July 2017 Favorites

Greetings from MODAS Dance Summer Intensive!  July’s been another odd month for scheduling.  I had a week off, then two weeks of summer classes at the studio, and now I’m mid-way through my first week at MODAS.  Here’s what I’ve been liking this month.

Dancewear

Yumiko Kiki Leotard

It’s sooooo hot this time of year.  While the studios do have air conditioning, it only takes a few minutes of activity for the rooms to heat up again.  This leotard is perfect for this time of year since it has camisole straps and not much of a back.  It’s nice to be able to feel the breeze on more of my body than just my face.  This leo is great for ballet, but definitely needs a shirt over top for modern and floorwork.  Available from yumikoworld.com

                                                      Nike Dri Fit Shirt

And the shirt I prefer to wear over top for modern and floorwork?  It's this one by Nike.  The synthetic fabric is super soft, and the scoop neck ensures the shoulders never ride up on broader upper-bodied dancers (hello, me).  The fit is very flattering, and the shirt is long enough to provide modesty over just a leotard, but it's not so long or loose to get in the way when performing combinations.  I got mine at Kohls, but check kohls.com or anywhere that sells nike for numerous colors.

Streetwear

Hollister Men’s Fleece Joggers

                            

While writing this, I was thinking streetwear? What streetwear?  All I’ve been wearing is dancewear…  But when I’m home for the evening, these are what I throw on.  Paired with a camisole or t-shirt, these joggers are my favorite pajamas.  I like that they’re tapered, but not tight-fitting (hooray for men’s styles).  They’re super soft and feel high-quality.  Find them on hollisterco.com.

Skincare

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay  

                        

This is a powdered bentonite clay mask that works wonders to clear pores.  Mix a tablespoon or two with an equal amount of apple cider vinegar and apply to a cleansed face.  Wait until the mask dries, wash off, and enjoy clearer pores and less skin texture.  This does the same job as formulas like Fresh Umbrian Clay and Glamglow Supermud, but it’s a lot cheaper.  My skin is a little more problematic in the summer (thanks to heat, sweat, and floorwork), and this mask does a lot to keep small clogs from getting a lot worse.  Find it from iherb.com and at some Walmart stores.

Food

MRM Veggie Meal Replacement Powdered Shake in Chocolate Mocha

                             

Ok, this has the worst name ever.  And it comes in a big white tub that looks like it should be lawn fertilizer or something…But it’s a protein shake.  And it tastes like Starbucks Frappuccino.  For realz.  I like to have a shake for breakfast alongside another item like peanut butter toast or a handful of nuts.  I also sometimes have it as a snack.  I don’t like to think of it as a meal replacement, but it’s nutritious enough to be one.  I mix one scoop of powder with various other ingredients (unsweetened baking cocoa, flax meal, almond milk, cinnamon, etc.) in a blender bottle.  The mix contains over 20g protein per serving, and it’s low carb with no added sugar (great for a keto lifestyle).  Find it from iherb.com and at most natural grocery stores.

Entertainment

Riverdale TV Series

Welcome to the latest category of monthly faves!  I really just wanted to rave to somebody about this show (and no, I’m not copying other YouTubers/bloggers who have already talked about it; I’ve been watching basically since it showed up on Netflix).  I’m pretty cynical about most TV shows; I have a hard time taking anything seriously if it becomes campy or seems to have ulterior motives.  But I absolutely loved Riverdale. 

The show is based on the Archie comics, but it’s definitely remade for today.  It takes place in the present, and the characters are all much more deeply developed than they are in the comics.  The issues the characters face are all quite realistic and applicable, and the main action is built on a dark mystery, but the presentation has a touch of comedy to it.  The best way I can describe it is it’s as if Glee, Scooby Doo, 13 Reasons Why, and Criminal Minds were thrown into a blender with some Archie comics and this is what came out. 

Riverdale has a really nice quality to it—it’s small-town, but big budget.  The sets, costumes, cinematography, and actors are all great.  Most are unfamiliar to me, but Cole Sprouse(you may remember him from his Disney channel show back in the mid 2000s) plays Jughead, and the representation is just awesome. 

