The three jeweled costumes up-close !
Emeralds
YUHUI
Rubies
MELISSA
Diamonds
HANNAH, ANNETTE AND MELZIE
Simple !
Floral Springs
Spring is most certainly in the air and it's showing in the studio. Leotards, skirts and bags, florals have hit ballet-wear big time ! I think it's fresh and pretty and really lightens the mood in the studio ! Try it out !
Mariko
Skirt - www.chacott-jp.com
Gina
Skirt - www.movedancewear.com
Marcy
Jumper - m.hm.com
Camille
Skirt - www.movedancewear.com
Mica
Leotard - www.etsy.com - Lonereeds
Grace
Skirt - Sharon Scott
Julia
Leotard - www.elevedancewear.com
And then there's these two in pretty pastel colours, if florals aren't your thing !
Helen and Emma- Jane
Red Nose Day 🔴
It's Red Nose Day don't you know !! I noticed a lot of red ballet wear in the studios today. A simple and effective way to show your support for this very special charity. If you haven't donated already here is the link .,,
https://secure.donate.comicrelief.com/?gclid=CJuGv8_b79ICFcQp0wod_wkBlw 🔴
NATS
LIV
HIKARU
VAL
LAUREN
ESTELLE
LETTIE
BEN
FERNANDO AND DAVID
LARA AND NATS
THE ULTIMATE BALLET WEAR FOR TODAY, FROM BALLET MASTER- CHRIS !
Sleeping Beauty Headdress
Here's a closer look at the gorgeous headdresses from ballet 'The Sleeping Beauty'. They are pretty, feminine and fabulous !
Yuhui - Aurora act 1
Yuhui- Aurora Act 2
Tina - Countess
Yas - Floristan
Ro - Red Riding Hood
Kristen - act 1
Chi - lilac fairy assistant
Me - Aurora friend
Claire - Lilac Fairy
Julia - Knitting Woman
Camille - Garland lady
Akane - Enchanted Garden Fairy
Sleeping Beauty Costumes Up Close
The Sleeping Beauty is one of the big productions in any ballet company's rep. It was the ballet with which the The Royal Ballet reopened the Royal Opera House in 1946 after World War II, its first production at its new home in Covent Garden. I find this incredibly glamourous. Sixty years later, in 2006, the original 1946 staging was revived by then-Director Monica Mason and Christopher Newton. With the arrival of Oliver Messel’s big designs and glittering costumes to the stage. The costumes are intricate and embellished which is much needed for this huge production.
SLEEVE INSPIRATION...
Also a note on the sleeves of these costumes! Sleeves are huge this season , all over London, Milan and New York Fashion Weeks. The bigger and more flamboyant the better, I love it. You can get some great inspiration for street wear while watching beautiful ballet!
Take a closer look...
Akane - Aurora
Me, Olivia - Carabosse.
Julia - Knitting Womam
Lettie - Cat
Yasmine - Enchanted Garden Fairy
Kristen - Queen
Nicol - Wolf
Helen - Floristan
Tom - Catalabutte
Estelle - Lilac Fairy Assistant
Olivia ( me ) - Crystal Fountain Fairy
Paul - Cat
Julia- Mazuka Guest
Tristan - Golidlocks Prince
Calvin & David - Mazuka Guests
Me - Duchess
Kristen and Al - Queen & King
Me - Floristan
Ro - Red Riding Hood
Me - Aurora friend
Tierney - Beauty
Camille - Garland Lady
Yas - Aurora in Act 3
I WILL BE ADDING MORE PHOTOS TO THIS BLOG BY THE END OF THE WEEK, SO COME BACK AND SEE MORE GREAT COSTUMES ..and sleeves !!!
This Weeks Looks
DAY ONE
Bodywarmer - www.basilicadancewear.com
Waistband - Made by shoe elastic
Sandals - From Japan
Shirt - m.zara.com
IN ACTION... physio time
DAY TWO
Blue Skirt - Made especially for me by @balletomoko (instagram)
Hair Scarf - My mums from the 60s
Lemon Top - www.marksandspencer.com
Pointe Shoes - dancer.com
Tights - dancer.com
IN ACTION... practicing
DAY THREE
Tutu - My Own
Leotard - dancexclusive.co.uk
Legwarmers - www.balletto.com.
