Arnica Gel Review

I read about Arnica gel here (check it out, some more awesome tips too) and I decided to get some.  I ordered some from Amazon and I've been using it for about a week and I love it!  It gives temporary relief (very temporary...maybe an hour) so I use it just before I stretch.  When I have a particularly tight muscle, I rub and it loosen out my muscle enough for me stretch it out.  I've also been using it on my ankle.  It helps, but my ankle still hurts.  I think I'm going to go get it checked out if it doesn't stop hurting in two weeks.  Anyways, it also works on bruises.  I got a bruise on my shin last Saturday, and I put some on.  Now the color is almost gone, and it stopped hurting about 3 days ago.  So yeah, I definitely recommend this stuff.  It doesn't tingle or burn like BioFreeze or Tiger Balm, and it barely smells.

Oh and new poll on the blog!

Update

So guys, I have good news and bad news....good news first, shall we?  Two parts of good news actually!

First, Ms. Athena has given me permission to do double or triple turns in all combinations and exercises, unless its choreo.  Yay!  Second, we have a free class for the rest of the year!!  We are allowed to go to the Intermediate 1 Ballet class we're grouped with for recital, every week if we want.  FOR FREEEE!  I'm really happy about this because I really wanted to take more classes but I knew my mom couldn't afford it.

And unfortunately, two parts bad news also.  First, my tights got its first two snags D: I put nail polish on them, but I don't think they can last much longer (I've already placed an order from DDS - Body Wrappers Low Rise Convertible Tights in theatrical pink, Theatricals Convertible Tights in ballet pink, and some half socks just for fun lol).  And second....I can't make it to the free class :(  It's the exact same time and day as my lacrosse practice.  I would just skip lacrosse, but the only other practice is Wednesday, which I've already been skipping for Teen Ballet.  So still only one class a week for me until April/May when lacrosse ends.  Oh well, that still leaves me with about two months of two classes :)

I hope your classes are going great too, I'd love to hear about them!

I lied.  There's more good news haha.  There's a new girl in our class!  She seemed nice, and she'd danced at her high school so she picked up fast.  I think she liked the class, and I hope she decides to stay :3

DIY Ballet Skirt

Hey guys!  Now, I love the idea of making my own ballet gear.  I've already made my own legwarmers, and sewn up the straps on my leotard.  I like making stuff too, so crafts plus ballet equals yay!  My next project is going to be a ballet skirt.

I put a link and video in case you found one or the other hard to understand.  So pretty, right??  I'm going to make one as soon as I find an acceptably adorable fabric!  Or maybe I can get my class together and make some together, that would be fun :D  Happy crafting and keep dancing!

Oh and hey, this is my 50th post :')  Thanks for sticking around guys.  All your comments and just knowing my posts are being read means a lot to me.

Bodywrappers Tights Review

So I have the Body Wrappers Adult Supplex TotalSTRETCH Supremely Soft Convertible Tights.  These were my first pair of tights.  Besides the insanely long name, I like them a lot.  I have them in ballet pink.  It looks like a very bright pink, but once I put them on they look much paler.  I looooove the convertible foot on these.  The foot hole is really great, with a doubled edge so it's strong, won't slip, and doesn't rip.  I wear and handwash them once a week, and not a single run, rip, or hole yet after nearly 5 months.  They still look pretty much brand new aside from a bit of dirt around the feet.  I went one size up from what the chart recommended, so they're a bit long.  My fault though, I thought I was 10 pounds heavier than I actually am......oops...and yay? Lol.  The waistband is really comfortable, never squeezes or digs in.  It also folds down pretty well when I wear my open-back leotard.  Good, durable tights.  Super soft and stretchy too.

Quick Update

Hey guys, it's been a busy week for me.  I actually haven't stretched or practiced anything at all this week :O My lacrosse team had our first game yesterday, and I don't even remember the score, but it was probably 15 - 1 or higher (we lost.  Or more accurately, we got mowed haha).  They were a really good team though, and we were playing one short without any substitutes, so I'm happy.  And our coach awarded me player of the game, so I guess I did pretty well :D  I tripped a lot, panicked a lot, and cried some, but I left it all out on the field and that's what matters.  Remember to put everything into your dancing and practice.  And that brings me to this quote.  I hope you all love it as much as I do :)
"I do not try to dance better than anyone else.  I only try to dance better than myself."
- Baryshnikov

Sorry for the lack of posts this past week, but I have some reviews, motivational posts, and maybe a surprise coming soon ;)  If there is any specific type of post you'd like to see, just comment and ask!  Keep dancing!  And I am going to go stretch right now lol.

New Bag!

Yesterday, my mom wanted to go shopping before class.  I was wearing my tights and leotard and shorts the whole time too, so you can imagine how strange I looked to the non-dancer observer.  I got some of the weirdest looks, it was so funny XD  So anyways, I found this really nice tote bag in TJ Maxx, and I thought it would be perfect for a dance bag!  It was $20, so I was like "why not" lol.  It's actually a diaper bag.  Which just makes it awesomer because it's waterproof, has a ton pockets, is insulated, and the top zips.  It's 17 inches long, 12 inches tall, and 6 inches wide.  It's from Thermos.

