We're really happy to announce that we have just launched a new childrenswear site, dedicated to only our childrenswear products, so it should be much simpler to navigate, and easier to find what you want if you're looking for a new gorgeous kids outfit!
We're still dancing, dont worry, we just think it would be easier for our childrenswear customers to have their own separate site, so hope you like it!
We'd love to know what you think, so check out the new site at www.idchildrenswear.com
Thank you!! x
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Summer Childrenswear from Emile et Rose, Hatley and No Added Sugar
Its show term, so we've been blogging lately about dancing, shows, summer schools and more dancing, and our love for all things shopping has been a little neglected!
Everyone who knows our Ealing studio knows we have a lovely dancewear shop next door, which also sells some gorgeous childrenswear brands. As myself and Zoe both have young children, this is an area we take a distinct interest in every season (although always slightly disappointed that our boys cant take advantage of the gorgeous girls' frilly skirts and tutus!!)
With summer most definitely here, summer sales have hit in the peak of the hot weather, so heres our guide to grabbing a childrenswear bargain while the sun's still shining!:
Emile et Rose...
....are renowned for gorgeous quality babywear at reasonable prices - although even more reasonable in the sale! We have two beautiful girls' dresses still available - a gorgeous hand smocked summer dress, and a lovely pink linen dress with matching hat, both are perfect for a summer occasion, or just for having the best dressed baby ever on a trip to the park!!
Emile et Rose Hand Smocking Dress - was £48, now £35
http://www.innovationdanceboutique.com/6207pp3s-emile-et-rose-stretch-jersey-dress-with-smocking-and-hand-embroidery.html
Emile et Rose Linen Dress With Sunhat - was £45, now £32
http://www.innovationdanceboutique.com/6209pp3s-emile-et-rose-linen-dress-with-hand-embroidered-detail-and-hat.html
Hatley...
...produce ranges of fantastic cool childrenswear in bright colours with practical, on-trend designs, but their signature pieces are their rainwear collections, which provide matching raincoats, wellies and umbrellas, all in bright, fun designs. OK, they may not be perfect for the heatwave, but based on yesterday, there may be some rain coming up, and in these outfits, kids will be ready for those muddy puddles in style! There are so many lovely designs to choose from, but our favourite is the 'Pirate Dogs' boys range:
Everyone who knows our Ealing studio knows we have a lovely dancewear shop next door, which also sells some gorgeous childrenswear brands. As myself and Zoe both have young children, this is an area we take a distinct interest in every season (although always slightly disappointed that our boys cant take advantage of the gorgeous girls' frilly skirts and tutus!!)
With summer most definitely here, summer sales have hit in the peak of the hot weather, so heres our guide to grabbing a childrenswear bargain while the sun's still shining!:
Emile et Rose...
....are renowned for gorgeous quality babywear at reasonable prices - although even more reasonable in the sale! We have two beautiful girls' dresses still available - a gorgeous hand smocked summer dress, and a lovely pink linen dress with matching hat, both are perfect for a summer occasion, or just for having the best dressed baby ever on a trip to the park!!
Emile et Rose Hand Smocking Dress - was £48, now £35
http://www.innovationdanceboutique.com/6207pp3s-emile-et-rose-stretch-jersey-dress-with-smocking-and-hand-embroidery.html
Emile et Rose Linen Dress With Sunhat - was £45, now £32
http://www.innovationdanceboutique.com/6209pp3s-emile-et-rose-linen-dress-with-hand-embroidered-detail-and-hat.html
Hatley...
...produce ranges of fantastic cool childrenswear in bright colours with practical, on-trend designs, but their signature pieces are their rainwear collections, which provide matching raincoats, wellies and umbrellas, all in bright, fun designs. OK, they may not be perfect for the heatwave, but based on yesterday, there may be some rain coming up, and in these outfits, kids will be ready for those muddy puddles in style! There are so many lovely designs to choose from, but our favourite is the 'Pirate Dogs' boys range:
Hatley Pirate Dogs Raincoat, £29.99 (in store bargain at £20)
And Matching Wellies, were £22.99, now £15
No Added Sugar...
...very cool brand with a newly launched flagship store in Notting Hill, catering for the trendy kid!! They keep their designs for their classic collection mostly the same each year, leading to a cult following for certain items. Our absolute favourite for the summer is the 'Fairies Rock' short sleeved tee - yes fairies do most certainly rock, and so does this!!
No Added Sugar Fairies Rock Short Sleeved Tee, was £19, now £12 instore and online
Monday, 22 July 2013
Dance Summer Schools 2013
Our last show of term is over, exams sessions are finished, end-of-term lollies have been given out! - which only means one thing, its time to start thinking about summer school!!