As a final note, the show is definitely mature, but it’s not explicit.  I appreciate that a lot.  I highly recommend this show.  It’s definitely appropriate and engaging for teen and up audiences.  Check out season 1 on Netflix, and get ready for season 2 coming to the CW.

Is it ever ok to try on someone else's pointe shoes?

In general, the answer is no.  However, I recently heard a story from one of my friends involving Ballet West's Allison DeBona trying on a student's shoe at a summer intensive where she was teaching.  Now I feel the need to make a few things clear.

If you are a non-dancer, it is never, ever, ever ok to try on pointe shoes, regardless of whose they are.  You wouldn't jump in a race car and start speeding around the track if you've never even taken driver's education classes.  It's the same with pointe shoes.  It's unreasonable to expect that you will be safe trying something advanced if you haven't learned the basics.  Dancers train their bodies to perform movements and hold positions that are not innate, so even if you're relatively strong or athletic, you probably won't have the specific foot and ankle strength needed to rise onto pointe safely.   (Note that there is nothing wrong with lacking this skill-it doesn't make you "weak" or take away from your unique talents and abilities.)  If you are interested in your friend's pointe shoes, it's absolutely ok to ask to touch them or for her to tell you about her pointe experiences.

If you are a dancer who is not (or not yet) practicing pointe, do not try on pointe shoes (unless, of course, you are having your first pointe fitting).  If you do a style of dance like jazz or tap, you are not training the same muscles as ballet dancers.  While your dance style keeps you strong and healthy, it probably does not prepare you for the specific physical requirements to safely dance en pointe.  If you do ballet and your teacher has not yet promoted you to a pointe class, you're still working.  After some time (amount depends on age, years dancing, etc.), you will be strong enough to earn your shoes.  Stepping into pointe shoes now can cause you to get injured, which will increase the amount of time you must wait until you're ready.

If you are a beginning pointe dancer, you should not try on someone else's pointe shoes.  You definitely have the strength and flexibility to start learning pointe, but there's much more to it than ability.  When you were fit for pointe shoes, the fitter and/or your teacher took time to analyze your feet and choose shoes for you that would best meet your needs.  Even if you tried on multiple pairs, each one was selected because it had potential to work for you.  If you try on a friend's shoe, it may be too big or too small or too hard, and each of these elements can cause you to fall and hurt yourself even if you are being careful.

If you are an advanced pointe dancer, you should still avoid trying on other people's shoes.  The reasons for beginning pointe dancers still apply, though you're most likely a lot stronger and in control of your feet than you were when you first started pointe.  Every person breaks in shoes differently, and rising onto pointe with the arch and demi in a different place can be disorienting enough to make you fall.  Also, pointe shoes can breed bacteria, especially if they are generally worn without tights and/or toe pads.  Putting your feet in someone else's shoes is kind of like putting on someone else's sweaty socks.  It can spread fungus like athlete's foot if you're not careful.  It's better to stick to trying on new pointe shoes at the dancewear store if you need a change.

If you are a professional (i.e., no longer a student), and/or in an advanced enough level that you manage your own pointe shoe choices (your teacher does not approve the shoes, you choose your own toe pads, etc.), it's still not the greatest idea to try on someone else's shoes for the health and safety reasons listed above.  However, by this point in your training, you've definitely amassed a large body of knowledge about pointe, pointe shoes, and what specifically works for you.  There's one situation where it might be ok to give someone else's shoes a go (and this is the case with the Allison DeBona story):  If their shoes are (relatively) new and there's a reasonable chance the size and model will work for you.

Most pros have as much knowledge (or more) about pointe shoes than fitters and teachers, and they will purchase or request shoes with minor adjustments (up a width, etc.) without going in for a fitting or asking a teacher first.  They develop the ability to imagine adjustments to their shoes and how they will affect the feet, like thinking, "I bet I'd be able to balance a bit better and have less pain in my bunion if my box was a tad wider."  If that dancer was in class and saw a friend putting on a pair of brand new pointe shoes that look very much like her own shoes, but with a slightly wider box, it may be reasonable to ask to try them on and see if the imagined adjustment is actually beneficial.  In this case, tying on a friend's shoes eliminates the expense of buying (or having the company buy) the shoe without knowing if it will work.

