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The Illusive Ballet Bun
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In the age of "sock buns" and multiple dance classes, the art of the ballet bun seems to be a lost art form. I have seen more and more students throwing their hair up as quickly and haphazardly as humanly possible--often leading to a mid-class hair reconstruction--which takes away from their learning time. I've included two tutorial videos of how to make a bun not only neat and tidy, but also secure enough to withstand the most advanced dance steps. These are just examples, there are of course, many variations. There are also different types of hair pins that can be advantageous for use on different hair types.
HAIR PINS
BOBBY PINS
WIG PINS
Bobby pins are probably the most versatile among hair types. These tough little guys gained popularity during WWI to hold back the swinging "bobs" of girls working factory jobs. They'll hold back fine hair, thick hair and even help with bangs.
Hair pins may look frail, but they do their job on fine to normal hair and even help smooth out bumps.
Wig pins are an excellent tool for long, thick hair, or for making secure french twists.
HAIR NET
Hair nets are another indispensable tool that has gone by the wayside. In an era of layered hair, the nylon hair net is essential to the creation of a smooth, ballet bun and when used properly, has an invisible presence.
And now, on to the tutorial videos. Both of these moms go perhaps a bit overboard on the smoothing and hairspraying portions, but they are very thorough!
I've had many students ask me to clarify what I mean when I ask them to use their épaulement (ay-pohl-MAHN) while dancing. Correct é paulement , or placement of the head and shoulders while dancing, can mean the difference between looking like a student and looking like a refined dancer. É paulement requires that the dancer angle his or her head . I often say to "offer one cheek forward, as if presenting it to receive a kiss." Exceptions, of course, are the é cart é positions, where the head is turned either toward the elbow ( devant ) or away from the arms completely ( derriere ). Below is an illustration of the correct é paulement , dependent on the position of the body. The position that is labeled quatrieme (fourth) is also referred to as en face (opposite [the audience]). The sooner you memorize the positions of the head and shoulders, the sooner you can start incorporating them into your dancing! Here are a few more links: The Importance of
Pointe shoes—those tiny, shiny, glorified piñatas, which today, make it possible for ballerinas to dance complete, three-act ballets on their pointes . They can be expected to last anywhere from 3 months to 3 hours, depending on the demand placed on them. For a dancer in a professional company, they are considered work supplies, and the cost is put on the company she/he dances for. In the case of students, the cost of these educational tools, which can run between $40-$85 a pair, is often on the parents or the student themselves to cover. The more the student is dancing, the quicker this pointe shoe budget adds up. Why do the shoes break down so fast? The answer is simple: most pointe shoes are made from natural materials (leather, cardboard, burlap, layers of paper, glue, and satin). These materials create a supportive structure that is also pliable enough to move with the dancers feet. As the dancer’s feet bend and pound these little fortresses of strength
I received some questions this week about sewing and prepping shoes, so I'll attempt to answer those and include some additional information. During the week of September 1st-5th, I will be spending the first half of class making sure everyone knows how to sew their shoes, but here are some pointers for how it's done. Elastic and Ribbons Elastic should be 3/4" wide. Dancewear stores will typically give you enough to sew one elastic per shoe, unless you specify that you wish to "criss-cross" your elastics, in which case, you'll need double the amount. Criss-crossing can help if you find that the heel of the shoe is slipping off with only one. Be advised that dance elastic is much stronger than what you will find at your local fabric store, and more readily comes in pointe shoe-appropriate colors. Melting the edges of your cut elastics will prevent fabric fraying, but don't let the elastic actually touch the flame--burnt elastic smells pretty nasty.
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