We have three weeks of summer school running at the Ealing studio - a week of musical theatre (July 29th - August 2nd), a week of ballet / modern / tap (August 5th - 9th) and a week of street dance (August 12th - 16th). All three weeks run Monday - Friday at 10am - 1pm, with a performance to parents on the final day, and are open to all children aged 5 - 10 years.
Its a fantastic opportunity for children to either be introduced to dance, or to build on their existing skills, in a fun environment, whilst enjoying a great summer holiday activity! Its also really exciting to show new routines to parents at the end of the week in a specially devised performance!
We are also running an older street dance course for 11 - 16 year olds on August 12th - 16th at 2pm - 4pm, with workshops from exciting guest teachers from the street dance industry over the week.
We wanted to have a look at some of the other summer dance activities running in London over the holidays - dancers this is a great opportunity to have more time to spend on your dancing, so make the most of it, and dance your way through the summer!!:
Ballet Boyz are running a 'Bootcamp' at their studio in Kingston on July 29th - August 2nd for 13-17 year olds, featuring ballet and contemporary technique classes, leading to a performance at the end of the week. Participants should have ideally at least a year's dance experience, and should be prepared to be challenged!!
London Studio Centre are running summer courses in a variety of dance styles during the end of July and start of August, which would be fantastic especially for dancers looking to go on to a career in dance. Styles range from contemporary to hip hop and commercial - check out the dates on their website (www.london-studio-centre.co.uk)
Now it isnt just children who can dance through the holidays! - the RAD run adult summer courses in ballet, street jazz and mat pilates for all levels, from beginners to advanced, at their headquarters in Battersea Square - take a look at www.rad.org.uk/adultsummercourse for more details.
Whatever you choose to do, have a great summer - leave us a comment below if you need any more info about courses and classes!
www.innovationdancestudios.co.uk
We have three weeks of summer school running at the Ealing studio - a week of musical theatre (July 29th - August 2nd), a week of ballet / modern / tap (August 5th - 9th) and a week of street dance (August 12th - 16th). All three weeks run Monday - Friday at 10am - 1pm, with a performance to parents on the final day, and are open to all children aged 5 - 10 years.
Its a fantastic opportunity for children to either be introduced to dance, or to build on their existing skills, in a fun environment, whilst enjoying a great summer holiday activity! Its also really exciting to show new routines to parents at the end of the week in a specially devised performance!
We are also running an older street dance course for 11 - 16 year olds on August 12th - 16th at 2pm - 4pm, with workshops from exciting guest teachers from the street dance industry over the week.
We wanted to have a look at some of the other summer dance activities running in London over the holidays - dancers this is a great opportunity to have more time to spend on your dancing, so make the most of it, and dance your way through the summer!!:
Ballet Boyz are running a 'Bootcamp' at their studio in Kingston on July 29th - August 2nd for 13-17 year olds, featuring ballet and contemporary technique classes, leading to a performance at the end of the week. Participants should have ideally at least a year's dance experience, and should be prepared to be challenged!!
London Studio Centre are running summer courses in a variety of dance styles during the end of July and start of August, which would be fantastic especially for dancers looking to go on to a career in dance. Styles range from contemporary to hip hop and commercial - check out the dates on their website (www.london-studio-centre.co.uk)
Now it isnt just children who can dance through the holidays! - the RAD run adult summer courses in ballet, street jazz and mat pilates for all levels, from beginners to advanced, at their headquarters in Battersea Square - take a look at www.rad.org.uk/adultsummercourse for more details.
Whatever you choose to do, have a great summer - leave us a comment below if you need any more info about courses and classes!
www.innovationdancestudios.co.uk
Thursday, 11 July 2013
Shows, shows, shows!!!
Well its been a crazy three weeks!!, so just wanted to update whats been going on at the studio and letting everyone know how hugely proud we've been of all of our dancers over the last few weeks!
Saturday 22nd June was our Ealing show at Watermans Theatre, Brentford. Over 200 dancers performed, over the matinee and evening shows, from our three year tots through to the adults tap and street jazz classes! We had a great couple of shows, with the matinee compered by Layton Williams (Billy Elliott, Thriller Live, Beautiful People), and the evening by our own breaking teacher Dan, and the amazing Hatim!! Performances were fantastic in both shows, with dance styles ranging from baby ballet to teen hip hop, via some cowgirl tap!! Yee-Hah!!!