Of course, if a dancer tries on a friend's shoe, she must be very careful.  She should first evaluate the shoes on her feet without rising onto pointe.  Once that seems ok, she should very carefully rise up while holding the barre.  Care should be taken with the shank so she doesn't break them in the wrong place for the dancer who owns them.  If the "fitting" went well, the dancer should take note of the shoe's brand, style, and size and consider ordering some for herself.

Overall, remember that it's almost always a poor decision to try on someone else's shoes.  Unless you're a seasoned professional or very advanced dancer with lots of experience and autonomy, it's safest and smartest to stick with your own shoes that were fit for you or refrain from trying pointe shoes all together.

Proper names for a dance show

I find it quite amusing when people ask me, "How did the play go?"  I generally just tell them it went well, but internally I cringe.  I would love to snap back that "It didn't happen," or something like that, because I was not in a play.  I was in a ballet.

I don't blame non-dancers for not knowing dance terminology, but a little education goes a long way.  Here are some terms for referring to dance performances.

If there is a performance of ballet dancing that portrays a story or the original work of a choreographer, it is called a ballet.  Ballets can also be called performances or shows.  Individual sections of ballets separated by intermissions are called acts, and sections that are not separated by intermissions are called pieces or variations.  Generally variation is used to refer to classical solos, and piece is used to refer to more contemporary choreography that involves more dancers.  Within the variation category is something called a divertissement, which is a length of choreography that shows off a dancer's abilities without advancing the plot of the ballet or developing a character.  Sections of Nutcracker like Arabian and Spanish are divertissements.  When two dancers (almost always a male and a female) dance together, it's called a pas de deux.  When three dancers dance together, it's a pas de trois.  When four dancers dance together (4 swans from Swan Lake), it's a pas de quatre.  A ballet performance that contains multiple pieces that do not form a cohesive story is called a repertory show.

If there is a performance of another style of dance like tap, jazz, contemporary, or ballroom, it is called a show or performance.  Individual sections of the show are called pieces.  If a dancer performs alone, it is called a solo.

If a dance school is putting on a performance to show the work each class has done over the training year, it is called a recital.  Each dance done by a group of students is called a piece.  Some teachers, parents, and students call pieces dances, which is more informal.  If one dancer performs a solo in classical ballet, it is called a variation.  If one dancer performs a solo in another style, it is called a solo.  Sometimes pieces danced by two dancers are called duets or duos, and pieces performed by three dancers are called trios.

At a dance competition, dancers perform individually and in groups.  Group dances are called pieces or dances.  Individual pieces are called solos.  If a solo is in classical ballet, it is called a variation.  Pieces danced by two dancers are called duets or duos, and pieces performed by three dancers are called trios.

Sometimes dancers are performers in plays (such as on Broadway).  Plays can be called plays, performances, or shows.  If there is a lot of singing and dancing in a play, it is called a musical.  Dance sections in musicals are generally called numbers.

Big point here: you can call a both a ballet and a play a performance or show, but you cannot call a play a ballet and you cannot call a ballet a play.  If you are not sure what to call a dance event, use performance or show.  Both are accurate terms for all types of dance.

Hairpin Roundup

Do you have trouble keeping your hair wrapped in a bun?  Or have you seen different pins at the store, but been unsure of what they're for?  In this post, I'll point out some different types of hair pins and explain how they're best used.

1.      Regular bobby pins-These are the most common and easy-to-find hair pins.  They come in a variety of colors (natural hair colors and fun decorative ones) and finishes (matte, metallic, etc.) to meet your needs.  These pins are best used to hold down flyaway hairs at the sides, front, and back of your hair.  They're great for holding bangs out of the way if you need to pin them up for performances.  The proper way to use regular bobby pins is to put the ridged side down (closest to your scalp) as you slide them into your hair.  This will prevent them from slipping out.  While many people use regular bobby pins to hold hair in a bun, these are not the best choice.  Using them for buns causes them to get bent out of shape, and they are likely to fall out of a bun during vigorous movement.

