r/BalletForAll

I started ballet pretty recently as a complete adult beginner in my early 30s. I started going to a ballet studio near me regularly once a week recently, I want to go more often to practice but their class schedule on weekdays don't really work with my work schedule:( So I want to buy a ballet barre at home for practice. And since I'm a little bit overweight so I care a lot for stability. I googled for some recommendations, and I saw brand like Vita Barre and PrimaBarre several times, but I don't know are they really great or those are just Google ads. Also the portable barre in Amazon ranging from less than $60 to more than $300. So I'm a bit confused, on what price range can I expect a good quality barre? For expensive ones, are there actually noticeable difference for beginner? Is there any product you think it's super steady and well made that you can recommend? THX

My youngest will be 18 months in 3 months and will be signed up for dance. My 4.5 yr olds studio has an 18m-2yrs class. Most brands don't have smaller than 2/3t which is way too big.

I've seen a few 1/2t or 18-24m leotards but not very many.

I've found 2 random brands on Amazon (tutu.kk & MdnMd), Cheeky Plum has some good options and Ruffle Butts. Bums and Roses has a ballet tulle dress that works and some fluffy tutu dresses if your studio allows that. I was thinking of just using skirted onesies until she's bigger since it's basically a skirted leotard.

My 4.5 yr old started last year and has leotards from Stelle, Bums & roses, random cheap but decent quality Amazon brands Hoziy, Zaclotre, Arshiner and Hidance.

My daughter is starting dance and I keep seeing these beginner lists with sooo much stuff on them lol. Leotard, tights, shoes, dance bag, warm ups, hair stuff... I know some of it is probably useful but I also know how this goes with kids.

For the parents who've already been through this, what did your kids actually use all the time? And what did you buy thinking they'd need it and then barely touch?

I've noticed there's actually a bit of a gray area. A plain leotard obviously feels like dancewear, and a sparkly recital tutu is obviously a costume. But what about skirted leotards? Or simple ballet dresses? I've seen studios handle those differently. Some are perfectly fine with them in beginner classes, while others prefer plain leotards once kids get older.

Just curious how your studio draws the line.

My 7-year-old niece is about to have her first ballet class, and her parents asked me if I had any suggestions on what she needs to bring/wear. And honestly I have no idea.

I do ballet as an adult, but my routine is basically: sports top, shorts, ballet slippers, tie my hair back securely, grab my duffle bag, and go. My bag usually has a water bottle, clean clothes, a separate pocket for dirty clothes, a small towel, lip balm, hand cream, some extra hair ties and hair pins, and I think that's basically all.

But I have a feeling kids' ballet classes might be a bit different, cause kids might want to showing up looking like a tiny ballerina or little princess? Not just "just another workout session", not this horrible after work vibe LOL.

So parents of young ballet dancers: what do you usually prepare for your child's ballet class? Are there things super handy that you wish you had bought them sooner, or things you bought that turned out to be completely unnecessary? What do you usually put in their ballet bag?