The next weekend was our local 'Party in the Park' event at Pitshanger Park, where our street dancers and tappers reprised their pieces from the show. A lovely afternoon in the sun, our dancers were great, and its a lovely opportunity to mix with the other local dance schools, with some great performances from Dance Gallery and Ealing Street Dance Academy coming before and after our slot.
Then last Sunday, it was the turn of our East Finchley branch to have their show at The Intimate Theatre in Palmers Green. We were competing against the Wimbledon Final, so a tough day to hold a show!, but the dancers held their own!! Some different styles were featured in this show, including musical theatre and breaking, so it was a lovely variety of performances. A special mention must be given to ID ME, who are a collaborative group, with members from our own ID Youth performance troupe, and the teen 'I'm Me' dance company, and who have come together to create a dance fusion of slick street choreography, with breath-taking breaking tricks. Next stop 'Got To Dance' guys!!!
Its been an amazing three weeks, the dancers and teachers have all worked so hard on these shows, and we hope have enjoyed themselves. We've been more proud than we can say of all the dancers at both studios, and looking forward to next year! Ealing dancers, make sure you put June 26th-28th 2014 at Questors in your diary!!
Saturday 22nd June was our Ealing show at Watermans Theatre, Brentford. Over 200 dancers performed, over the matinee and evening shows, from our three year tots through to the adults tap and street jazz classes! We had a great couple of shows, with the matinee compered by Layton Williams (Billy Elliott, Thriller Live, Beautiful People), and the evening by our own breaking teacher Dan, and the amazing Hatim!! Performances were fantastic in both shows, with dance styles ranging from baby ballet to teen hip hop, via some cowgirl tap!! Yee-Hah!!!
The next weekend was our local 'Party in the Park' event at Pitshanger Park, where our street dancers and tappers reprised their pieces from the show. A lovely afternoon in the sun, our dancers were great, and its a lovely opportunity to mix with the other local dance schools, with some great performances from Dance Gallery and Ealing Street Dance Academy coming before and after our slot.
Then last Sunday, it was the turn of our East Finchley branch to have their show at The Intimate Theatre in Palmers Green. We were competing against the Wimbledon Final, so a tough day to hold a show!, but the dancers held their own!! Some different styles were featured in this show, including musical theatre and breaking, so it was a lovely variety of performances. A special mention must be given to ID ME, who are a collaborative group, with members from our own ID Youth performance troupe, and the teen 'I'm Me' dance company, and who have come together to create a dance fusion of slick street choreography, with breath-taking breaking tricks. Next stop 'Got To Dance' guys!!!
Its been an amazing three weeks, the dancers and teachers have all worked so hard on these shows, and we hope have enjoyed themselves. We've been more proud than we can say of all the dancers at both studios, and looking forward to next year! Ealing dancers, make sure you put June 26th-28th 2014 at Questors in your diary!!
Friday, 7 June 2013
Our interview with Layton Williams
We were delighted when Layton Williams, star of TVs Bad Education and the West End hit Billy Elliot, came to compere our Ealing studio show last year. He also performed an amazing lyrical solo, which was an inspiration for our students to see. Due to very popular demand, he is back to compere again this year (I think some of the girls wouldn't have spoken to us if it was anyone else!), but before the madness of the show starts, he met us for a quick chat to give us an insight into his professional life and some advice for our dancers of the future:
* When did you first realise you wanted to be a dancer?
I first realised I wanted to dance when I was about 11 after auditioning for Billy Elliot the musical. Before that it was just a little hobby for a couple of months.
* What was the audition process like for Billy Elliott?
The audition process was VERY long. It took me 2 years to actually get on stage as they had to teach me to do ballet, tap and basically the whole show. We had many recalls and auditions but regular dance classes, workshops and training happened during that time too.
* We teach a lot of children who would love to go on and become dancers, what advice could you give them about the industry?
I'd say its a very tough world out there as a dancer but if you want it that bad, go for it! Stand out from the crowd and chase your dreams!
* Hows the filming of the second series of Bad Education going?
The filming went amazing. My character 'Stephen' has so much more to do this series and I'm super excited for it to air so everyone can see the hard work that went into making it. I think it's funnier than the first series
* Whats it like working with Jack Whitehall?
Jack is a great guy. He is a pleasure to work with as a writer and co-star. As he writes the episodes too its really nice of him to give my character dance bits to do. He's funny and down to earth in person.
* Finally what's next for Layton Williams?
Next for me is finishing my course at Italic Conti and then getting out there to continue on perusing my career. Lets hope for the best !
Layton, thanks so much for taking some time out to answer our questions, and we can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks at Everybody Dance 2013!!!
