We pride ourselves on stocking a complete and extensive range of shoes, clothing and accessories with the dancer in mind:

Werner Kern – Latin and Ballroom shoes. Feel the difference – these shoes are possibly the best quality and design in the world. Many people have found them to be the most comfortable and well manufactured shoes they have used. Once tried you will never feel the same again. Customers are coming back time and time again for the new designs.

Anna Kern – Wow! These shoes are manufactured by Werner Kern but are of a better cost for the club dancer. However, the quality, comfort and design does not change.

Neuva Epoca – Italian designer Latin and Ballroom shoes once again produced by Werner Kern and they are definitely show stoppers!

Bloch – tap, ballet, jazz sneakers and more – some of the most well known brands are all here.

We offer a postal service within the UK for our range of Werner Kern shoes. Come and try our friendly and helpful service at a price that you will be surprised at.

Wearing exciting dancewear will give life to your performance. On stage, you want to grab the attention of the audience with your perfect dancewear. If you are wearing the best dancewear during a performance the audience will be able to distinguish you from all the other dancers. Of course, the dancewear isn’t all there is–your dancing skills matter, too.

Tights and leotards are perfect for ballet dancers. They emphasize the figure of the dancer. This adds impact to the graceful moves of the dancer. Ballet dancers prefer wearing tights because they feel nice to the skin and body. It allows them to move flexibly and freely without compromise. Although tights are tight, they don’t squeeze the body to discomfort because of the material they are made from. Most dancers love wearing dancewear because it gives them a good look and feel. Wearing a perfect costume gives them confidence with their performance. It does not only make them look good, but the performance is enhanced, as well.

Dancewear also reflects the personality of the dancer. All people have different tastes in clothes. Some may like dark colors and others light colors. Some dancers like to complement their clothes with their shoes and accessories. They love picking clothes that go perfectly with their style. Some dancers like to show off some skin while in a performance and they choose more seductive clothes, such as short tight skirts that accentuate their figures. Many other dancers prefer to show less skin and they wear dancewear that covers them well.

Your dancewear should depend on the type of dance performed. If you are in a dancing class, you are required to wear dancewear or a dance costume because it brings uniformity to the class. There might be different types of dance groups and particular styles of dancewear can be used to separate the various groups. Although it is not necessary to wear dancewear during rehearsals, many dancers do in order to get used to wearing it. Wearing a costume for the first time might not be comfortable but the more you wear it the more comfortable it becomes.

Another advantage of wearing dancewear during rehearsals is that you will be more comfortable performing on stage.

Here are some starting points to help you on your way to learn ballet as an adult.

Assess Your Physical Fitness

Make sure you are physically fit to take on exercise. As with any new form of exercise or physical action you should be confident of your fitness level. Ballet requires a lot of stretching, flexibility, and strength so if you have any problem you should speak to your instructor before starting.

Find the Right Dance School for YOU

Many ballet schools offer ballet classes for beginners and for adult dancers. Speak to your instructor about your dance level to find the right class for your needs, but most importantly take the time to try out ballet classes from different schools. Do not feel bad about trying different ballet schools. One school’s beginner class may be too fast paced or too slow paced for you. You need to find what works for you.

Here are a few places to start your search:

Check your local ballet company. Many professional ballet companies also offer classes for the adult community

Try searching “ballet” or “dance” on yelp. Believe it or not yelp is a great resource with reviews from other adult dancers

Dance Magazine offers an online directory listing of dance classes

Many adult dance classes are held at night to help those who work during the day.

Look for Clothes that Makes You Feel Comfortable

There is no need to start with a tutu. You will need to check with your ballet school on the dress code, but most do not require adults to wear a tutu or leotard. You can always start with gym gear or just a t-shirt and sweat pants if you like – there is no need to splurge until you’re sure this is right for you.

Select the Right Shoes

Ballet wouldn’t be ballet without the right shoes, and this is one thing you shouldn’t hold back on. Always buy quality leather or canvas ballet shoes. It is essential to take the time to buy shoes that are a good fit. Speak to your dance school about local dancewear stores. Once you have found a good pair of shoes and the right size, you can then buy online to save money.

Don’t go for Pointe shoes immediately as they are for the professionals and advanced dancers. You should wait until your ballet teacher says you are ready for Pointe before you jump into it. It is easy to injure yourself if you go on Pointe too early.

You will also need to buy and stitch on the elastic yourself to wear the shoes. If you have never done any sewing, don’t be afraid! There are many YouTube videos such as How to Attach Elastic Ballet Shoes by Sarah Shoemaker, director of Ensworth School of Dance.

In total the ballet shoes and elastic can cost about $30-$40.

Speak to your teacher after class

It’s important to get Feedback on your progress as it allows you to identify the areas that need further work and concentration.

Follow these tips to get started with your ballet classes. Taking part in ballet classes will make you feel amazing as it is a great exercise both for the body and mind. So don’t hold yourself back and follow your passion.

