| Traditional ballet teachers can seem fussy about the | | | | allowed to wear colored leotards and black tights on |
| dress code in their studios. There is a reason for this. | | | | Saturdays. We pushed it, and came to class with |
| When a teacher is looking over a class in motion, visual | | | | bright leg warmers, print head bands and jewelry just |
| clutter needs to be at a minimum. Black leotards and | | | | bigger than the allowed tiny stud pierced earrings. We |
| pink tights are a good uniform landscape for the | | | | were always asked to remove the tiniest of neck |
| teacher. | | | | chains. |
| The black of the leotard emphasizes the line of the | | | | Of course there were always cold winter days when |
| posture, the upper back and neck suppleness/tension, | | | | sweaters and body-length woolies were necessary. |
| the hip/leg break and alignment correctness, and | | | | And it's not like a teacher can't see plain bad |
| makes it easiest to respond to what is seen with | | | | placement through all that, but finer details are hidden. |
| ongoing and detailed corrections. | | | | The artistry of ballet depends on the |
| For instance, it is easy to see, even across a large | | | | ultra-perfectionistic and over-idealized form being |
| studio, if the back of the thigh is not pulled up as | | | | sought, and then being surrendered to an allowing |
| needed, if the dancer is wearing pink tights. The line of | | | | energy flow, that releases expression and drama. |
| the muscles is hidden in dark tights. It is also easy to | | | | I wish I could say that a better, but all I'm really talking |
| see bulky tension in thigh muscles that should be more | | | | about is that the norm for strict ballet wear that any |
| elongated. | | | | ballet store provides, ultimately supports the best |
| Distractions such as multi-colored clothing, and sloppy | | | | results for ballet exercises, ballet for weight loss, ballet |
| leg warmers prevent the teacher from being at their | | | | strengthening regimens, pointe work et al, as it allows |
| top efficiency, | | | | the teacher to see what's going on in a large class full |
| Just like office folk get to wear more casual clothes to | | | | of diverse talent. |
| work on Fridays, my student-day classes were | | | | |