortable with an 8-year-old in a bra top, and others are not.  Even though this issue is very subjective, there are a few general rules governing what is appropriate as dancewear.

A common guideline for competition dancers is “if it looks like it came from Victoria’s Secret, it’s not appropriate for the stage.”  I find this a really good way to explain to some parents the major differences between dancewear and lingerie.  Dancewear, like children’s swimwear, is meant to keep the wearer covered up, at least in the private areas.  Dance bra tops do not have separate cups, so they can’t slip and reveal anything.  Bootie shorts have an inseam of at least 2 or 3 inches, while “boy short” underwear hardly has an inseam at all.  Dance briefs come up past the hip bones, while standard underwear usually does not.  It isn’t much fabric that makes the difference between underwear and dancewear, but that small bit of fabric makes the biggest difference.

It is also a general practice to wear tights under any bottoms shorter than mid-thigh length.  Nude or fishnet tights can provide light coverage that makes a revealing outfit more appropriate.  If the color of the tights blends with the dancer’s skin tone (which it should), the audience should be able to tell the dancer is covered (stage lights reflect differently on tights and bare skin).

Stick to using mostly dancewear pieces to create your costume.  They are made to be fairly modest and stay in place when you move.  If you use any streetwear pieces, follow these guidelines:

Separate cup bras should not be worn unless it is under a tight top that obscures most cleavage and prevents “spillover.”  Sheer or fishnet tops are sometimes ok—it really depends on the dancer’s body type and confidence.  Sometimes a “too sexy” look can be fixed by substituting a sports bra for a separate-cup bra or an opaque top for a see-through one.

Wear dance briefs or bootie shorts and tights under all skirts, dresses, or otherwise loose bottoms.

Wear a tight dance bra, nude leotard, or bodytight under any loose tops.

Do not wear shoes that are not specifically dance shoes.  If you want to wear heels for a jazz or ballroom solo, wear character or ballroom shoes, NOT streetwear high heels.

As a final thought, if you are looking for lingerie items (for a dance/drag/burlesque/etc. performance or otherwise), the dancewear store is not the place to look.  Dance stores do not carry items like thongs or full mesh leotards.  Specialty lingerie retailers will have more of what you are looking for.

Why are pointe shoes all different shades of pink?

Pointe shoes are all different shades of pink because every brand uses a different satin that is acquired from a different manufacturer.  Have you noticed that red shirts purchased at different stores are all different shades of red?  It’s exactly the same thing with pointe shoes.  Some brands of pointe shoes (especially those tied to brands that make other dancewear including tights) specifically make their shoes a particular shade so their shoes will match the same “ballet pink” as their tights, thus elongating the dancer’s lines and making her appear more beautiful on stage. 

When you are getting fit for pointe shoes, pay most attention to how the shoes feel on your feet and how you can work in them.  It really does not matter what shade of pink your shoes are.  I have had dancers (and even their parents) request a certain brand “because it’s prettier.”  Pointe shoes get filthy after a few weeks of wear, and many studios and companies require performing dancers to “pancake” or paint their pointe shoes with calamine lotion in order to make them matte and the same color as other dancers’ shoes. 

The bottom line is that all pointe shoes are different colors because they “just are,” and it really doesn’t matter in the long run.