Pointe Shoes - dancer.com
IN ACTION... stage rehearsal
DAY FOUR
Bottoms - ellesport.co.uk
Hairband - m2.hm.com
T Shirt - www.urbanoutfitters.com
Pointe shoes - dancer.com
IN ACTION... warming up before show
DAY FIVE
Leotard - dancexclusive.co.uk
Bag - labante.co.uk
Skirt - dancebylina.bigcartel.com
Calf Warmers - uk.blochworld.com
IN ACTION...between rehearsals
Woolf Works-Costumes up Close
An incredible ballet deserves incredible costumes and these designs are just that! The amazing designs by Moritz Junge, compliment each story perfectly well, given each story its identity. The gold costumes in 'Orlando' ( Woolf Works ll ), men wearing big Elizabethan dresses, the ladies in their androgynous gold suits, are genius. I don't feel female or male, just a being. It makes you feel like a non-human dancing in space - unachored, unrestricted. Then there is 'The Waves' ( Woolf Works III ), muted, understated with use of fine netting and muslin, perfectly compliments the choreography and music. I particularly love the headdress the corps wear, simple yet effective.
Mara as Mrs Dalloway/Virginia Woolf- Woolf Works I
Mayara as Young Sally - Woolf Works I
Ryo as Peter - Woolf Works I
Yuhui as Rezia - Woolf Works I
Yas as Young Clarissa - Woolf Works I
David - Woolf Works II
Fernando - Woolf Works II
James and Alex - Woolf Works II
Me - Woolf Works II
David & Yuhui - Woolf Works II
Itzi - Woolf Works III
Isabella, Anna, Gina, Hannah, Jackie, Tierney, Lettie, Camille, Meg - Woolf Works III
Gem - Woolf Works III
Blake, George and Jared - Woolf Works III
Dancers Rehab
Unsurprisingly the life of a dancer is very similar to that of an elite athlete - we get injuries! We are constantly pushing our bodies to the extreme, asking more and more each day. There are two major areas of concern in our daily lives as dancers: prevention and rehabilitation. Prevention happens alongside our daily schedule and can be as simple as 30 minutes general Pilates before class or an ice bath after a show.
In reality we tend to exist in an inbetween state where we're dealing with an ongoing 'niggle' that requires physiotherapy, ice and massage - it can be a bit dull so we usually kill two birds with one stone. Like now actually, I'm writing this while icing my calves! Constantly maintaining your body can make you feel really down at times. Especially after a show when all you to want do is go out, and celebrate, but know you need to ice bath if you want to be able to move the next day. It's just another part of a dancers life!
Ashley having a lower leg ice bath. Great for inflammation and fatigue, really revives the area.
I'm having physio with Moira. One of the physios in our team.
Akane is in the ice boot. This machine not only pumps cold but also has bouts of compression. Again great for inflammation.
Nicol is using the Compex machine. It promotes muscle activation.
Ben creating his own miniature knee pads for under tights. Stops bleeding when doing a big jump straight to your one knee.
I'm in the 'Recovery Boots'. The have slight compression with warmth. They revive the legs and leave with you a nice tingly sensation like you just been in a hot bath for 4 hrs.
Ryo is killing two birds with one stone here. While using the Recovery boots he is also having some acupuncture on his back.
David is using a miniature ice bath for one foot. Incredibly intense but excellent for recovery.
Nats in an ice bath. Great for your legs after a hard show like 'Swan Lake', especially if you have another show or two the next day !
New Year Gym Gear.
Here's some inspiration for you to kick start the year not just for fitness but style too !
Me
Top and Leggings -www.pepperandmayne.com
Tracksuit Bottoms - m.hm.com
Trainers- www.newbalance.co.uk
Lettie
Shorts- https://m.topshop.com
The Top Ballet Style Moments Of 2016 !
The A-Z of the most stylish moments in ballet from 2016 !
A.
ANASTASIA COSTUMES
Opulent costumes, lavish and historically accurate. Designed by Bob Crowley.
REECE, MATT, LAUREN, GEMMA, ASHLEY, KRISTEN, MARIKO, CHI.
B.
BALLET BUN
The classic ballet bun adds length to the neck. Keep it high with not too much spray to give that relaxed look.
