Movin' Easy Dancewear

A Musical Theatre Workshop?  Who me?  Yes folks, I surprised my self by being drawn to it.  Maybe it was the charisma and infectious enthusiasm of Ballet Austin’s Butler Community School Broadway instructors, Danny Herman and Rocker Verastique, when I tried a Broadway Fit Class.  Maybe it was the sideways glance I gave myself in the mirror during a particularly coy dance number, “Hey, Good Lookin’.”  Maybe I shook something loose up there in my serious and contemplative brain during a feverish shimmy or a sexy head roll.  Whatever it was, here I am on “The Holiday Road”: a musical theatre workshop to culminate in a holiday, public performance at the Austin Ventures Theater in December.  Danny and Rocker are my guides into the unknown (unknown to me anyway). I follow them loyally into the expansive world of Broadway, where people sing with their mouths wide open and dance for the seats in the back.  Who would of thunk it?  Well, here we go shy girl.

Mia

www.balletaustin.org

Musical Theatre Workshop

Two families that love “So You Think You Can Dance.”

Two teens and their mom loved the show.  One teen was taking dance and the other teen was not.  She did say she would love to dance and was a little shy about thinking about joining a high school salsa or swing club.  Go girl.

Another family had two little ones, a boy and a girl around 9.  The mom says they dance together at home and make up their own dances.  I asked when they would be on YouTube and she hadn’t thought of that.

Mom with 9 year old says, “We have 2 of your bags and got so many compliments.  They are so unique with fun fabrics.”

Movin’ Easy is here at the Omni Hotel June 4-7 for tango workshops. We are selling Sansha and Bloch sneakers for comfort in the long haul of a four day workshop, all day and dance parties almost all night. We are also selling shoes for Jorge Nel who makes all the Tango conventions with a huge number of shoe styles, colors, and heel heights. Tango shoe buyers are interesting, ladies want high and flashy mostly and lower when their feet get tired.  Dance sneakers are good for guys as long as they have a classy or sporty dance shoe.

Argentine Tango requires fabulous initiative by both men and women to connect totally and to almost attack the space with subtlety and finesse.

Heard at Movin’ Easy.  “I never knew that crunches could be that much fun. I take Ballet Fit at Ballet Austin and they really whip you into shape.”  Errin said, “I have to take that class.  I take Modern right next door and Ballet Fit is always packed.  It does look like so much fun.”

Virginia’s Ballet Austin Experience

Dance class as an adult can be a little scary. Our bodies don’t recoup as quickly as a hard workout, our brains run a little bit slower than they did at age 16, and I am sure none of us look the same as we did 10 years ago.

At the Butler Community School at Ballet Austin these fears all seem to disappear. I have been taking class at Ballet Austin for about 6 months and couldn’t feel better about myself. Not only am I working out with fantastic teachers, I am invited into this amazing environment of people who make art all day and want me to get involved. And let me tell you about the facility. WOW!! State of the art to say the least.

Whether you’ve never put on a pair of dance shoes, or are just squeezing back into that leotard, everyone deserves to take a dance class at Ballet Austin.

Here at Movin’ Easy, all of our Dancewear Specialists go through an extensive 6 week pointe shoe training. Throughout our many years serving the pointe shoe community, we have put together a list of some FAQ’s. We hope this answers any questions that you may have about pointe shoes! Haven’t found what your looking for? Give us a call and we will assist you! 512.474.0980

Q. At what age should a student start pointe class?

A. 12 is the standard age to start pointe class. Putting too young of children in pointe shoes can be very dangerous to growth plates, and can lead to serious injury.

Q. How long does a pointe-fitting take?

A. Usually a pointe fitting can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. The more inexperienced the dancer, the longer the fitting so a Dancewear Specialist can be very thorough to ensure a proper fit. An appointment is always recommended for a pointe fitting, whether beggining or advanced.

Q. Is it OK to buy pointe shoes with growing room?

A. Fitting with growing room is not recommended for safety purposes. Pointe shoes that are too big can lead to serious injury.

Q. Is there a right and left shoe?

A. Not initially. The student decides which feet they go on, and then mark the ribbons and elastic as left and right. The shoes will mold to the dancers feet with wear.

Q. What if one foot is longer than the other?

A. If there is a drastic difference in foot sizes then two pairs of shoes are necessary. Because there is no right or left in the shoes, the student gets two usable pairs of shoes.

Q. What if my second toe is longer than my first toe?

A. The best fix for a longer second toe is adding a special big toe gel pad. This pad is placed over the big toe extending it to be the same length as the second toe. If this does not work, wrap loose lambs wool around the big toe for added comfort.

Q. Why do some dancers crisscross their elastic?

A. The crisscross elastic gives a little more ankle support. Dancers with over developed arches or ankle strength need more support in the shoes so as not to over extend on the platform of the pointe shoe. Also, crisscross elastic helps hold the shank of the shoe straight if there is slight twisting.