Catch Layton in the new series of Bad Education on BBC3 later this year! In the meantime, follow Layton on Twitter @LaytonWilliams
www.idanceboutique.com
* When did you first realise you wanted to be a dancer?
I first realised I wanted to dance when I was about 11 after auditioning for Billy Elliot the musical. Before that it was just a little hobby for a couple of months.
* What was the audition process like for Billy Elliott?
The audition process was VERY long. It took me 2 years to actually get on stage as they had to teach me to do ballet, tap and basically the whole show. We had many recalls and auditions but regular dance classes, workshops and training happened during that time too.
* We teach a lot of children who would love to go on and become dancers, what advice could you give them about the industry?
I'd say its a very tough world out there as a dancer but if you want it that bad, go for it! Stand out from the crowd and chase your dreams!
* Hows the filming of the second series of Bad Education going?
The filming went amazing. My character 'Stephen' has so much more to do this series and I'm super excited for it to air so everyone can see the hard work that went into making it. I think it's funnier than the first series
* Whats it like working with Jack Whitehall?
Jack is a great guy. He is a pleasure to work with as a writer and co-star. As he writes the episodes too its really nice of him to give my character dance bits to do. He's funny and down to earth in person.
* Finally what's next for Layton Williams?
Next for me is finishing my course at Italic Conti and then getting out there to continue on perusing my career. Lets hope for the best !
Layton, thanks so much for taking some time out to answer our questions, and we can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks at Everybody Dance 2013!!!
Catch Layton in the new series of Bad Education on BBC3 later this year! In the meantime, follow Layton on Twitter @LaytonWilliams
www.idanceboutique.com
Thursday, 16 May 2013
My Trip to Breakin' Convention 2013
So I have this dilemma each year. Breakin' Convention, as
many of you will know, is really a different show running each night from
Saturday to Monday. If only I had the time to go and see each one. In the end I
had to settle for Saturday night, not least because one of Innovation Dance’s
teachers was performing in the opening act!
So the atmosphere as always was brilliant. Over the years it
is noticeable how diverse and varied the audience has become. In the Foyer
children were all standing together, eager to be taught a move or two. I went
to the merchandise area to get my annual T-Shirt and made my way to the first
circle. As I took my seat the excitement was palpable. As always the show
started late, but to no-one’s disappointment or inconvenience. Jonzi D (Artistic director) walks out on to the
stage to absolute uproar and pumped the crowd up.
After a short intro Nomadic Souls came out on to the stage
to perform one of the most interesting and forward thinking dances I have seen.
Innovation Dance studio’s very own hip
hop teacher PJ came out with her fellow Souls and started dancing in the
Locking style associated with the funk of the 70’s. This was accompanied by an
eclectic soundtrack some of which was live. It was great to see one my
favourite dance styles refreshed in this different and interesting way.
After a few more dances all of which were epic PPL came out
on to the stage. I am told by the programme Peace, Positivity, Love are all
young dancers London. I was blown away by the raw emotion thrown on the stage by these young people. One of the performers Dani
used to teach with us and it is great to see his talent really shine on stage.
PPL did not just dance but performed wonderfully invoking emotion in the form
of stunned silence followed by rapturous applause.
The piece that truly took my breath away was ILL –Ability.
This crew of disabled dancers stunned audiences with their incredible stories.
Each Bboy came out individually explaining what their disability is. This lead
to some unbelievable stunts and tricks from individuals who showed us what
overcoming adversity really means. I was amazed by Bboy Kujo’s ability to keep
time with no music and Bboy Checho’s huge arm power. Bboy Redo’s fluid dance
style was unparalleled throughout the whole show. When Bboy Tommy Guns started
his piece it was initially not clear what his disability was. He seemed to be
simply a very talented and fast moving breaker. When he removed his prosthetic
leg I was truly in awe. Finally Bboy Lazylegz came out and showed that his
inability to walk was not going to stop him dancing. He was inspiring. When, at
the climax of the piece, he in fact did walk, the entire theatre erupted. I
know I will not have been the only one suddenly getting something in my eye.
Unbelievable.
This convention only gets better each year. It was stunning
and I feel very lucky to see some of the most progressive dancers each year. I
have not mentioned every dance in this but needless to say there was no weak
link. I am immensely proud that one of Innovation Dance’s very own performed and
PJ you were outstanding!!! I recommend you each mark the May Day bank holiday
in your 2014 calendar and join us next year.
Author: Zoe Newell from Innovation Dance.
Author: Zoe Newell from Innovation Dance.