TIERNEY
C.
CHOREOGRAPHER - Wayne McGregor
Wayne McGregor's 10 year anniversary with the Royal Ballet. Had an incredible Triple Bill in November which included two old works Chroma and Carbon Life and a world Premier, Multiverse!
D.
DRESSING ROOMS
Our sanctuary. A place that we not only use to get ready for a show but can also be converted to an office or a 'sewing station' !
E.
EAR CUFFS
My jewellery of choice this year. Adds an edge to a classical look and works especially well with a sleek ballet bun.
FRANKIE
F.
FRANKENSTEIN COSTUMES
Stunning costumes from Liam Scarlett's ballet 'Frankenstein'. There is incredible detail for every role, big or small, designed by John Macfarlan.
FUMI, SIAN, SARAH, KRISTEN.
G.
GRAPHIC
Another big trend from the ballet studio this year were graphic designs on anything! Ballet skirts, leotards, tees. Not for the faint hearted.
LETTIE, HANNAH, CHI, NATS
H.
HEAD DRESSES
Beautiful and can sometimes get lost on the big stage. Look out for my new blog coming soon focusing on headdresses!
YASMINE, LAUREN, MEG, YUHUI.
I.
ICE MACHINE
Our saviour after a hard day at work and sadly not to make a mojito !
TEO, FUMI.
J.
JAPAN TOUR
A highlight this year was touring to Japan. The audiences were incredible and make us feel incredibly welcome. A big surprise for me was how many fans have heard of this website. I was incredibly touched and felt such warmth and support. Although the tour was incredibly tough on the body, it was a huge highlight of the year
K.
KNACKERED SHOES
They are our instrument and I think they are the most stylish instrument out there! Thank you to all who donated for charity 'Alzheimers Society'.
L.
Lancôme
Best eye make-up remover out there. Quite pricey but a real luxury after a heavy show. A simple wipe and it's all off!
M.
MOTHERS
To new ballerina mums out there! They wear their bump with elegance, pride and style.
LAURA, LARA, NATS
N.
NIKE
Still up there as one of the top brands for dancers in the gym. I'm attracted to it's 70s take on the bomber jackets, they also come in gorgeous pastels colours.
ME, NICOL.
O.
ONESIES
They are still very popular in the ballet studio. Why? They are fun, keep you warm and incredibly comfortable. What more could you want!
ROMANY
P.
PEPPER AND MAYNE
A brand I discovered this year 'Pepper and Mayne' have a great selection of leotards and warm ups for studio wear.
Also a mention to 'The Power Plate'. Love this machine and am on it every morning before ballet class!
ME.
Q.
QUINOA
Personally can't stand the stuff but it trended big time this year. It has high amounts of protein which is important for dancers, and it's also rich in calcium and magnesium among other vitamins!
R.
ROLLERS
A necessity for a dancer. Great for rolling out tight muscles, and also perfect for strengthening exercises. They also come in some great bright colours !
S.
SKIRTS
The Ballet Skirt. So pretty and feminine, there have been some great brands pop up this season for some unusual skirts
LETTIE, HANNAH MEG, TIERNEY, LETTIE.
T.
TUTUS
You think of a Ballerina you think of a tutu!
U.
UNIQLO
Officially has the best body warmers out there! They are light, come in some great colours, and are super warm!
FUMI, HIKARU, MICA.
V.
VELVET
Not just popular on the runway in 2016 but also in the ballet studio too. What's great about velvet is that depedenant on your mood, you can make your look uber glamourous or very 90s grunge.
HELEN
W.
WEDDING STYLE
A lot of wonderful weddings this year which came with a whole lot of style not just from the beautiful bride but the guests too !
KRISTEN & BRADLEY, EMMA JANE , SEVEN & LIZZIE
X.
THE X FACTOR COUPLE
This year goes to Steven McRae and Natalia Osipova in Ashton's 'Rhapsody'.
The shows were incredibly exciting and brought not just excitement to the audience but also to us dancers in the wings.
NAT & STEVEN.
Y.
YOGHURT
Don't underestimate the 'yoghurt'. Dancers love them, and they are still the number one choice for a quick snack. You see us munching away on the side of the studio. Depending on which type you go for, they can be full of protein, which is crucial for muscle repair. I'm obsssessed with Alpro's Soya 'Go On'.