Q. What does “three-quartered” mean?

A. “Three quartered” is in reference to the shank of the pointe shoe. It means the shank only goes ¾ of the way up the shoe.

Q. Do I need a “three-quartered” shank?

A. A ¾ shank is usually intended for a dancer that has a less developed arch or ankle strength. The shorter shank helps the dancer achieve a full upright position on the platform of the pointe shoe. Another common case of getting a ¾ shank is for performance reasons. Because the shank is shorter, it takes less time to break in and gives that “broken in” look right away.

Q. Why do I need padding?

A. Padding is a personal decision made by the student after listening to her teachers recommendations. Padding helps cushion the toes while inside a pointe shoe.

Q. What is the best padding for me?

A. After listening to teacher recommendations, try out different padding to see which is right for you. Lambs wool has been around the longest but wears out quickly, and gel pads are more expensive but don’t need to be replaced as often.

Q. When should I buy new pointe shoes?

A. It’s time to get a new pair of shoes when the dancer does not feel supported while en pointe. The shoes will be visibly worn out as well, for example, the shanks become very flexible and the boxes very soft.

Q. Why does the box and platform get soft?

A. Pointe shoes are essentially made out of glue. With wear, the glue breaks down leaving the boxes and platforms soft.

Q. What do I do if my pointe shoes are very wet after class?

A. With wear, students feet sweat, wetting the pointe shoes. After class, take all padding out of the shoe and put the shoes in a mesh bag carried outside of a big dance bag. Pointe shoes require 48 hours to dry completely.

Q. Should I dance in my old pointe shoes?

A. Dancing in old pointe shoes can lead to serious injury because of lack of support in the shoe. But don’t throw them away, you can decorate them and hang them up in your room!

Q. Where is the correct place to tie the ribbon knot?

A. The knot should be tied on the inside of the foot just between the anklebone and achilles tendon. Tying the knot on the anklebone can result in bruising.

Q. What is rosin for?

A. Rosin is hardened tree sap and used on dance shoes if the floor is slippery.

Q. Will pointe work always be hard and uncomfortable?

A. As the dancer gets more experienced pointe work will become easier. Once proper alignment is achieved, dancers become lighter on their feet and pressure on their toes is relieved.

Q. Do men do pointe?

A. Typically men do not do pointe work. Under certain circumstances, men use pointe shoes for strengthening ankles and arches.

Dance shoes made with quality materials and workmanship can last for years.

Heels and soles are replaceable.  Padding can be refurbished without destroying the shoe.

Straps can be repaired and full toes patched.

So if you have a pair of shoes that you love, take them to a reputable repair shop.

In Austin, we suggest Karavel Comfort Center at 5525 Burnet Road, 512-459-7603

I keep returning to a basic realization that my happiness and satisfaction is primary to the way I treat myself and those around me. Whatever I choose to feel overflows and creates more of the same.

Throughout my career at Movin’ Easy I have tried to venture out and do something different. I push myself beyond my limits over and over.  At the time I feel that it is necessary to change either financially, creatively, or personally.  Then I come back to center, get a perspective on my struggle, and realize that where I belong is at Movin’ Easy.  When I thought of doing something else, I was always brought back to the great contribution that Movin’ Easy makes to dancers’ well being and to the growth of the community as a whole.

When I wanted to be more creative and leave the business, the message was “The business is your greatest poem.”

When I wanted to go back to teaching, the message was “teach your staff to build the world they want at Movin’ Easy.”

When I wanted to go into spiritual work, the message was “make Movin’ Easy a place of instant transformation that changes us and our customers the minute they enter.”

When I wanted to organize communities for greater cooperation, the message was “make Movin’ Easy the connector that inspires the greatness and uniqueness in each group.”

When I wanted to change the educational system, the message was “support the dancers who are already the explorers of what education really means.”

When I wanted to be a counselor or therapist, the message was “cultivate the connections with Movin’ Easy employees so that we all grow in positive ways in the ways we treat each other and our customers.”

Tight clothing is a traditional style for acrobats and gymnasts as well as dancers.  Logically the skin tight garments make movements easier without sticking or catching while performing difficult routines.

For dancers there are two other reasons.  One, tight clothing helps the instructor see how every muscle is working in order to correct the dancer’s moves and to help them complete the look of a long line or a shape.

Second, the tightness of the dancegear gives feedback to the dancer, indicating a pull here and a twist there,  signaling that they are using the correct  muscles.

As far as muscle health goes, a little compression is good and gives a head start on healing muscles that are challenged to the max.  Current fabrics also include spandex to wick the moisture away from the body cooling the outside and keeping the muscle warmth during periods of activity and rest.

Even, when the instructor does not ask to see the contours of the body, most dancers wear a tight layer underneath their loose clothing or under warmers that keep their bodies at a consistent temperature.