What to Wear

We all know (hopefully) that for dance lessons, one must wear loose and comfortable clothing. This allows the body to move with minimal restriction, which encourages the buildup of muscles and endurance, and the increase of flexibility. Ballet, of course, is an obvious exception, due to the fact that ballerinas are generally required to wear leotards, tights, and specialized shoes (soft, demi-pointe, or pointe). Most dance studios are fairly relaxed in terms of their dress code; the majority of hip hop, jazz, and modern dancers are allowed to wear comfortable, loose clothing. Some jazz and modern dancers are told to wear shorts (booty shorts) in the place of sweatpants or P.E. shorts. Also, when I took hip hop classes, the studio did not allow students to wear shorts that rose above the knee level, because many floor stunts involved the use of the knees, which needed to be protected. Most jazz or hip hop or modern classes do not require their dancers to tie their hair back, but it is important to remember that loose hair is distracting to both others and yourself, therefore, putting hair back in a ponytail, braids, or a bun is always a good idea. For ballerinas at most dance studios, the standard uniform is a black leotard, pink tights, and soft/demi-pointe/pointe shoes. However, some studios are far more relaxed with their dress code. For example, when I take ballet, I wear a black leotard, tan leggings, black booty shorts, and, of course, my ballet shoes. Many dancers at my studio choose to wear the traditional uniform, while others opt for a more alternative style of dress. After ballet classes, I typically slip on a jacket over my leotard and swap my ballet shoes for flip flops (where I live is fairly warm year round). However, no matter what classes you plan upon taking, it is always a good idea to CHECK beforehand with your studio about the dancer dress code.

On Ballerina Hair:

We all know, whether we are dancers or not, that it is a good idea for one to keep their hair out of their face when dancing. Why? If your hair is left to whip about your face while you leap and twirl and twist across the floor, you can become easily distracted. Many professional studios require their ballerinas to wear their hair up in a bun because it improves concentration and can help instructors determine the muscle mass and range of flexibility that a dancer, particularly a ballerina, has attained. That being said, if you are interested in becoming a ballerina, it is fairly important to learn how to create a bun.
The Classic Ballerina Bun:
Step 1: Brush hair until it is smooth and virtually knot-free.
Step 2: Lightly spray hair with a squirt bottle filled with water, or wet hands and smooth through hair. Rake hair backward with a brush.
Step 3: Secure hair with a ponytail about halfway up the head. Be sure to avoid creating any bumps or tangles in the hair in the process.
Step 4: Separate the ponytail into two sections. This will help with the creation of the bun itself. Tightly twist one section of hair into a coil, and wind the coil clockwise about the ponytail holder. Use a bobby pin to tuck in the edge of the coil. Use several more bobby pins along the coil, securing it to the base of the ponytail and the scalp.
Step 5: Twist a hair net that matches your hair color over your bun. Secure it with several more bobby pins. Spray heavily with hairspray.
Step 6: (OPTIONAL) Some dance studios are very picky about the style of bun worn, but, depending on which studio you attend (or plan on attending), you may be allowed to use an elastic hairband to hold back any bangs or layers. Secure the headband with more bobby pins and an extra douse of hairspray. Viola! You are ready to go to your dance lesson!
So where can you buy such materials? Just about any drugstore will carry the materials needed for this look (hair net, hairspray, bobby pins, plastic squirt bottle, hairbrush, and elastic headbands), and many online dance stores offer a wide variety of hair nets and snoods for buns.
Again, not all dance studios are alike: Some may be far more relaxed about hairstyles, while others maintain a very strict policy on hair. It's simply up to the studio.

The Beginning

I can't  confidently claim that there was anything particularly exciting about the time I started dance- that is to say, there wasn't anything really memorable about it. It just kind of began and then quickly slid into a sort of  routine, without much thought put into it. I started my dancing career with tap lessons at my town's recreational center, under the guidance of a ruddy faced woman with long blonde hair. For the next year or so, I took those classes, my mother dutifully shuttling me back and forth to lessons in her burgundy station wagon. Around the time I finished kindergarten, I quit tap lessons and began taking ballet at a dance academy closer to my home. During my first recital, I tripped and fell onstage, and promptly forgot all the steps of my dance. Despite the mishaps that occurred throughout my early years of dancing, I stuck with what I loved, and, through a series of twists and turns of fate, have found myself here, writing a blog about my dancing career. What's the purpose of this blog? To entertain as well as inform. I will include in this blog: Stories of my dancing career, interviews with various dancing teachers, advice for beginners, and maybe even a few dancing pictures I find pretty. Enjoy!