Even though ballet dancers prioritize safety while performing, a danger of being injured is always there. And these types of accidents could perhaps lead to a serious one. There are some factors that you need to keep in mind if you wish to avoid ballet injuries:

According to a survey conducted by the Journal of dance Medicine and Science, a vast majority (90 percent) of professional ballet dancers who suffered from injuries revealed that they felt tired prior to the accident happened. This showed that the majority of the accidents on the dance floor occurred when the dancers are tired and weak. Around 70 percent of these dancers had a rehearsal just about five hours before the injury. These results just proved one thing – never dance when you feel weak or tired. Make sure that you’re in good shape when you perform. Rest, rest and more rest…this is essential before the performance. Take a small break if you suddenly feel tired while dancing, this is much better than risking an injury.

Enough rest between the periods of rehearsals and performances is important for ballet dancers. This is really important to be able to avoid any dance related accidents from occurring.

There are so other small things that ballet dancers can do with regard to their safety. Always wear shoes that fit you well. Adjust the amount of activity when you feel very tired or strained. Always check if the floor is slippery, only dance on smooth surface. Always avoid dancing on concrete. Have a good warm-up session before you dance as this helps strengthen the muscles and helps avoid muscle and ligament pulls.

Ballet dancing is an art that has to be performed with grace and flair. At the same time, you need to be careful not to hurt yourself while dancing.

The breakdance fashion has had a huge explosion in 1980s. After these years, not only the boys who make breakdance, but also the DJs and rappers are also called b-boys.

Hip hop parties, video tapes circulation from one hand to other among the youth, the aestetics perception of breakdance, and may be most importantly, the met of breakdance the basic needs of this youth were the reasons behind this spread. Also various national and international organizations played an important role in the development and spread of this dance.

At that time it was not sophisticated as it is today. Initially the format was simple. The dancers formed a circle and the dancer would dance in that circle by doing some footwork to catch the rhythm followed by ground figures. After giving the snapshot photo or freeze which could be regarded as his or her signature, the next dancer would enter into the circle for another interpretation. The creativity of the dancer played an important role for differentiating himself from the rest.

Today b-boys and g-girls can do more difficult figures which challenge the laws of physics. But the fact that this street dance has been moved from street to the dance classes, has caused some form of standardization which has diminished the creativity-the most important aspect-of this dance.

Nevertheless, the youth today can meet their basic needs through breakdancing; getting out of the oppressive environment and joining to a new group of friends, development, achievement, expression, and revelation of their accumulated energy with this sportive dance which requires power, agility and dynamism.

The fit of the shoe is by far the most important. Whilst its important for your ballet shoes to look good, they must also be functional and fitting them is very different to fitting a pair of street shoes. As a rule of thumb, ballet shoes tend to be small fitting so you should go up between one and two sizes to your everyday shoe.

To check for the right fit of the shoe, put on your ballet shoe and stand with one leg forward, toe pointed with the tip touching the floor. There should be ample space for you to be able to pinch the shoe at the back of the pointed foot. You should also be able to move your toes around a little without them being jammed into the end of the shoe. If you’re torn between two sizes, it’s usually advisable to go for the slightly bigger size.

The three main fabrics out of which ballet shoes are manufactured are leather, canvas and satin. Satin is a very beautiful fabric and its shiny appearance makes it very aesthetically pleasing. However, ballet classes put a lot of strain on ballet shoes and this type of fabric is not very hard wearing so should really only be used for performances or exams. Canvas is the cheapest fabric and also the easiest to clean but they do not always give the best line to the foot. Leather, on the other hand, is both aesthetically pleasing, gives a good line to the foot and is also very hard wearing. They tend to mould to the shape of the foot making them very comfortable and as leather is breathable, they don’t sweat the feet either. However, such a high performing fabric does come at a price as it’s the most expensive of the three.

Ballet shoes are held in place with either ribbons or elastics. Elastic is the most practical and therefore the most popular. The elastics, however, do not usually come attached to the shoe as they need to be in a slightly different place for each dancer depending on the shape of their foot. Though ribbons are the accepted traditional method and look very attractive, tying them can be very fiddly which makes them far less popular.

Ballet shoes are available with two different types of sole – full sole or split sole. As the name suggests, a full sole ballet shoe has a sole which covers the length of the entire foot from the ball to the heel. A split sole on the other hand has a break in the middle. Full sole ballet shoes are mainly used for beginners as they offer extra support and also force the muscles in the foot to work harder to achieve pointe. This means that when the dancer advances to split sole shoes which allow for greater flexibility of the foot, their foot has developed an elegant arch.

Most dance shoes are specially constructed to provide the dancer ample support on the dance floor. A steel shank on the shoes’ underside and adequate heel support will help secure you when you make those complicated footwork steps. Extra padding in the insoles of the shoes are also excellent features that will ease the often over trained feet.

The heels of the shoes should be covered in suede, another material will not be very good to use on hardwood dance floors. Rubber soles adhere to the floor to much and causes you to injure your knees; and leather covered soles will make you slip, causing you to bruise not just your body but your ego as well.