Check Breakin' Convention out at http://breakinconvention.com/
Tweet them @BConvention
Friday, 10 May 2013
Studio Update!
Its been the usual hectic start to the term, so we've neglected our blog a bit recently, and thought it was definitely time for a quick catch up with everything thats going on at the studio!
Firstly a big congrats to all of our dancers for a great set of ISTD tap and modern exam results, our examiner was lovely, so most importantly everyone seemed to really enjoy the day, and it showed! Thanks to teachers Verite and Charlotte for all their hard work as well.
Now onto the summer - its SHOW TERM!!, and everythings in full swing for the studio shows. We have our Ealing show on June 22nd at Watermans Theatre, and then our North London show a fortnight later on 7th July at a really cute theatre on Green Lanes called The Intimate Theatre, which is a hidden gem of a theatre with the most gorgeous old-style balcony - tip for the show is to book seats in the dress circle, you will definitely be pleased! Make sure you get your tickets, and support these great young dancers!
Then the weekend in the middle is taken up with Party In The Park in Ealing, and ballet exams all on the same day (aaa!), throw in a couple of school festivals and a performance at Cherry Tree Wood in Finchley, and its a crazy end to the term!
Half term is a couple of weeks away, and we have a Wizard of Oz workshop running at Ealing for 5 - 10 year olds on Thursday 30th May, so if you fancy being a Dorothy or a Tin Man for the day, come along!! We will be working on dance, songs and drama from the musical, so come and join us for a day of musical theatre with a performance at the end to family.
Lastly, the big event in the dance calendar this term is Breakin' Convention, who celebrated their 10 year anniversary at Sadlers Wells last week with some truly amazing and inspiring performances - that deserves its own blog entry, which we'll bring you very soon! - Keep reading!! x
Firstly a big congrats to all of our dancers for a great set of ISTD tap and modern exam results, our examiner was lovely, so most importantly everyone seemed to really enjoy the day, and it showed! Thanks to teachers Verite and Charlotte for all their hard work as well.
Now onto the summer - its SHOW TERM!!, and everythings in full swing for the studio shows. We have our Ealing show on June 22nd at Watermans Theatre, and then our North London show a fortnight later on 7th July at a really cute theatre on Green Lanes called The Intimate Theatre, which is a hidden gem of a theatre with the most gorgeous old-style balcony - tip for the show is to book seats in the dress circle, you will definitely be pleased! Make sure you get your tickets, and support these great young dancers!
Then the weekend in the middle is taken up with Party In The Park in Ealing, and ballet exams all on the same day (aaa!), throw in a couple of school festivals and a performance at Cherry Tree Wood in Finchley, and its a crazy end to the term!
Half term is a couple of weeks away, and we have a Wizard of Oz workshop running at Ealing for 5 - 10 year olds on Thursday 30th May, so if you fancy being a Dorothy or a Tin Man for the day, come along!! We will be working on dance, songs and drama from the musical, so come and join us for a day of musical theatre with a performance at the end to family.
Lastly, the big event in the dance calendar this term is Breakin' Convention, who celebrated their 10 year anniversary at Sadlers Wells last week with some truly amazing and inspiring performances - that deserves its own blog entry, which we'll bring you very soon! - Keep reading!! x
Friday, 19 April 2013
Dance Products That Are Worth The Hype!
Its back to class time, new term and lots of new dancewear products onto the market, promising to help you stretch, bend and get better feet!
Heres a few products, some old some new, that we feel are definitely worth the investment, and do deliver what they promise:
1. OUCH POUCHES from Bunheads
Yes! Definitely! Use them! Anything that helps make pointe work less painful is a good thing! They contain a thin layer of gel material within two pieces of fabric, and cushion the ball of the foot and the toes. They really do help make pointe work more comfortable, and definitely worth the purchase. Go for the the coloured ones - our favs are the hot pink/purples - and add some fun to class!
2. Capezio CHILD LOVE BALLET SHOES
The latest children's ballet flats from Capezio are designed to grow with their owners, so that the same pair of shoes can last over a size and a half. They can work as both a full sole and a split sole, and have a mesh growth pocket in between the two sections of the suede sole. Pretty cotton lining, and a lovely soft leather upper make this a great quality ballet shoe. May not be popular with every teacher for the split sole element, but definitely a clever idea, and worth a look.
3. GEL DANCE ARCH ENHANCER
OK this is the one!! A bit of a cheat, (well a lot of a cheat!) but if you are looking for a great arch, this is amazing! You really can't see
them under ballet tights, and they're fine to be worn with ballet flats
and pointe shoes. Pricey, as they retail at around £75, but if you want to give your arch a boost, this is what you need!
