Tools of the Trade
Tools of the Trade
By Deirdre Venturella
Welcome back, dance lovers, to Dancer Magazine’s Tools of the Trade, where we search the world to find the best new dance-related products and round them up for you! Here’s what we’ve found this month:
Latin ballroom dance shoe by Stephanie
a. Step out in style in the new Latin #12027 ballroom dance shoe by Stephanie! It comes with a 2.5 inch heel height and a satin/mesh upper. Its elegant mix of comfort and style makes it a good choice for every occasion, and it has a new stain-resistant satin. Available in tan satin only, sizes 5 through 10. Discovered on www.ballroom-connection.com.
b. Need some new Latin dance music to go with your new shoes? Check out “House of Latin”, a double CD set with original music and vocals. It offers 10 cha-chas, 11 sambas, 10 rumbas, two mambos, two salsas, two jives and two paso dobles. Dance the night away to the romantic rhythms of Latin dance. Item # CD450 on www.ballroom-connection.com.
A new DVD release is available for your dance collection! “Trapeze and Fragments of a Biography” is a wonderful example of twentieth-century Russian ballet. “Trapeze” (1970) presents a story set in a Fellini-esque circus setting, and “Fragments of a Biography” (1985) is an abstract work danced to Argentinean tango music. Featuring Ekaterina Maximova, Vladimir Vasiliev, Andris Liepa, Nina Timofeyeva and Aleksi Fadeyechev. Choreography by Ryzhenko and Vasiliev, with music by Prokofiev. Bonus: a scene from “Anyuta” with Maximova. This DVD is a 2007 release of a 1980 video, 77 minutes, color, ASIN: B000QJLW5M, released by Video Artists Int’l. Look for this item on www.amazon.com.
“Trapeze and Fragments of a Biography”
Small scrapes and cuts are practically inevitable in class. Nature’s healing power comes to the rescue with a new salve: Res-Q Ointment. It soothes and comforts those minor injuries with a unique, natural formula containing comfrey and allantoin. Both ingredients are noted for their healing and anti-inflammatory properties. Res-Q Ointment also contains lavandin to help prevent scarring. After cleaning minor injuries, simply apply a thin layer of salve twice a day until the injuries feel better. Keep Res-Q Ointment in your dance bag to help take care of those everyday bumps and bruises of life. Offered by Burt’s Bees. This product can be seen on www.burtsbees.com.
Res-Q Ointment can be found at Burt's Bees
e. Body Wrappers brings us several new products suitable for ballroom - Dance Flame. Sizes run from XS-XL and consist of a really neat hologram halter dress, a drape skirt that will flow beautifully and a halter dress with slinky and full-of-movement black and red panels. Additional styles can be seen at www.bodywrappers.com.
Angelo Luzio, distributed by Body Wrappers, has a number of new shoes to entice the dancer. The cross trainer (Rita) is in a very supple glove-calf leather in black or beige. There is a suede sole and a heel lift and an S-shape elastic arch insert. Furthermore, there's a half shank and an anatomically correct and perpendicular heel. Everyone will like the "no pin" slide buckle, which gives a very individual fit. There's also a 3/4 shank for "pointe" work.
The "Kay," also an Angelo Luzio for Body Wrappers, is an under-arch, cross-strap shoe in black leather. There is a non toenail-pinching large open toe, a cushion insole and a fine and flexible suede sole at the metatarsal. This shoe also has a "no pin" slide buckle for an individual fit. A convertible cross-under strap secures hold or tie it across your ankle for a sleek look. www.bodywrappers.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! Email dventurella@danceronline.com.