Back-to-dance shopping floodgates are about to burst open. To help you prep with possible last-minute inventory additions, DRN spoke with two pre-professional dancers and one dance teacher about what brands and styles are on their shopping lists (and radar) this year.
Annabelle Gorski
Age: 14
Location: Darien, CT
Annabelle started dance classes at age 3 and has been with Norwalk Metropolitan Youth Ballet in Connecticut since she turned 6. While ballet is her main focus, she also takes contemporary and jazz classes and will begin acro this fall. Tights (specifically Só Dança’s seamed, convertible tights in black and in pink) and leotards are on the top of her shopping list. “I am leotard obsessed,” Annabelle says. “I prefer leotards with pinch-fronts and spaghetti straps because they show off my shoulders well. I love solid colors, especially blues and pastels, like pinks and purples, and color blocking.” There was no hesitation when she listed her top three leotard brands: Elevé, Yumiko, and Bullet Pointe. “They are comfortable, they hug my body nicely, and I love their styles, prints, and colors,” she says.
Annabelle will be also stocking up on Iridescence Series pointe shoes from R-Class. “I have flexible feet that need a lot of support and they make my feet feel amazing,” she says. “They are actually comfortable.”
Two items on her wish list include light-blue thigh-length leg warmers from Aluvie and a pair of reversible parachute shorts from Bullet Pointe. Annabelle loves that her local dance store carries a range of conditioning options like foam rollers and therapy bands, but she is curious about how wrist and ankle weights might work into her training. She also wants to test out some balance boards and balls. “I see them a lot on social media,” she says. “I like to experiment with balance because I want to improve my turns.”
Alexis Arlene Andrews
Age: Adult
Location: New York City
Alexis Arlene Andrews teaches ages 3 to 6 at the Children’s Division of the American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, and is an ABT Teaching Artist for freshmen through seniors at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens. Andrews has devised what she refers to as her “teaching uniform,” which is all black and includes leggings, a sports bra, and a long- or short-sleeved shirt (all from lululemon) that she pairs with a pull-on Galina Rehearsal Skirt from Bodile. “It has a wide waistband, the materials are really nice, and the cut is really flattering. It all comes together to create a clean line that is easily seen by students,” Andrews says, adding that it’s perfect studio-to-street fashion. “After class, I can throw on a pair of shoes, take the skirt off, and I’m out the door.”
At the beginning of the school year, Andrews makes a point of purchasing four pairs of Capezio’s Hanami canvas, split-sole ballet slippers so she can keep one pair at each school, one pair with her on-the-go, and one pair as a backup at home. “That will pretty much last me for the year. They’re my favorite ballet shoes because they don’t have an elastic drawstring,” she says. She recommends them to all of her students. For Andrews’ littlest students, they eliminate the common issue of untucked drawstrings or getting them too loose or pulled too tight. The shoes also come with pre-sewn elastics, and there are four skin tones, plus pink, black, and white.
Want to find out more about what teachers like to wear for class? Check out this DRN article.
Elizabeth Weber
Age: 16
Location: East Greenwich, RI
Elizabeth has been training at The Talent Factory in North Kingstown, RI, for 10 years, focusing on contemporary, jazz funk, hip hop, jazz, modern, ballet, tap, musical theater, and lyrical. Her top item this fall is knee pads, to help protect her body during floorwork, and she’s considering either Capezio’s Gel Knee Pads or Bloch’s Pro-Dance Knee Pads. “I also need more socks, because they get holes in them after dancing on a lot of different surfaces,” she says. “And I need to pick up some baggy T-shirts for hip hop and contemporary.”
For Elizabeth, Yumiko and Bodile excel in offering beautiful leotards (in florals or solids) with unique linings. At her studio, it’s a trend to wear black tights over leotards, and she favors Capezio stirrup tights to show off her leg line.
“Weights and resistance bands really help me with improving strength, so having those at a local dance store would be really helpful,” Elizabeth says. “I’ve also noticed in convention rooms a lot of bandanas and headbands to add extra style and flair. A glitter highlighter could be a fun addition to a local store, too, because I love wearing glitter for good luck onstage.”
Hannah Maria Hayes has an MA in dance education from New York University, operates a vintage retail business, and has been writing for Dance Media publications since 2008.
Learn how training aids, such as weights and resistance bands, could help drive sales in your store with this DRN article.