SIAN, GINA, FRANKIE, TINA
Hope you liked this post, please share and here's to 2017 !!
Happy New Year
OLIVIA x
The Bandana
Mini Trend
So the mini trend for gentlemen in the ballet studio this week is the good old fashioned bandana ! I love a bandana on a man it pulls back the hair, for practical reasons but also you can see the face, especially needed for acting parts in ballets. I also think it looks incredibly 80s balletic in a very masculine way! Think it's time we take those bandanas out of the dance studio and give it a try in the outside world, what do you say gents?!?!
Tristan
Headband- www.lululemon.co.uk
David
Bandana- Unknown
Fernando
Bandana - From Columbia
Valentino
Bandana - unknown
Luca
Bandana- From Japan
Matt
Bandana - m.nike.com
Ben
Headband - it's actually shoe elastic that Ben creatively made!
Leo
Headband- made by cutting some old ballet tights!
Matt
Bandana - unknown
Tutu Warmers
Wearing a tutu especially in this weather can get chilly, layers are essential! If we are not dancing, then we throw a top on so we can keep warm, and not seize up. Jumpers, jackets, shirts, coats, when you are wearing a tutu, everything goes !
Mica
Gillet - www.uniqlo.com
Hannah
Jacket- m.adidas.co.uk
Me
Zip up- http://m2.hm.com
Melzie
Jacket- m.nike.com
Tara
Wrap over- from a Japanese market
Me
Reversable bomber jacket - m.nike.com
Hikaru
Body Warmer- www.uniqlo.com
Frankie
Fleece Jacket- www.marksandspencer.com
Grace
Body Warmer- www.uniqlo.com
Next week I'm focusing on mens accessories, stay tuned ..
Audition Style
Auditioning for a job is incredibly stressful, it's one of the most important moments in your career as a dancer and presenting yourself properly is crucial.
As I know that it's that time of the year when auditions are advertised I have listed the 5 most important things to consider for your audition bag.
1.
If this is your first audition then don't dress like a student! What you'll often hear is "I need somebody with a bit more experience". Give the impression of experience by getting out of that uniform.
Emma Jane
In a Classic look but the lacy top makes her style personal.
2.
No matter how good you are, if you're in a room full of people all competing for the same job then you need to stand out. Give the director the opportunity to say "the girl in the turquoise leotard". They don't know your name - give them something to focus on.
Bright Turquoise Leotard.
Solomon would be called 'the guy in the green shorts'!
3.
Look presentable. Keep hair tidy and for the ladies keep make up simple.
Lettie- Hair tied back loosely to show her beautiful face.
Matt- Using a bandana to keep his hair off his face
4.
Don't hide behind loose clothing or garb. It actually does the opposite and draws attention to want you want to hide, like feet for an example!
Me- How not to dress- leg warmers, a top around my waist. The look is messy.
Gina- How to dress ! It's a clean look, it shows her bod and she is wearing a bright pink leotard to stand out
5.
Wear your favourite outfit because that means comfort and confidence.
I feel very confident in a long sleeved leotard. I don't know why but I do!
6.
Just another little tip ...
Never do the exercise unless you're sure of it. Go in the second group!
My story.
When I auditioned, before receiving my contract at The Royal Ballet I wore this outfit for every audition I went to, from Hong Kong to Boston.
It was a cap-sleeved chocolate brown unitard. Unusual and exposing, I knew there wouldn't be many others wearing something similar. I didn't wear anything else, no leg warmers, no skirt and no tracksuit top. Of course I was nervous but I knew it would make me stand out and seem confident, even if I wasn't. My friends still mention the days I traveled around Europe to auditions with the brown unitard and detergent, it worked - I got the job and still have the unitard for nostalgia purposes!
And Good luck from Ballet.Style xx
A Foot Outside Stage Door
FOOTWEAR is very crucial for a ballerina! When we are not wearing out pointe shoes we take great care in choosing what we wear instead. I have specially designed orthotics that I put in any shoe I can, obviously a stiletto is out of the question! We wear trainers for comfort, shoes usually with a thick sole as our metertarsals can be sore at the end of the day, and shoes or boots with a slight heel to take the strain away from our calves. When I choose my outfit in the morning, I start with footwear and work my way up.
