Brand Spotlight: Gaynor Minden

Eliza Gaynor Minden was tired of dancers hurting their feet in traditional cardboard-and-paste pointe shoes.  After years of professional dance, Eliza worked to manufacture a safer, healthier pointe shoe made of plastic and foam and encased in higher quality satin.  Special “high tech” pointe shoes that can be customized to no end are Gaynor Minden’s biggest sellers, but the brand also produces leotards, tights, flat shoes, and warm-ups that are meant to appeal to serious dancers.

pronunciation	Gay-nor Mihnd-en
website	dancer.com
styles of dance included	ballet, pointe
types of items	shoes, bodywear, warm-ups, accessories
country of origin	USA
price point	luxury
quality	excellent
availability	Limited in US and abroad.  Full selection only available on dancer.com.  Some items available in local dancewear stores and on discountdance.com
sizing	pointe shoes: choose US street size to 1.5 sizes up depending on whether or not toe pads are worn leotards/bodywear: runs large (long straps, big arm holes) warm-ups: true to size
Jillian’s top pick	bamboo knitwear
Jillian’s item to avoid	none to speak of, but many dancers either love or despise Gaynor pointe shoes.

Happy Valentine's Day! Red leotard tips

Are you shopping for a red leotard this Valentine's Day?  Red can be a tricky color when it comes to leos, so here are a few tips to help you find the best one for you.

--Try on a variety of red leotards to make sure you find a shade that suits you.  Bright reds can be unflattering with some skin tones and hair colors.  If you get very red-faced or have acne, red clothing can emphasize these issues.  If bright Valentine red doesn't suit you, try burgundy instead.  This color tends to be more universally flattering.

--If you are going for bright red, carefully consider the cut and style.  Because red is a bright, noticeable color, you will probably stand out a lot when you wear this leotard.  Be prepared for everyone to look at you.  This is good news for auditions where you want to be seen, but not-so-good news if you are feeling insecure. 

Red is also a color associated with sassiness and sexuality.  Be careful with high cut legs, v-cut necklines, skinny straps, and mesh or lace detail.  Something that looked modest in black or gray can look less modest in red.  Sometimes basic red tank and cami leotards can look quite "Baywatch."  If the style doesn't look right to you, put it back and try something else.  My favorite styles for red leos are scoop-neck cap sleeve styles and camis with a straight-across neckline.

--If you're concerned that wearing a red leotard with pink tights will make you look like a Valentine year round, don't despair.  The pink of ballet tights is so common and muted that it is considered a neutral.  You can play up the festive look for Valentine's day with white, pink, and purple accessories, or you can play it down by pairing your red leo with grays and blacks. 

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.  

A dancer's guide to street shoes

The term "street shoes" refers to any shoe that you wear out in public, while "dance shoes" is the umbrella term for shoes worn in the dance studio.  You already know that dance shoes aren't to be worn as street shoes (unless you use a pair of hard-soled dance shoes exclusively as street shoes) , and street shoes aren't to be worn as dance shoes.  However, you may not know that what street shoes you choose can affect your performance in the studio.  In this guide, I'll explain attributes of street shoes that often help and hurt dancers and give some suggestions of good street shoed for different occasions.

1.       You need support, but not too much.  As a dancer, your feet are probably stronger than the feet of a non-dancer.  Some people (generally the elderly or people with foot problems) need a lot of arch support or cushy insoles in order to walk normally.  Dancers do not need this much cushion, and sometimes wearing shoes with too much arch support can weaken the feet.  If you are not pulling up and supporting your own arches during the time you are not in the studio, it will be harder to do so during dance class.  On the flip side, shoes with no support can over-work your feet, which can leave your arches achy and tired by the time you head to the studio. 

2.       Make sure your shoes fit.  Street shoes don't need as exact a fit as dance shoes, but it is much better for your foot health if you wear shoes that fit properly.  Shoes that are too large give blisters and won't support your feet at all, and shoes that are too small can cause bruised toenails and abrasions to bunions and heels.  Remember than different brands of shoes run differently size-wise, so don't be surprised if you need a size up or down from your usual size in order to get that perfect fit.

3.       Ventilation is necessary.  Stick to footwear made of natural or breathable materials (leather, canvas, mesh, etc.).  Your feet need air to circulate around them in order to keep them dry and clean.  This prevents foot odor and other problems like toenail fungus. 

4.       Protect your toes (but don't squish them).  If you attend school all day or work in an office or retail environment, you probably regularly face situations that could harm your toes if you have on open-toe shoes.  Playing sports, lifting boxes, or even walking in a big crowd are all hazardous situations where your toes could get injured.  A cracked nail or stubbed toe could turn into a big problem when you are dancing later.  I recommend wearing closed-toe shoes to school, work, and crowded events.  When choosing the best closed-toe shoes, flats or dressy-style shoes are usually ok, but make sure the toe area is more rounded than pointy.  This ensures that your toes aren't squished together, which can exacerbate bunion problems.

5.       Avoid high heels (for the most part).  For activities that you do almost every day (school, work, chores, shopping, etc.), do not wear high heels.  Heels usually do not provide arch support, and they make it very easy to twist an ankle.  Save heels for brief fancy events (weddings, post-performance receptions, etc.), and opt for lower height heels or wedges when possible.

What street shoes do dancers need?

1.       Slip-on shoes to wear to the studio.  It's most appropriate to wear a slip on shoe to the dance studio because once you get there, you immediately take off or change your shoes.  Avoid wearing sneakers with laces or any shoes with velcro or buckles.  Boots with zippers work ok, but true slip-ons are ideal.  I like having options for different seasons/weather conditions.  Of course, all of these options are appropriate for other occasions like school.  High-quality, supportive sandals like Birkenstocks are great for the summer.  Closed-toe slip-ons like  classic Tom's shoes or Sketchers Go-Walks are great for the spring and fall.  Ugg boots (or similar) are perfect for winter.

2.       Everyday shoes for school, work, and other activities.  Comfy, moderately supportive shoes are best for these activities.  Børn is an amazing brand for high quality, stylish shoes appropriate for most situations.  The clogs and loafer styles are perfect for professional settings.  Sketchers Memory Foam sneakers and Nike flyknit styles are great for more casual atmospheres.

3.       Nice shoes for fancy events.  If you perform, you probably attend parties and receptions after your shows.  It is usually expected that dancers dress up.  Shoes that you wear to these events can also be worn to things like church, weddings, and even prom.  Some of my favorite fancy shoes are character shoes, (yes, these are hard-soled dance shoes, but I wear them exclusively as street shoes).  They come in men's and women's styles.  For women, heel heights range 1 to 3 inches, and the shoes are very supportive and comfortable.  If you want more fashionable heels and you usually wear them for only a brief period of time, check out the selection at your local Payless and look for cute wedges, which automatically have more support than classic-style heels.  Payless has an in-house brand that features comfy insoles and moderate arch support.