Xmas Gift for a ballerina?
December 1, 2013 1:01 PM Subscribe
Need to buy a gift for 13 year old niece Ballerina. Have already gone the route of DVDs of her favorite stars. Thoughts?
Could you rent practice studio time for her? Practicing at home just is not the same, and it would be a real gift in terms of her ability to develop her skill. Even one or two hours, maybe with a friend or two, could be awesome.
posted by amtho at 1:31 PM on December 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by amtho at 1:31 PM on December 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
When I was that age and dancing a lot, I loved getting really good quality warm up clothes (leg warmers, but most of all knit shorts and full piece warm-ups for winter). They wear out and get crunchy so quickly. Good quality, soft, new ones can be expensive and were a special treat.
I'd ask if she has a preferred brand, since everyone likes something different.
posted by mamabear at 1:32 PM on December 1, 2013 [4 favorites]
I'd ask if she has a preferred brand, since everyone likes something different.
posted by mamabear at 1:32 PM on December 1, 2013 [4 favorites]
Tickets to the ballet would be awfully nice, but that can be pricey. 13 is old enough to be deeply immersed in the technique and culture of classical ballet. How about something like one of the old Vaganova technique books?
Good dance clothes are always desired - I know gift certificates seem like a cop-out, but as a teen I would have gone nuts for a gift certificate to my local dancewear store.
posted by stowaway at 1:35 PM on December 1, 2013
Good dance clothes are always desired - I know gift certificates seem like a cop-out, but as a teen I would have gone nuts for a gift certificate to my local dancewear store.
posted by stowaway at 1:35 PM on December 1, 2013
Each of the following books is lavishly illustrated with high-quality photography of ballet dancers. I own all three, and recommend them all.
Classical Ballet Technique by Gretchen Ward
Suki Schorer on Balanchine Technique
The Ballet Book by Nancy Ellison & American Ballet Theatre
posted by invisible ink at 1:55 PM on December 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Classical Ballet Technique by Gretchen Ward
Suki Schorer on Balanchine Technique
The Ballet Book by Nancy Ellison & American Ballet Theatre
posted by invisible ink at 1:55 PM on December 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
I was a baby ballerina. I loved to get really good books (coffee table books) on ballet and dancers. Nice ballet wear, but make sure it is real ballet wear! Things like leotards, little wrap skirts, leg warmers, shrugs.
posted by wandering_not_lost at 1:58 PM on December 1, 2013
posted by wandering_not_lost at 1:58 PM on December 1, 2013
Nthing balllet clothes. When I was that age and dancing, anything from the gaynor minden catalog was highly coveted. However, dress codes at ballet schools can be strict so you might want to double check with her mom.
posted by tinymegalo at 1:59 PM on December 1, 2013
posted by tinymegalo at 1:59 PM on December 1, 2013
I did ballet from ages 2-22 and I constantly needed new warmup clothes and leotards. There are some fun splurgey things I wouldn't have gotten for myself, but loved. Like there are special huge bobby pins that make perfect buns.
You might also do something like this calendar, if her school is strict about dress code.
posted by chatongriffes at 2:46 PM on December 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
You might also do something like this calendar, if her school is strict about dress code.
posted by chatongriffes at 2:46 PM on December 1, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ex-teenage-ballerina here, nthing the gift certificate for dancewear! Dancers can be very picky about their appearance, and studios can be very picky about dress codes, so flexibility in selecting items on the giftee's end is likely to be appreciated.
posted by shortskirtlongjacket at 4:14 PM on December 1, 2013
posted by shortskirtlongjacket at 4:14 PM on December 1, 2013
I was a teenage ballerina. Nthing
- good-quality dancewear like Danskin or Capezio -- gift certificates or pick something out for her
- tickets to see her favorite company or perhaps a lesser-known company in her area
- books! some good ones mentioned above; I also like Balanchine's stories of the great ballets.
posted by Paris Elk at 3:43 AM on December 2, 2013
- good-quality dancewear like Danskin or Capezio -- gift certificates or pick something out for her
- tickets to see her favorite company or perhaps a lesser-known company in her area
- books! some good ones mentioned above; I also like Balanchine's stories of the great ballets.
posted by Paris Elk at 3:43 AM on December 2, 2013
N-thing good, fun, cozy warmies! Most schools, even those with strict dress codes, allow dancers to keep their warmies on for at least the first couple of barre exercises, so you should be ok in that respect. When I was a bunhead (lo these many years ago) Harmonie knitwear was my absolute fave, and totally out of my adolescent price range, when I was young, but they seem to have been absorbed/dulled/homogenized by Capezio. This stuff is gorgeous, and looks like what Harmonie used to be.
Booties/slippers are a MUST have, especially on cold winter mornings when you have class at 8am, or for days when you have little breaks between classes. These were (and still are) my favourite warm-up and between class booties (bonus: they have a durable enough sole that you can wear them outside when you run out for a smoke or a coffee)
Pretty leotards with fancy/interesting backs are nice to have, especially if she's at a dress code school (dress codes for technique classes are usually relaxed for choreography classes or rehearsals, and nothing feels better than getting to wear a pretty and interesting leo when you've been stuck in basic black/blue/whatever all week). I think these are pretty popular right now among my students.
Little diamond (or "diamond") studs or drop earrings are sort of a ballerina standard, and might be perfect for a budding bunhead who is right at the age when she's wanting/trying to transition from baby ballerina to serious student. Most dress codes allow small studs for older students, but that will depend on the school.
posted by Dorinda at 7:25 AM on December 2, 2013
Booties/slippers are a MUST have, especially on cold winter mornings when you have class at 8am, or for days when you have little breaks between classes. These were (and still are) my favourite warm-up and between class booties (bonus: they have a durable enough sole that you can wear them outside when you run out for a smoke or a coffee)
Pretty leotards with fancy/interesting backs are nice to have, especially if she's at a dress code school (dress codes for technique classes are usually relaxed for choreography classes or rehearsals, and nothing feels better than getting to wear a pretty and interesting leo when you've been stuck in basic black/blue/whatever all week). I think these are pretty popular right now among my students.
Little diamond (or "diamond") studs or drop earrings are sort of a ballerina standard, and might be perfect for a budding bunhead who is right at the age when she's wanting/trying to transition from baby ballerina to serious student. Most dress codes allow small studs for older students, but that will depend on the school.
posted by Dorinda at 7:25 AM on December 2, 2013
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posted by agatha_magatha at 1:17 PM on December 1, 2013