Bloch Prolite II Hybrid Slipper Review

Just after classes started this fall, I got the Bloch Prolite II Hybrid ballet slipper, so I've had them for maybe 4 months now.  They are leather and split sole with a canvas arch insert.  At first, I didn't like them so much, but now that I've gotten used to them, I love them!  They're not too different from the Bloch Dansoft full-soles I'd been wearing.  I like them better than the Dansofts because the leather is a little less thick, so the pleating under the toes isn't thick and lumpy (which was really uncomfortable to relevé on).  It also clings to my foot better so you can actually see that I'm pointing!  So if you're looking for a new pair of flats, I totally recommend these!  A few other girls in my class also have these and we all love them!

Natalie Clover Strap Leotard Review

I got the Natalie Clover Strap Back Tank Leotard in Blue/Black and I loooooove it! It's my current favorite leotard.  I got it from All About Dance, which is my new favorite place to buy dancewear because it is exactly like Discount Dance Supply, except all shipping is free!

The Natalie leotard has amazing support and is sooo comfortable.  I wore it for five hours this summer at my dance intensive, and it was comfortable all day through floor barre, ballet, lyrical, tap, and acro.  It's very flattering and I've received many compliments on it.  The only thing I don't really like about it is that it's cotton, and the top is a light color, so it does show sweat sometime.  However, I'm not a big sweater and it dries fairly quickly.  I'm 5'4, 150 lbs, and I got a large and it fits great.

If you have any questions, about the leotard or anything at all, just comment below :)  Keep dancing!

Tights Reviews

This is a review for two tights:  Theatricals Convertible Tights and Body Wrappers Low-rise Tights.  So first, the Theatricals.
I loooove them!  They're only like $6, they're comfy, they appear to be durable (I've only had them like two months), and they're the right shade of ballet pink, so what's not to love??  They're soft and the waist is perfect.  My new favorite tights :D

The Body Wrappers tights are basically like my other ones, except low-rise.  I like the low-rise because I don't have to roll the waist down when I wear my open back leo.  The waistband doesn't make an awkward fat bulge around my hips like I was worried it would.  It has a v-waist, so if you don't a flat stomach, it will roll and stick out.  There was a tiny hole in the V, so I just inverted the seam and it's all good now.

Skirts

I've been looking at skirts for a while.  I think it's time to be a big girl and graduate from Soffes lol.  I bought this skirt last week, and it arrived Saturday.  It's super pretty, but the waist isn't as elastic as I thought it'd be.  It fits....if I pull it on over my head.  Ain't nobody got time fo dat! XD  I'm returning it, and maybe I can get something more elastic and maybe less sheer this time.  I don't think I'd like wrap skirts; I like the flowy, swishy skirts, like circle skirts, and I think I'd rather wear it at my hips.  I've been looking at pull-on skirts and these are the ones I'm considering.
Mirella Pull-on Skirt
Body Wrappers Roll-down Waist Skirt
Watercolours Pull-on Skirt

I originally wanted this one in Nightime Floral, but Body Wrappers discontinued it in that color :(  I'm still thinking about getting it in Luscious Blooms instead, but I don't know if the M/L is the same as the M/T (which was the size of the skirt I'm returning).
Body Wrappers Circle Skirt

Please help me choose!  Tell me if you've tried any of these skirts, or if anyone you know has one!  Or you could simply offer your opinion haha ;)  Also, if you were looking for a skirt too, I found these gorgeous wrap skirts on Etsy.  Soooo pretty :D  Thanks guys, keep dancing!

Ballet Books Reviews

I recently got a whole bunch of ballet books from the library, and some were pretty great!  Others...not so much.
The Ballet Companion: THIS BOOK.  Oh my gosh, I love this one so much, so helpful.  I got it from the library but I'm definitely going to buy it now.
Biography of Alvin Ailey: It was interesting.  I didn't finish it though.  I didn't like the author's writing style.
Winter Season: I didn't like it.  I got about a quarter way through and just put it down.  It wasn't bad or anything, but I just didn't find it interesting.  It did bring up some good points though.
Audition: This is actually the very first ballet book I read.  I loved it at first.  Then I didn't.  I thought it was going to be about her finding herself and learning to work hard, which is what it seemed like at first.  Then, plot twist (I'm not going to spoil it though).  I was like "...are you serious."  So, great writing style and first half, but the second half was disappointing.
Meet the Dancers: Looove this!  It has an inside look of life and training from 16 professional ballet, modern, and Broadway dancers.  It had a lot of great details; how they got started, childhood facts and pictures, their different training, how they made it, etc.  It was a really great read.
The Young Dancer: This was a rather old book from the Royal Ballet School.  It was kinda funny, because it had some really old ideas in it, but very informative.
Joffrey Ballet School's Ballet Fit: This book was more for the adult absolute beginner.  It had some good tips, and a few good exercises.  The resources section was excellent, though.
So You Want To Be A Ballet Dancer: I also bought this one a little while ago.  I thought I might get some tips and tricks from it.  I did learn some interesting things, but I was disappointed.  It didn't have much helpful information.

To read:
Bunheads
The Sugarless Plum
Classical Ballet Technique
Ballerina
Girl in Motion
The Perfect Pointe Book

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!

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.

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! :)

Capezio Leotard Review

Hello fellow dancers!  As you can see, I've redesigned the blog.  Do you like it?  I hope so :)  Now here's the leotard review I promised you guy weeks ago.
I have the Capezio Camisole Leotard With Darts in black.  I like it, it's really cute and stylish and doesn't show that yucky sweat.  It's a little annoying though, because it has an low open back so I have to scrunch down my tights every time I put it on.  Also, it's not very supportive so there will be quite a lot of bounce if you have a larger chest like me.  It could be flattering, but having to scrunch down the tights makes awkward fat lumps.  Overall, it's a cute leotard, but just not for me.  Maybe one of my fabulous readers ;)  Anyone else have this leotard?  Know an secrets to hide tights without getting fat bulges?  Haha let me know!

Bloch Dansoft Ballet Slipper Review

I know I promised you guys some reviews like last month, but I kept forgetting!  So I'll review my ballet flats now.  I have Bloch Dansoft pink ballet slippers.  They're leather with full soles.  Mine are a 5.5B, and in street shoes I'm usually a 6.5 or 7.  They aren't very flattering, but the full soles help strengthen my feet.  The only thing I really hate about them is the pleats under the toe because they're really thick so sometimes it hurts to stand demi-pointe.  The pleats are flattening out as I wear them more, so that probably won't be a problem in a few more weeks :)  Oh and they don't smell!  I've had them for almost two months now and they still smell brand new...not that I was sniffing my shoes or anything.  Basically, they're a good shoe for beginners.  That's all for today, but hopefully I'll write a review for my leotard next week.  Keep dancing!