Typically, the first pair of shoes a dancer buys is the classic pumps. A black or a nude pair is ideal. Consider getting pumps with a t-strap in case you worry that vigorous dancing will make your shoe fly off while in the middle of some steps. Easy to remove buckles and straps that do not cut into skin are also helpful pieces you should look out for.

If you already have pumps, then you should purchase some strappy heels to add to your wardrobe. Limit heel height to 2 to 3 inches only so you won’t be in danger of tripping. Latin dances consist of a lot of turns so if you have a lot of Latin numbers you will be performing, buy skinny heels. The slender shape of the heel makes twisting and turning easier than if you have a flared shaped heel on.

Now you know the basic construction of a dancer’s shoe. Where are you going to find them? There are a store available on the internet. Remember though, when you get your ballroom dance shoes online, make sure you get your correct size. Carefully get your measurements and send it to the store. If it doesn’t fit, make arrangements so that you can return it immediately in exchange for the proper size. Do not use your shoes to walk around rough and uneven surfaces to preserve it as long as possible.

But, there are some dancing forms which cannot be learnt and practiced by you. You need to practice under the guidance of a well trained professional or trainer.

You can join some dance lessons to learn your favorite dance. However, before joining in dance class you need to select the dance form you want to learn. If you do not have much information about dancing then you can always find it online.

Every dance has a different type of music which depicts its unique style. Dance lessons provides expert dancing lessons to people who are inclined towards a specific dancing style. There are different styles of dancing available.

There are a lot of different dance forms that you can try, from hip ho to ballet to tap and a dozen others. There is a dance form out there that suits you and all you need to do is find it. Dancing is a great cardio vascular work out and you will burn calories while having a good time. If you have never danced before then you may be a little worried about which dance form to choose. A lot of dance studios offer free introductory lessons don’t be afraid to try out these lessons as they will help you decide whether or not a dance form is for you.

Ballroom dancing has become immensely popular thanks to shows like dancing with the stars. You don’t even need a partner as most studios have classes for singles. They even organize parties on the weekend so that you can practice your moves. You can combine socializing with working out and save your self both time and effort. Dance studios are a great place to meet people, explore your creative side and burn calories at the same time. The staff at these studios will always make you feel welcome as they are aware of the fact that they were once beginners too.

If you live in Florida then having a fit physique can boost your confidence and make you feel good about yourself. Finding the right dance studio is essential a helpful tip is to use the internet. Just type swing dancing Sarasota or the name of the area you live in into the search engine and you will get a list of studios to choose from. Swing dancing in Sarasota has become very famous and there are some great studios for you to choose from.

You can also use the yellow pages to find dance class and don’t hesitate to try an introductory class of any dance form that catches your fancy. Swing dancing, jazz, fox trot, waltz there are so many different choices. If you have tried the different dance forms and still haven’t found a style that you like then don’t worry just make some space in your living room, put on your favorite song and dance your way to fitness.

Until the 1950s, the term jazz dancing was often used to refer to tap dancing. This is because tap dancing was one of the most prominent forms of dance of the era and was often performed to jazz music. Over many years, jazz dancing evolved and from it were born a range of social and concert styles. The origins of many popular forms of jazz dancing can be found here. Such styles include the Cakewalk, Charleston, Black Bottom, Jitterbug, Boogie Woogie and Swing – many of which still remain popular today.

It was after the 1950s that the modern jazz dance which is recognised by audiences and dancers around the world began to develop. During this period, there was an increased supremacy of other forms of entertainment music, and jazz dance evolved onto Broadway with a new smooth style that is epitomised by musicals such as Chicago and Cabaret. These popular musicals were choreographed by Bob Fosse who is largely responsible for popularising jazz dancing. He took much of his influence from choreographer Jack Cole who is often considered the father of jazz dance. To this day, modern jazz is an indispensible ingredient of musical theatre, which is very apparent in many contemporary music videos and competitive dances.

Modern jazz dance frequently influences other styles of dance such as ballet, contemporary and lyrical to mention just a few. It’s also ever-evolving as it is equally influenced by the styles of dances that it influences. As with most forms of dance, any proficient jazz dancer will require an excellent technique. The best jazz dancers benefit from a good working knowledge of ballet and as a result, training the jazz dancer often includes ballet training.

As with any style of dance, jazz dancing requires the dancer to wear a specific type of dance clothing. The most important of which are the dance shoes which are called jazz shoes. They usually have suede soles to allow the dancer to easily execute spins and turns whilst still providing adequate traction to move around the performance space without slipping over. The jazz shoe upper is usually made from soft leather which enables the dancer to easily flex the foot. Over time, the soft leather will also mould to the shape of the dancer’s foot to make them highly comfortable and enable the dancer to give their best possible performance.

There is a large choice of jazz shoes on the market today which gives the dancer good choice. Jazz shoes can be high rise, low rise, slip on or lace up. Whilst they will almost always have a soft leather upper, they can occasionally have a pvc upper and even mesh insoles. They’re available from a wide range of brands such as Bloch, Dance Gear, Capezio and So Danca. These popular dancewear companies manufacture jazz shoes as well as a wide range of other dance clothing, bags and other dance accessories that dancers often use in dance class and for fashion.