ME
THE FOOTWEAR- Maroon heavy shoes with a thick heel- m.zara.com
SHIRT- m.zara.com
SKIRT- www.urbanoutfitters.com
TIGHTS- www.prettypolly.co.uk/
YUHUI
THE FOOTWEAR- Yuhui wears flat pixi boots to go with her preppy look - m.zara.com
SKIRT- Japanese vintage
Me
THE FOOTWEAR- Black Heavy shoes, that remind me of my school years. Add an androgynous look to any outfit- www.office.co.uk
COAT- http://www.marksandspencer.com
JUMPER- m.zara.com
SKIRT- www.pullandbear.com
CHOKER- My sisters 90s vintage!
YAS
THE FOOTWEAR- Yas wears thick soled velvet trainers in maroon that add a hint of colour to her outfit - m.zara.com
JACKET- m.zara.com
JUMPER- www.bananarepublic.co.uk
JEANS- From Japan
RUCKSACK- Boutique in Paris
ME
THE FOOTWEAR - Zara boots, small heel for when my calves are tight! m.zara.com
TROUSERS- http://m2.hm.com
COAT- gb.maxmara.com
WATCH- m.michaelkors.co.uk
ME
THE FOOTWEAR- Black Leather trainers, very comfortable and go with nearly every outfit- www.office.co.uk
POLONECK- www.cosstores.com
DRESS- m.newlook.com
TIGHTS- www.prettypolly.co.uk
WATCH- m.michaelkors.co.uk
KRISTEN
THE FOOTWEAR- White classic plimsoles make this look effortless- www.vans.co.uk
SHIRT- m.topshop.com
TROUSERS- www.stories.com
ME
THE FOOTWEAR- The Nike Air Max gives you a slight heel raise and a bounce to your step- m.nike.com
THE PUFFA- m2.hm.com
DRESS- store.americanapparel.net
Just a little note to thank you all for following my blog, your support is hugely appreciated.
Studio Co-ords
MINI TREND !
Pick a colour and go with it, this is what these dancers are doing. I think it looks very smart and I like the uniform feel to it.
Lettie in burgundy
Yas in blues.
I'm in pure whites
Fernando in greys.
I'm in muted blues.
Mayara in lilacs.
Lettie in bold blues
Camille in sea greens.
Me in lilacs.
Marcy in jet black.
Itzi in Burgandy
Me in greys with a grey hairband to match !
Gem in chocolate browns.
Solomon in bright reds
Anastasia Costumes Up Close
Kenneth MacMillan created the one-act ballet Anastasia for Deutsche Oper Ballet in 1967, and created another two acts to make it into a full length ballet in 1971. It showcased MacMillan’s influences: of classical Royal Ballet tradition in the first two acts, and of German expressionism in the last. The ballet remains one of MacMillan’s most experimental and poignant works. The costumes are crucial and reflect this in their detail and their truth to the era. I think they work incredibly well and the detail in every costume is very special. As soon as I put my costume on for Olga, I'm instantly ready for my role as a Romanov sister.
The REAL Romanovs
LAUREN AS ANASTASIA IN ACT ONE
ME AS OLGA IN ACT ONE AND THREE
THIAGO AS RASPUTIN
AKANE AS 'THE BALLERINA'
TINA AS TSARINA IN ACT TWO
GARY AS TSAR IN ACT TWO
REECE AND MATT AS OFFICERS
CALVIN AND SOLOMON AS SOLDIERS
TRISTAN AND MARCY AS OFFICERS
ME AS OLGA IN ACT TWO
GEM ASHLEY KRISTEN MARIKO AND CHI AS NURSES
ME AS OLGA IN ACT THREE DEATH SCENE
ISABEL AND MICA AS RELATIVES
HARRY AND LEO AS SOLDIERS
ANNETTE AS A RELATIVE
GINA AS A RELATIVE
OLGA AS GUEST IN ACT 2
DAVID AS SOLDIER
Hair Rescue
Here are some hairstyles in the studio this week. Some are classical ballerina hair-do's, others are a bit more 'out there'! We don't wear hair nets and we don't usually use hairspray. We like to keep it casual during the day so we have somewhere to go for the show in the evening! Ballerinas tend to be very good with hair as we have practised from a young age. My mum used to do my hair for me until I was around 12 and then gave me the hairbrush for me to work it out for myself, I'm glad she did!