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
How To Fit Your Pointe Shoes
Getting your first pair of pointe shoes is incredibly exciting (until your first class, and you realise the pain involved in actually dancing in them, haha!) No, getting a good fit makes the world of difference between dancing in (reasonable) comfort, and having blisters, dropping off toenails, and other bad things!
Each foot is different, and successful fitting requires a well trained fitter who will take the time to look at your foot and help you find your perfect pair, but go well-armed with these few tips, and you'll know what to look out for as well!
* Make sure you fit your shoes with whatever you plan to wear for padding - take your ouch pouches with you or make sure you can use some to fit with at the shop.
* Shoes should fit snugly but toes should not be squashed. Check your toes lie flat, and make sure you can comfortably plie in second - your toes should just touch the ends in your plie.
* Check the width fitting of the shoe - place one foot en pointe with the other flat on the floor, the pointe shoe should stay in alignment with the foot, whilst an incorrect width fitting will lean to the side. You can also peel the heel back from the foot en pointe to check this - make sure the centre seam lies at the centre of the foot.
* Check the length of the wings of the shoe - they should come up to the side of the big toe joint. If they're shorter this can be the way to bunions, and if they're longer then its difficult to work through demi-pointe
* If you're happy with the fit, make sure you try putting weight on both feet en pointe - step up whilst supporting yourself on a chair (or if you're in our shop, on our barre!), especially if its your first pair of shoes. Make sure you dont slide down into the shoe, and make sure theres no specific one area of pressure.
We like Bloch Serenade shoes for beginners, and the Freed student shoe is a good one as well, especially for a more square foot shape, but you really do need to take time and see what suits your foot - everyone is different and remember - dont let yourself be rushed!! Good Luck!!
@innovationdance
www.idanceboutique.com
Each foot is different, and successful fitting requires a well trained fitter who will take the time to look at your foot and help you find your perfect pair, but go well-armed with these few tips, and you'll know what to look out for as well!
* Make sure you fit your shoes with whatever you plan to wear for padding - take your ouch pouches with you or make sure you can use some to fit with at the shop.
* Shoes should fit snugly but toes should not be squashed. Check your toes lie flat, and make sure you can comfortably plie in second - your toes should just touch the ends in your plie.
* Check the width fitting of the shoe - place one foot en pointe with the other flat on the floor, the pointe shoe should stay in alignment with the foot, whilst an incorrect width fitting will lean to the side. You can also peel the heel back from the foot en pointe to check this - make sure the centre seam lies at the centre of the foot.
* Check the length of the wings of the shoe - they should come up to the side of the big toe joint. If they're shorter this can be the way to bunions, and if they're longer then its difficult to work through demi-pointe
* If you're happy with the fit, make sure you try putting weight on both feet en pointe - step up whilst supporting yourself on a chair (or if you're in our shop, on our barre!), especially if its your first pair of shoes. Make sure you dont slide down into the shoe, and make sure theres no specific one area of pressure.
We like Bloch Serenade shoes for beginners, and the Freed student shoe is a good one as well, especially for a more square foot shape, but you really do need to take time and see what suits your foot - everyone is different and remember - dont let yourself be rushed!! Good Luck!!
@innovationdance
www.idanceboutique.com
Wednesday, 3 April 2013
Dancewear - Hot Or Not?!!
And heres a couple of new pieces out that we can't quite decide about - not sure whether they're a hit or a miss, let us know what you think!
I kind of love these new warm up booties from Bloch in a snuggly Ugg sort of way - they're designed for you to wear over your ballet shoes so you dont have to worry about taking ballet shoes off to go outside, just pop the booties on over your ballet shoes and you're good to go. Not sure if they're the prettiest things ever, but we can see dance students everywhere in their red snow boots going between classes!
And then the return of the PLASTIC SWEATPANTS! Capezio are bringing them back from the 80s back in the studio! Is that genius or not going to happen?!! They've made an updated shorts version of the plastic 'bin liners' that we all used to have in the 80s, and they are part of their new range - will we all be warming-up in our sweatpants again or never ever?!! Let us know what you think!
I kind of love these new warm up booties from Bloch in a snuggly Ugg sort of way - they're designed for you to wear over your ballet shoes so you dont have to worry about taking ballet shoes off to go outside, just pop the booties on over your ballet shoes and you're good to go. Not sure if they're the prettiest things ever, but we can see dance students everywhere in their red snow boots going between classes!