2.      Open pins-These pins are often passed over because they're a bit harder to find than regular pins, and people often assume they're only for people with lots of long, thick hair.  In reality, open pins are the best choice for holding hair in a bun for all hair types.  Even if your hair is relatively short and/or thin, they will work.  I have very fine hair, and open pins have worked well for me when my hair is shoulder length or longer.  Because open pins have larger bends in them, they can slide deeper into the bun without shooting back out.  This makes it much more secure than a bun held with regular bobby pins.  Find open pins at dancewear stores and some beauty supply stores.

3.      Tiny bobby pins-Lots of people like to make fun of tiny bobby pins and call them useless or for babies only.  However, miniature bobby pins are extremely useful for all dancers, especially for performances.  Because they're so small, tiny pins can be hidden more easily than bigger ones.  If you have one random piece of hair sticking out, a tiny pin is a good choice for holding it in place since it's less noticeable than a regular pin.  Also, because tiny pins are very tight, then are great choices for holding headpieces (especially those made with lace, mesh, and wire).

4.      Giant bobby pins-Some people think these are good for holding buns or sweeping back the sides of hair, but really, giant bobby pins are the least useful in the world of dance hairstyles.  Because they are heavier and looser than other pins, but still have the tight bend, they are more likely to fall out of a bun than any other type of pin.  They're also very visible, so they're not a good choice for holding flyaways for a performance.  I prefer to save giant pins for holding sections of hair when a style is in progress.

Nutrition Facts: Condiments

It's barbecue season!  Whether you grill meat or veggies, condiments are often used to enhance flavor and accompany cookout faves like burgers and fries.  Since I follow a mostly vegan diet, I love condiments (as well as spices) to add pizazz to my food.  When selected carefully, condiments can add nutrients to your meals and help you better absorb the nutrients in other foods.  However, some condiments are not good for you at all.  This guide will provide a little info on which condiments are the healthiest choices for your next cookout meal.

Ketchup
Pros: Contains lycopene (heart-healthy nutrient in tomatoes), fat-free, relatively low calorie
Cons: Can be high in sugar
Best choice: Organic ketchup with limited added sugar

Mustard
Pros: Contains sodium (essential nutrient in small quantities), extremely low calorie, fat-free
Cons: Can put sodium consumption over the top since lots of other barbecue foods contain excess salt, stains teeth and clothing easily
Best choice: Natural mustard or brown mustard if you like a spicy flavor

Barbecue Sauce
Pros: Also contains lycopene if tomato based (most bbq sauces are), contains antioxidants and iron (common ingredients include black pepper and molasses), fat-free
Cons: Generally high in sugar (avoid brands containing high fructose corn syrup), can be high calorie
Best choice: Natural barbecue sauce with limited added sugar

Mayonnaise (including Vegannaise)
Pros: Varieties made with olive oil contain heart-healthy omega-3s
Cons: Quite high in calories and fat, varieties made with eggs spoil quickly, vegan varieties sometimes contain processed soy (only bad if you have a soy sensitivity)
Best choice: Natural mayo with olive oil, or use avocado instead for a similar flavor with no dairy or soy

Salad Dressing
Pros: Fats consumed with micronutrient foods (like salad greens) increases the body's ability to absorb the micronutrients, varieties that contain vinegars have antioxidants and aid digestion
Cons: Generally high calorie and high fat, some varieties contain soy and diary (watch out if you have sensitivities), also generally high sodium
Best choice: Natural oil and vinegar based dressing

Sauerkraut
Pros: Raw unpasteurized sauerkraut is a fermented food rich in probiotics (great for digestive health), very low calorie, fat-free
Cons: Many varieties are over-processed and loose probiotic properties, can be high sodium
Best choice: Raw unpasteurized sauerkraut