Me in a little half up, half down.
Julia with a twirl in a low bun
Mayara in a side low bun.
Helen in a classic ballerina bun
Leticia in a French roll
Meghan in a high bun
Annette in an intricate platt up do
Julia in low platts pinned up
Me in a victory roll
Yas in pretty braids
Gina in a high messy bun
Ro using a clip to hold her bun
Hannah in a centre parting with twirls
Lettie in a side low big bun
Charlotte in a centre low bun
Yas in a french platt extravaganza
BLB- Ballet Lunch Break
Like any worker, our lunch breaks are varied but crucial. We have an hour scheduled into our timetables but of course, that hour can take many forms! Sometimes we find that we have a couple of hours between rehearsals and can nip out to grab a Pret sandwich, miso soup and some vitamin D!
What I've noticed is how most dancers like to be by themselves while eating, this is probably because we are together such a lot while rehearsing, it can sometimes be the only time in the day where we can be alone - it's a very personal time. However if you do socialise it's in the canteen at the opera house, it's the go-to place for dancers to congregate and eat!
Sometimes your lunch-hour isn't totally available as there are wig and costume fittings for an up-coming production, physio appointments for injuries or niggles, rehab sessions if you've had an injury and you're keeping things strong, laundry for those gorgeous ballet clothes of ours, the list goes on. This is when you'll find a dancer on their own, lying on a sofa in the rest area or munching a toasted sandwich at the side of the studio as they catch up on the needed fuel!
Me in De Valois Studio
Calvin in an ice bath.
Nicol on the gym balcony in between working out.
Tina in the dressing room
Marcy on the balcony
Teo in the ballet rest area.
Erico and Lettie in the canteen
Chi in a booth in the ballet rest area
Me in the healthcare suite.
Teo in the studio
Emma Jane in the dressing room
This week show me where you take your BLB ( ballet lunch break ) and my favourites will be added to my blog next week !
Hashtag - #Blb
My Dressing Room/Office
I share my dressing room with 13 fellow dancers, 6 in my "bay" and 7 in the other. We are either soloists or first soloists and share the same roles and work on ballets together. We share a fridge and 4 sinks and have a cupboard each for our dance wear. It's all very communal and free but when it comes to our dressing room area we can do as we please.
So here's a sneak peek into my personal space.
I like to keep my area nice and tidy before a show. Depending on which show we are doing they can get very chaotic with a mix of costumes, jewellery, head pieces and shoes. A tidy place helps to keep a sense of order.
On the corner of my dressing table I have my mini sanctuary. Two Buddhas; one that nods, the other that eats coins, my velvet reindeer Fred that I hang my jewellery on and my mini palm tree. An oasis of calm.
I also use my dressing room as an office. When I have a spare half hour during the day, I quickly work on this fantastic website, www.ballet.style and answer emails! It's great for me to step away for a moment and think like a businesswoman, on a project that's purely my doing, so I'm really enjoying this extra job I've put on myself!
I Like to hang my pointe shoes where i can see them clearly. Every pair of shoes are different and they each have their own role to play. I like to swap shoes In-between acts.
Smelling good is crucial when you are dancing so close with other dancers. I like to mix up my perfume, and am always swapping and changing dependent on my mood. I also have a huge tin of hairbrushes. 5 hairbrushes and 2 combs to be exact and for some hairstyles I need them all!
When I'm not rehearsing during the day I like to sit on my place and sew my shoes. It's my sewing station. We go through so many a season that it's pretty crucial to do. I also use this time to go through choreography in my head.
I like to bring my own food in for dinner before a show. But I like to put it on a proper plate rather that eating from tupperware, I drink a pint of fluid, either squash or water to wash it down - gotta keep hydrated and drinking from a pint does make me drink more!
I used to have a lot of photographs up on my mirror but I've now whittled it down to three very personal photos and a special card from a bunch of flowers after I achieved a very challenging show!
Kristen McNally's Dress
So where did Kristen get this gorgeous dress from...... drum roll....,
AND OTHER STORIES !
She looked gorgeous and did an amazing job on world ballet day !