And then the return of the PLASTIC SWEATPANTS! Capezio are bringing them back from the 80s back in the studio! Is that genius or not going to happen?!! They've made an updated shorts version of the plastic 'bin liners' that we all used to have in the 80s, and they are part of their new range - will we all be warming-up in our sweatpants again or never ever?!! Let us know what you think!
 |
| Bloch Warm-Up Booties |
Dancewear Fix!!
Kids always want to look good when they go to class - we love tracking down great new products and dancewear lines that look the part and are practical for class, so heres the low down on a couple of great pieces for the new term:
 |
| Pineapple Pocket Trackpants |
First of all you cant beat a great pair of trackies! These Pineapple Pocket Trackpants are our favourites of the moment - a lovely loose, slouchy fit, wide waistband, and nice deep pockets for essentials!
For the younger dancer, we adore this Capezio Camisole Dress Tutu - the tutu skirt is covered in sparkles, and its has a really pretty satin waistband with bow at the back - what's not to love?!! And OK, the last one isn't strictly dancewear, but how cute is this ballet mouse from Lucy Locket? Such a gorgeous toy for little ballerinas!
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| Capezio Camisole Tutu Dress |
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| Ballet Mouse |
Friday, 22 March 2013
Easter Workshops
The Easter hols are coming up, and its a great chance for young dancers to attend Easter School, and enjoy some more time in the studio.
At our Ealing studio (www.innovationdancestudios.co.uk), we'll be holding two full day workshops for children aged 5 - 10 years - street dance on Tuesday 2nd April, and musical theatre on Tuesday 9th April. Both of the days are at 10am - 3pm, and we use the day to work on a short show which the children can perform to parents at the end of the day. Its a great opportunity for children to have a really fun, enjoyable day, whilst learning from professional dance teachers and working on their dance technique, performance skills and confidence building.
We would love to see you there, and heres a quick round up of some other Easter workshops that will be taking place and young dancers:
* The RAD are holding a Boys Day of Dance on Saturday 13th April at their HQ at 36 Battersea Square. The workshop is at 10am - 3.15pm and is an 'energetic day for male students aged 7 - 16 years.' The day will cover ballet, street, contemporary and capoeira, and will be a great chance for boys to learn and be inspired by professional male teachers.
* The ISTD are holding ballet courses on Grades 1 - 6 on 10th - 12th April, so it'll be a fantastic opportunity for dancers to focus on their syllabus work, especially in the lead up to an exam.
* ZooNation are inviting beginner and intermediate level dancers to join them on 8th - 12th April in North London, and to learn from some of their company members. Styles covered will include: Locking, Popping, Breaking, House, Krump, Waacking and Nu Skool. They will also teach some of the original choreo from the West End hit 'Some Like It Hip Hop'
Whatever you're up to in the holidays, have fun and enjoy the break!
At our Ealing studio (www.innovationdancestudios.co.uk), we'll be holding two full day workshops for children aged 5 - 10 years - street dance on Tuesday 2nd April, and musical theatre on Tuesday 9th April. Both of the days are at 10am - 3pm, and we use the day to work on a short show which the children can perform to parents at the end of the day. Its a great opportunity for children to have a really fun, enjoyable day, whilst learning from professional dance teachers and working on their dance technique, performance skills and confidence building.
We would love to see you there, and heres a quick round up of some other Easter workshops that will be taking place and young dancers:
* The RAD are holding a Boys Day of Dance on Saturday 13th April at their HQ at 36 Battersea Square. The workshop is at 10am - 3.15pm and is an 'energetic day for male students aged 7 - 16 years.' The day will cover ballet, street, contemporary and capoeira, and will be a great chance for boys to learn and be inspired by professional male teachers.
* The ISTD are holding ballet courses on Grades 1 - 6 on 10th - 12th April, so it'll be a fantastic opportunity for dancers to focus on their syllabus work, especially in the lead up to an exam.
* ZooNation are inviting beginner and intermediate level dancers to join them on 8th - 12th April in North London, and to learn from some of their company members. Styles covered will include: Locking, Popping, Breaking, House, Krump, Waacking and Nu Skool. They will also teach some of the original choreo from the West End hit 'Some Like It Hip Hop'
Whatever you're up to in the holidays, have fun and enjoy the break!
Friday, 15 March 2013
'Wild Card' - More from Sadlers Wells!
