Staying Toasty in Class

Studios and theaters where ballet dancers do their thing are notoriously chilly, and our little gym is no exception!  Even with functional heaters, such big spaces can feel drafty and cold, especially at the start of class when you haven't gotten your blood flowing yet.

(Screen shot from American Ballet Theater, World Ballet Day, 2023)

Here are some gear tips for staying warm in class, starting from the bottom up:

• Booties!  Warmup booties are definitely "a thing."  Ballet dancers stole the idea from the outdoor industry and started wearing puffy booties at the start of class, to warm up their feet and ankles.  Now they actually make warmup booties designed specifically for dancers, but you can also use non-dance booties as well.  The key things to make sure of is that the booties stay securely on your feet, have flexible uppers and soles, and don't have sticky bottoms that prevent good tendu technique.  Some examples of booties that work well:  Dearfoam Nylon Booties (~$20);  Dearfoam Faux Fur Foldown Bootie (~$28);  Bloch Warmup Bootie (~$59); SoDanca Warmup Bootie (~$45 - $78);  Stoic Puffer Bootie (~$45); Capezio Warmup Booties (~$51); Nikolay Warmup Booties (~$51 - $60); Baffin Unisex Cush Booty (~$65);  Rab Down Hut Slipper (~$70);  Sierra Designs Down Booties (~$80).
  
  
• Heavy Socks!  Not a fan of the puffy booties look?  A good thick pair of socks (like wool hiking socks) that are large enough to fit over your ballet slippers, will also help keep your feet cozy for the start of class.  Be sure to take them off for center combinations, so you're not slipping and falling.  Some examples: Woolrich Big Woolly Mid-Calf Socks (~$25);  Smartwool Classic Hike Extra Cushion Crew Socks (~$24)

• Tights!  Those pink tights you see dancers wearing aren't just for show.  They actually help to keep your legs warm.  Layered under leggings, tights add even more warmth, yet preserve freedom of movement at the same time.  Of course you don't have to stick with pink; any color will do.  And if you don't have dance tights handy, a pair of thicker pantyhose works too.  Discount Dance and Dancewear Solutions have a nice selection of tights in many colors and configurations, as do as many other online dance-wear retailers.
  
  
• Warmup Pants!  No need to be fancy, just a standard old pair of sweat pants works fine.  You can also try yoga pants, jogging pants or any other flexible pant, to keep your leg muscles cozy.  Some ideas:  Old Navy Activewear Bottoms (Women's) (Men's) (~$20 and up); Champion Exercise Pants (Women's) (Men's) (~$20 and up); Gaynor Minden Women's Microtech Warm-up Dance Pants (~$56); Ballet Rosa Men's Pleated Lounge Pants (~$56).
  
  
• Leg Warmers!  If you're old enough, you'll remember the leg-warmer craze of the early 1980s. (I sure do.)  Leg warmers are like a sweater for your legs and, added on top of tights or leggings, they provide another layer of insulation and can be adjusted to target specific areas (ankles, calves, knees, thighs), and easily removed when you get warmed up.  Discount Dance and Dancewear Solutions, have a nice selection, as do as many other online dance-wear retailers.
  
  
• Back Warmers! Often sold for use by pole dancers (Yikes!) back warmers are a tube of fabric that fits around your torso, and is usually worn around the lower back area.  They are great for keeping your core warm.  For sources, see the previous post called, "Warm Your Back."
  
  
• Micropuff Vests!  And speaking of keeping your core warm, I'm in love with my nylon micro-puff vest.  It's light weight, non-bulky, really helps keep my core warm, and I can easily zip it off after I start to break a sweat.  Some examples you may want to try: Eddie Bauer Microlight Down Vest (Women's) (Men's) (~$99);  Columbia Sportswear Vests (Women's Heavenly) (Men's Powder Light) (~$110); NorthFace Thermo Ball Vest (Women's) (Men's) (~$180);  Patagonia Nano Puff Vest (Women's) (Men's) (~$189).
  
  
• Arm Warmers!  OK, technically, I don't think arm warmers are "a thing" but there's no law that says you can't slip a pair of leg warmers onto your arms, if you're feeling bit chilly up top.  Arms often stay cold longer than legs, because they're getting less of a workout in ballet class, so keeping your arms cozy may be needed.  Children's leg warmers work well for this purpose.  Or you can get creative and chop the sleeves off an old sweat-shirt or sweater.
  
  
• Scarf! Watch the start of any professional dance class and you're likely to see many dancers with a small scarf wrapped around their necks.  It doesn't have to be bulky; just a thin piece of fabric or knitting wrapped a couple times around your neck will do an amazing job of keeping you feeling warm.