Spring is just around the corner which means the weather is going to get warmer and possibly more rain or snow, depending on where you live. Dance has no season, which means that we dance year-round and it can get difficult to stay comfortable in the cold and warm weather. In this post I will be discussing the best materials for your leotards and some great warm up gear to wear when it's a cold day in the studio.
Fabrics:
Lycra/Spandex:
Lycra is an elastic synthetic fiber, meaning that it is stronger than normal materials like cotton. Spandex is durable and stretches so it conforms to your body while dancing and provides a tight fit. Lycra is a great material for cold days, the spandex acts almost like a second skin, providing insulin to the body while dancing. Lycra is not only useful for colder weather but also hotter temperature. spandex is very breathable, wicks moisture and dries quickly
Cotton:
Cotton is a very popular fabric, it's soft and easy to care for. This is a great fabric for dancing in hot weather because it's breathable and absorbs moisture. Cotton can also be worn in cold weather as well because it stays dry and can retain body heat so that while dancing, the dancer can stay warm.
Warm Up:
Warm up gear is great for the colder spring days. When it's cold in the studio, it's harder to do simple things like pliés at the barre because your muscles are freezing. Once your body has warmed up on it's own, it's easy to take off your warm up gear and continue in class. If you have breaks in between dance classes, you can put your warm up gear back on again to make sure your muscles can stay warm, especially if it's really cold outside. Discount Dance Supply is a great place to buy warm ups. Here are some of my favorites,
Sweaters
Sweaters are a great way to keep your arms warm, they're usually made of cotton or polyester. When a dancer is buying a sweater for keeping warm in ballet class or another dance class, it's important to keep in mind that dance teachers would prefer clothes that stick to your body and aren't too baggy because they need to make sure that your technique is correct. The prices for these sweaters are around $25.
Legwarmers
Ankles are an important body part to keep warm, in dance. Attempting something that requires a lot of ankle strength like pointe work with cold muscles can be extremely dangerous and lead to injury. Legwarmers are usually made out of nylon and acrylic. When dancers buy legwarmers it is important that they purchase the right size, if legwarmers are too big then they will sag and get in the way of footwork and other activities in the dance class. The prices for these legwarmers are about $10-$20 depending on the quality.
Shorts
Shorts can be a cute addition to your ballet ensemble helping to keep your hips warm. Shorts are usually lightweight so they don't interfere with basic ballet positions like sweatpants would. Shorts for dancing usually are made out of polyester or acrylic knit. Something to keep in mind when purchasing ballet shorts is that buying some with a higher waistband so that you can roll it up to the length that you desire and so that you can adjust it depending on the conditions. The prices of these shorts are usually $20.
Hopefully this article helped you in finding some products that you can buy to help in the springtime weather. Don't forget to subscribe to my blog and feel free to contact me if you have any suggestions for future posts.