It has a regular pocket, two water bottle holders, velcro pocket with a hidden zippered pocket inside, clear waterproof pouch, and a elastic-top pocket.  It's pretty big.  I don't really need that much space for my weekly class, but I'm planning on going to a summer dance camp so I will definitely use it for that :)  What type of bag do you use?

Capezio Dancelogic BraTek Review

I got myself this leotard for Christmas this year.  I don't really like it :(  I mean, it's pretty comfortable, but it just isn't attractive on me.  I think it's just too big.  There's all this extra fabric that scrunches up at my waist in the back.  I ordered the XL, because it's the size I usually wear, and I own another Capezio leo similar to this style in an XL.  I didn't realize it was too big until after my first class wearing it, which by then is too late to return/exchange it.  Besides the baggy back, I hate the leg openings.  Partially because I prefer a higher leg line, but also because these ride up soo much!  I have to always pull out wedgies in the middle of class.....awk.  The fabric is really heavy too, so sweat doesn't show, and that's always good.  But it's so heavy it holds sweat and dirt.  No matter how many times I wash it, how long I soak it, or how much detergent I use, the water always comes out dirty.  The leotard doesn't smell, it doesn't look dirty, but it just holds dirt.  I love the built in bra though, it does provide a bit more support than other leotards.  So overall, I deeply dislike this leo.  It's a very nice leotard, but just not for me.  I like the support though, so maybe I'll try again someday, the cotton one....and a smaller size lol.

Btw, new poll on the home page! :)

Therabands

A theraband/exercise band is basically a long strip of latex that can be used to strengthen areas that are harder to work.  It is used especially for feet and ankles, to strengthen for pointe.  I have a Bunheads heavy band and it's good, but it was kinda expensive.  You can probably find one in any sports or dance store, or a store that has a Pilates/yoga section (like Target, Walmart, TJMaxx, or Marshalls).  These are some theraband exercises.

Another theraband-type I found is the Balletband.  It's like a theraband, but the ends are attached, so it looks like a giant rubber band.  It can also be used to stretch.

I hope you guys enjoy these!  I'll post some more feet tips soon.  Keep dancing :)

Prix De Lausanne

Hey guys!  I've been watching the Prix De Lausanne.  They have daily videos from the competition that they put on YouTube (they're on Instagram too).  It's really amazing, check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/user/PrixdeLausanne/videos?view=0

Also, an update....my ankle feels better, but it's still wobbly so I'm going to rest a few more days.  So for now, it's just me, the Prix, and Girl Scout Cookies.  Thin Mints lol...what are your favorites?

Class Update(s)

My classes this week were so fun!  I went to a lyrical on Tuesday as my second make up, then my regular ballet Wednesday.  The lyrical was Lyrical Intermediate 1, and like Ballet Intermediate 1, it was a class of younger girls.  It was a wider range of ages than the ballet class though; these girls seemed to be about 7 to 12 years old.  One of the girls I saw in the Ballet Intermediate class too.  We were in Studio 3, so this was my first time in a different room than Studio 1.  Weird, I know.

After a full stretch, we did battements "Around the World" across the floor.  It's basically a battement combination front right, front left, side right, back left, back right, side left, then repeat.  It was interesting because we've never done battements away from barre in class.  Then we did some leap combinations across the floor.  I pretty much failed miserably at that...I'll be working on my leaps, I guess haha.  They were just starting their choreography for recital, so I took the place of a girl that was absent.  Their dance was to 'Too Close' by Alex Clare (love that song).  With two other girls, I had to lift one of the smaller girls and we carried her downstage.  The rest of the choreo was fabulous too.  We only learned about 15 seconds of it, but I love it.  It also helped me improve a lot, I think.  It included a double pirouette which I nailed every time (I think it's safe to say I finally have a consistent double :D ), and a drop and roll from the pirouette.  It also had a slide into a right split, so I could push myself closer each time.   The routine was also strengthening; we had a section where we held in push-up position, and another where we sat up by pulling forward with our hips.  Overall, the class was really awesome.  I find that the two things that give me the hardest time are leaps and ground parts, so I'm glad I got to work on them.  My mom said if I really liked it, I could sign up for it.  I don't think I will, though.  It's too late to get the costume now, because the late fine would make it over $100.  There's the option of taking the class and not performing in the recital, but I know how much I love the choreography and how it's going to disappoint me.  So I think not, but I will definitely be going back for make ups.

Ballet this week was super fun too, as always!  We did a center barre again, which I love.  Then we did some piques, and I finally nailed a double in the combination (yay!).  Then Ms. Athena showed us how to use a resistance band, and something cool at the studio...a Pro-Arch foot stretcher!  She let us all try it and it was really cool!  We started the recital choreography this week.  All we have right now is the stage entrance, but I think it's going to turn out really pretty.  We also did this jump combination that we're supposed to have down by next week, so in a way we have homework.  Unfortunately, I hurt my ankle yesterday and can barely walk.  No practice for me :(

My classes this week were awesome, and I feel like I've actually learned a lot.  I'm kinda sad that I don't have anymore make up classes left...I liked checking out the other classes lol.  Do you like make up classes too?  I hope your classes are amazing as well and you're achieving some goals ;)  I'll post and update of my goals in a couple weeks, but I'm still working at them.  Keep dancing guys!