'Wild Card' is a new initiative from Sadlers Wells that gives artists a fantastic platform to perform their work. Held at the Lilian Baylis Studio Theatre within Sadlers Wells, it gives new creators the chance to bring fresh ideas to the London stage. One of our teachers, Louise Davies, is performing in the wild card performance this evening, choreographed by Ivan Blackstock, Artistic Director of Birdgang Dance Company. If you're free this evening, get down to Sadlers Wells and support new artists! Read more from Ivan in this interview:
Bethan Wood from Run Riot Interviews.. Ivan Blackstock | RRTV | Run Riot Ivan Blackstock, choreographer & Dancer chats to Run Riot - http://bit.ly/YUfzYZ
Bethan Wood from Run Riot Interviews.. Ivan Blackstock | RRTV | Run Riot Ivan Blackstock, choreographer & Dancer chats to Run Riot - http://bit.ly/YUfzYZ
Monday, 11 March 2013
Ballet Boyz at Sadlers Wells
The Ballet Boyz are performing at Sadlers Wells tonight through to Wednesday 13th March in their The Talent 2013 Tour. The show features ten male dancers, performing works choreographed by Liam Scarlett and Russell Maliphant, whose training ranges from gymnastics to ballet, and results in a fantastically inspiring performance. We were really lucky as one of the Ballet Boyz, Taylor, came to hold a boys-only contemporary workshop last summer for our boys at our Ealing studio - for many of the boys it was their first experience of dance outside street dance, and Taylor made the dance style easy for them to relate to, and to become inspired by. Go and see the Ballet Boyz while they're in London - you'll be guaranteed an amazing evening.
Friday, 8 March 2013
A week of shows!!
What an amazing week at the Arts Depot! We had a fantastic week at the Barnet Dance Festival, with really great performances from all the dancers. Our week finished yesterday with the Goldstar Federation and Wessex Gardens performing, both schools completely did us proud! Its so good to see kids absolutely loving being onstage. Each night of the Festival finishes with a finale with all 150 dancers from all different schools dancing onstage together, confetti canons, the works!!, and its just the best atmosphere! Hopefully it'll be launching a new generation of dancers to come!
For us, its the end of a week of shows, and back to Ealing to catch up on our slightly neglected shop for this week! All the spring summer kids collections are in, so there are some amazing cute outfits for 0-6 year olds to wear when they're not dancing! We'll keep you up to date with a round up of all the new stock in soon, plus we're off to Move It to check out all the new dance collections, and pick up some new pieces for the shop. All we need now is some sunshine, and we'll be good to go!
Have an amazing weekend, and come and see us if you're in Ealing!! If you're not local, we've started to put some of our spring summer collections on our website, so check out www.idanceboutique.com and let us know what you think x
For us, its the end of a week of shows, and back to Ealing to catch up on our slightly neglected shop for this week! All the spring summer kids collections are in, so there are some amazing cute outfits for 0-6 year olds to wear when they're not dancing! We'll keep you up to date with a round up of all the new stock in soon, plus we're off to Move It to check out all the new dance collections, and pick up some new pieces for the shop. All we need now is some sunshine, and we'll be good to go!
Have an amazing weekend, and come and see us if you're in Ealing!! If you're not local, we've started to put some of our spring summer collections on our website, so check out www.idanceboutique.com and let us know what you think x
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Hellooo!!....
....from Innovation Dance's first blog! We are a London dance company with studios and a dancewear shop in Ealing, and we will be chatting about everything to do with dance!! - from info about upcoming shows and workshops, to tips about finding great dancewear and classes, and not forgetting - keeping you up to date with all of our news.
This week is all about the Barnet Dance Festival, held at the Arts Depot in Finchley - a great opportunity for every school in Barnet to perform on a fantastic stage. Henrietta Barnett were amazing 'Dolls come to life' in their performance yesterday, Colindale are performing today, tomorrow we are looking forward to Deansbrook Juniors and ID Youth - good luck guys! - followed by The Orion and Wessex Gardens on Thursday, a busy week!! If you're around in the area, come down and support local schools - the performances start at 7pm each day this week, you'll have a great night of entertainment from the young dancers across Barnet. A big thanks to Anne and Kim for all their organisation!! Off to get costumes sorted for tomorrow now, so see you soon! x
This week is all about the Barnet Dance Festival, held at the Arts Depot in Finchley - a great opportunity for every school in Barnet to perform on a fantastic stage. Henrietta Barnett were amazing 'Dolls come to life' in their performance yesterday, Colindale are performing today, tomorrow we are looking forward to Deansbrook Juniors and ID Youth - good luck guys! - followed by The Orion and Wessex Gardens on Thursday, a busy week!! If you're around in the area, come down and support local schools - the performances start at 7pm each day this week, you'll have a great night of entertainment from the young dancers across Barnet. A big thanks to Anne and Kim for all their organisation!! Off to get costumes sorted for tomorrow now, so see you soon! x
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