And by ballerinas, I mean either actual dancers or dreamers (such as myself) who tie a blanket around their waist, say it's a tutu, and call themselves a ballerina. So any of you gurls can feel free to answer.
I'm thinking of buying my first bonafide girls' clothes (such is life in high school in a house full of boys, LOL) and am interested in purchasing some ballet wear - leotard, tights, tutu, etc. I'm curious as to your opinion on which brand is the best. The place I'm planning on buying from carries virtually all brands, but I'm not sure which one to take a look at (Capezio, Bloch, Eurotard, they're basically all alike to me). Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Comments
Don't focus on brand at first
My advice is to focus on what kind of garment you want rather than brand. Strap/tank/sleeve leotard, footed/convertible/footless tights, colour, shinyness, cut, fabric etc. Later you may find that a particular brand fits your body best, that a fabric used by a particular brand feels nice when used as you want to, how well you can move in the garment and so on.
Tutus usually are quite pricey. They come as "stand alone" and combined with leotard. The number of layers may vary, Intended use and price should determine choice. Remember that storing a tutu isn't trivial.
I agree with the above poster
I agree with the above poster- tutus can be a pain to store. Focus on the style and colour of leotard at first. Experiment a bit- see whether you prefer tank leotard or short-sleeved, or even long-sleeved styles. You say you want to be as 'bona fide' as possible, so colour is important- most serious ballet schools insist on black leotards and pink tights and very little else- girls practise in just that, rather than in the big fancy tutus, which are reserved for performances only. Also make sure you pick up a pair of the shoes with ribbons- most shoes don't come with ribbons attached, so you may need to sew them on yourself. If you pick up a pair of pointe shoes- and as they're pricey, they're very much 'optional'- make sure you get them in the right size. There are sizing charts on the internet that you can use to approximate the size, but as it's approximate only, DO NOT attempt to dance properly in them unless you fancy risking severe injury. A chapter of my story 'Laura' goes into detail about why not, but needless to say there's a reason even adult dancers have to wait eighteen months before dancing en pointe, even if they really dedicate themselves to learning to dance. Finally, depending on the length of your hair, it may be investing in a wig and having a look on youtube for tutorials on how to tie a ballerina's bun.
Hope this is of some help. I LOVE everything about ballet, especially the clothes, so will be happy to offer any further advice if needed. :-)
Debs xxxx
Wow, that really helps. I'm
Wow, that really helps. I'm just starting out right now, starting with a leotard and gradually moving on up. But I'll definitely take into account both pieces of advice on here. Thanks everyone!
Agree
I agree. You should first focus on FUNCTIONALITY and FORM over brand name. Choose clothing that fits you well, and above all, BREATHES. Once you find a style that works well, both in form and function, only THEN choose brand.
*kisses and congrats*
Haylee V
*Kisses Always*
Haylee V