Tools of the Trade
By: Deirdre Venturella
Welcome back, dance lovers, to Dancer Magazine's Tools of the Trade, where we search the globe to find the best new dance-related products and round them up for you! Here's what we've found this month:
a. Band-Aid now offers an extra-large bandage with an antibiotic ointment right on the pad to give convenient, one-step infection protection for cuts and scrapes. The added antibiotic helps heal wounds faster than ordinary bandages, and will help minimize the appearance of scars. The Band Aid Extra Large Bandage with Antibiotic comes eight in a package and is ideal for knees and elbows, sized 1 3/4" x 4". Look for this quality product at your local drugstore, and on www.band-aid.com
b. If you like autobiographies on dancers, here's a fascinating one: Dancing into the Unknown describes the worldwide dancing career of Tamara Tchinarova. Tchinarova danced professionally in Europe with the Ballets Russes and traveled extensively. She went to Australia with the Monte Carlo Russian Ballet and again with the Covent Garden Russian Ballet. Her tempestuous marriage to actor Peter Finch to her subsequent career as interpreter and advisor for numerous Russian ballet companies makes this book a great read. Offered by Dance Horizons, hardbound, 2007, 240 pages. Written by Tamara Tchinarova Finch. ISBN: 9781852731144. Check it out on ww.dancehorizons.com .
c. "Dancing in the Light" is a new DVD featuring a performance presented by the American Dance Festival. This one-hour modern dance program showcases six historic dance compositions by African-American choreographers. All were originally created for a three-hour documentary originally aired on PBS in 1991. You'll enjoy pieces created by Bill T. Jones, Katherine Dunham, Pearl Primus and more. A nice addition to your DVD collection! Offered by Kultur Video, Color, 2007, 57 minutes. ASIN: B000P6R71E. www.kultur.com.
d. Now that its time to think about holiday shopping, think about these lovely Blank Dance Image Cards, a collection of blank cards depicting ten images in pastel watercolors. The cards are sized 4 1/2" x 6" and come with white envelopes. What a nice gift for the dancers in your life-and yourself. Look for this item on www.DanceXtraStore.com.
e. Get your 2008 dance calendars early before they run out! New York City Ballet's Balanchine 2008 Calendar will bring in the New Year on the right foot. These beautiful full color calendars feature the dancers of New York City Ballet with text by Nancy Reynolds and photography by Costas at www.nycballet.com.
f. A powerful new portable helper is on the market; the NAVIGATOR 7000 Series Portable Sound System. The NAV-7000 is a compact, lightweight amplifier for dance teachers, choreographers and directors on the move. It features a variable speed pitch control CD player, up to two wireless microphones and built-in rechargeable batteries. The optional Audio-Link transmitter provides wireless connection. Its 50 watt RMS, 80 watt peak power amplifier gives you the sound you need wherever you go. It only weighs 27.2 pounds, and measures 11 3/4" W x 18 1/2" H x 9 1/4" D. A good solution to your traveling needs, whether indoors or outdoors. Offered by Supreme Audio. www.supreme-audio.com.
g. Two new choices in caring for hardworking dancers' bodies are now available: the Hurt-Free Antiseptic Wash and the Hurt-Free One Step Cleansing Foam. The Antiseptic Wash fights germs and relieves pain and is a useful item for wounds that you will bandage. The One Step Cleansing Foam is useful when water is not accessible. It lifts dirt and debris from cuts and scrapes without the use of water while fighting germs. Avoiding infections reduces down time; ask for these items at your local drugstore. www.band-aid.com.
h. Dancers' hair gets a lot of abuse from being pulled back into buns every day to being slathered with heavy gel to stay flat onstage. Treat your hair to Burt's Bees' new Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Shampoo! Transform your flat, abused hair into thick voluminous tresses with a natural blend of Pomegranate, Soy, Coconut and Sunflower Oils. This new shampoo will cleanse and lift your hair without the use of synthetic alternatives like Sodium Laurel/Laureth Sulfate or Parabens. (Follow with Burt's Bees Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Conditioner). This product comes in a 12-oz. bottle. Look for this item wherever you buy Burt's Bees products. www.burtsbees.com.
i. What makes Burt's Bees new Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Conditioner so special? It works perfectly with Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Shampoo! Pomegranate and Moringa Seed extracts revitalize hair by replenishing moisture while Sugar Ester and Honey, natural humectants, condition hair. Your hair will be soft, shiny and full of volume. Use after shampooing with Burt's Bees' Very Volumizing Pomegranate & Soy Conditioner. This product is available in a 12-oz. bottle. www.burtsbees.com.
Be sure to check back every month to find the best new dance-related products - only in Dancer Magazine!
Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear from you!
E-mail dventurella@danceronline.com