Starting with balletclass.
What do you need?
How to start.
After balletclass, I talked to Emma.
She loved her very first class and wished to come dance every week.
So she asked me what she needed to take class.
I get that question a lot, so I decide to make a list
-Ballet shoes
These are made out of leather or synthetic fiber. Keep in mind, the numbers on the bottom of the ballet shoes do not correspond with the numbers under your regular street shoes. So ask for assistance when you are going to buy the shoes.
You don’t want your toes to touch the edge of the shoe. You should do a releve and a plie comfortably.
You want to buy your ballet shoes at a specialty store for dancers, to be sure you buy the product. Here in the Netherlands, ballet shoes cost around 20 to 30 euros for adults.
So why can’t you just dance on your socks or sneakers? Well, simply put, they are just not right for ballet. Real ballet shoes will help you execute your ballet movements in optimal form. The shoe will form around your foot and give you support. It will help you stretch en flex your feet. And that is what you want to be able to jump high in the air and push off for a pirouette.
So, great to dance with!
-Leotard
Made of special, stretch material, which will give you freedom of movement.
Check at your dancestudio if they have a special color or style as their uniform. If that is the case, then buy one. But mostly adultballerinas can chose their own style and color to train in.
Spaghetti-straps, low back, high back, you name it. It is up to your taste.
Shoes
Leotard
Tights
-Ballet tights
Ballet dancers wear pink tights.
The version without feet resembles a thin legging. The version with feet is like a thicker pantyhose. Ask your studio which they prefer.
Why tights? Your teacher will be able to see your muscles work and give you feedback to improve your skills. The tights will keep your muscles warm and you will not cool down fastly.
-Tie up your hair
Make sure your hair is free from your neck and not in your eyes.
You will enjoy your dancing more when everything is secure, so you don’t have to occupy yourself with fixing your hair, but relax and dance.
Dancers with short hair will apply clips in their hair and maybe also a hairband.
Dancers with longer hair can make a braid and twist this into a ballet bun. Fix it with special ‘bun-pins’.
-Optional: skirt, vest, legwarmers, ballet bag
With the ballet shoes, leotard and tights, you can wear a ballet skirt.
This will move beautifully when you dance and makes you feel like a real ballerina.
During the cold days in winter, you can also wear a ballet vest and legwarmers.
These will keep your muscles nice and warm.
You can keep all your things together in a ballet bag.
A ballet bag will have handy, special compartments, so you can keep your hairbrush and ballet shoes apart.
Well, that was the list. These things will help you enjoy your balletclass and execute well.
It will enhance the complete experience.
So buy it and enjoy!
About the writer
Anne-Marie Pos-Terlouw studied at Codarts (Rotterdam Dance Academy) and graduated as a professional dancer and teacher with specializations ballet and contemporary dance.
She founded Balletstudio Violetta in 2006 and is making people happy with dance for over 20 years.
In 2017 she started working as BalletConsultant to aid and assist colleague ballet teachers and balletschoolowners around the world.