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| Kandykane rehearsing for a Latin performance |
Points to Note
Close-fitting yet flexible clothes are a necessity of serious dance training. In dance, every motion is a communication to the audience and the dancer needs to be acutely aware of how every inch of his or her body apears. Conforming clothes allow the dancer to see his or her entire body and allow the teacher to observe and make the appropriate technical corrections. Every curve of the back and bend of the leg is a part of the expressiveness of the art form and every movement a part of the technique. For these reasons, simple design without unnecessary decoration is best. Cotton or cotton blends are good as they allow the skin to breathe and abosrb moisture from perspiration. .
Jazz Dance
Jazz Dancing can be quite athletic and acrobatic these days, thus it is important to cover the legs completly to the ankle, since shorts leave the knees and shins unprotected and possibly exposed to floor burns and bruises. Bearing weight on body parts other than the feet is not uncommon, and this should be taken into consideration before dressing. The back should also be covered, with zippers only on the parts of clothing that are not going to bear weight.
Many dancers wear leg warmers to keep the ankles warm, soft and pliable. To do much good the material needs to cover the large muscles of the lower leg as well as the ankles. However, doing it too much with bulky, extra material surrounding the ankle may impede the instructor's ability to monitor the dancer's technique.
There are many styles of jazz shoes and boots on the market. Though also made of soft leather, the jazz shoe differs from a ballet slipper. The shoe usually laces up the front and sports a small, flat heel. The soles of the shoe are the most important part. They need to be appropriate to the surface of the dance floor. For instance, a slippery wooden floor may accomodate rubber soles, while a floor of marlet (a rubberized dance floor) needs leather soles only. Check the floor surface of the studio or studios before you buy shoes if you do not have the luxury of affording two pairs. Wearing footed tights or socks will lengthen the life of your shoes and reduce the chance of athlete's foot by abosrbing perspiration. Character shoes (those made of stiffer leather, with larger heels and buckles for women) should be reserved for intermediate and advanced dancers who need to wear them for performances. Beginning dancers should try to master alignment and centering before venturing into shoes that dramatically alter balance and technique.
Latin and Ballroom Dance
When it comes to what to wear for Latin and Ballroom Dancing, one can easily conjure up the grand and elegant stage costumes, however, as for practising, the same principles as for Jazz Dancing applies. Comfortable and flexible clothing is always highly recommended. Some may like to wear practice wear, that gives a more professional look, some just wear track suit, both are fine as long as the clothing is not disturbing movements, and easy for the teachers to examine the body movements.
As for shoes, there are a lot of fancy shoes for the grand floor, however, for practice reason, the practice shoes are recommended. Especially for the ladies, even the experienced and/or competition dancers also wear practice shoes in class for training, the fancy shoes are for the final rehearsals and for shows. It is important to get the actions all correct before putting the feet into the performance shoes. If a person with insufficent technique to stay on the high heels, practicing on the heels would only further deter the progress.
When a dancer finally goes on the heels, the lady's dance slippers should be tightly fitted, and the big toes are allowed to stay out of the sole so they can grip the floor. Heels are usually 2.5 inches for novices but 3.5 to 3.95 are not uncommon for skilful dancers. Make sure the soles are brushed after and in between practices, by doing so not only the sole can stay in good condition and live longer, but also can help better control in spins, turns, switches and other movements.
If you want to know more about choosing the Latin Dance shoes, read here.
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