Sole Mates

Jane Winkworth, British shoe designer and founder of French Sole Shoes

Ballet shoes are known for their light, comfortable feel, so much so that a type of street shoes were created after them, ballet flats. These versatile shoes don't come easy; many brands make them dig into your heel, itchy,  slippy, you name it! Jane Winkworth may have solved that. 

Jane Winkworth had a background consisting of the arts, and had a great interest the art of dance. Her greatest inspiration was Josephine Baker, the first African American dancer to join Folies Bergere in Paris, who also was a key influential in the acceptance of African dance as one as whole as ballet.

Winkworth designed her entire line to mimic the lightness of ballet shoes. Her company is the first to specialize completely in ballet flats. Her shoes are said to be extremely comfortable by many reputable sources such as Princess Diana, Reese Witherspoon, Kate Moss, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Ballet-styled shoes are becoming very popular among the people everywhere, especially for their comfort and versatility. 

Friday's Finds - 11/19/10

1. What is the most performed ballet around Christmastime?
2. I presented an entire week full of Christmas Cheer!
3. Find out 21 fun ways to celebrate the season.
4. Stock up on tunes to choreograph your barre to!
5. It is our tradition to give each other a Christmas ornament from Hallmark every year.

Friday's Finds - 11/5/10

1. Get these awesome sneakers at Discount Dance Supply.
2. Find these stylish fishnet gloves only at Discount Dance.
3. Complete you costume with this over-the-top hip-hop tutu.
4. Every good hip-hop dance needs a pair of sunglasses.
5. Guess who is the top hip-hop singer these days?

Friday's Finds - 10/29/10

1. Discount Dance carries amazing costumes, including this Lady Gaga leotard.
2. Martha Stewart shows you how to make these gorgeous leaf pumpkins.
3. Get this awesome tutu on Discount Dance Supply.
4. The Official Snickers Website. Why? Just Because.
5. Did you enter the No Tricks - Just Treats Giveaway?

Friday's Finds - 9/17/10

Pre-Pointe

1. Grisko's Elite Pre-Pointe Shoes
2. Tennis Balls are always needed for pre-pointe work.
3. Use Bunheads Exercise Bands everyday for super-strong ankles.
4. The Perfect Pointe Book
5. Here is a pretty basic pre-pointe exercise.

Friday's Finds - 9/3/10

Performance Ready

1. Get your Rosin for Dancers at Dancewear Solutions for this season's performances.
2. Get Bunheads Heavyweight Performance Lashes at Discount Dance Supply to keep your eyes bold and beautiful.
3. Tote your tutus in this Garment Bag by Capezio, for $20.30 at Dicount Dance Supply.
4. Keep your bun stuck safe with Bunheads Hair Bobby Pins from Discount Dance Supply.
5. Store one of these Sewing Kits in your dance bag, for last-minute emergencies.

Friday's Finds - 8/27/10

Black Beauties

1. Check out this gorgeous tutu
2. How would you like to come home to this bed after class?
3. How about this beautiful plate to keep pins and hairnets in?
4. Sport this awesome clip to class.
5. Wear this sweater to class when it gets chilly.

Friday's Finds - 8/20/10

Cutting Edge Ballet

1. Tarzan Dan, Cutting Edge Ballet Photography
2. Pointe heels!!!!! What next?
3. The Black Swan, coming out in December
4. Ballet Inspired Wedding Fashion
5. Geometry and Grace, a new kind of ballet

Friday's Finds - 8/6/10

Turquoise Treasures

1. Find these teal leotards here
2. These mason jars are awesome to hold pins and hairnets in at home
3. These colorful Ouch Pouches are perfect for those turquoise needs. ;)
4. Sport this beautiful mint rosette clip to class this fall.
5. Check out this beautiful performance dress

Friday's Finds: Colors

1. Find these colorful legwarmers at Discount Dance Supply
2. Find one-of-a-kind leotards at LOLAstretch
3. Gaynor Minden sells these colorful pointe shoes
4. The Firebird is one of the most colorful ballets
5. JAM Cosmetics has everything for your colorful needs

Friday's Finds - 7/23/10

1. Freed of London is the most popular brand of pointe shoes.
2. The Pointe Book by Janice Barringer and Sarah Schlesinger
3. Tips on Pointe Shoe Fitting
4. Breaking in your Pointe Shoes
5. Pointe Readiness and What to Expect

Friday's Finds - 7/16/10

Hi! I'd like to introduce Friday's Finds to you guys! This is where I post a list of neat things like books, exercise equipment, and such. Usually they will correspond to one another, like pointe shoes, stretching, etc. Enjoy!

This week's finds were exercising, and stretching. Come back next Friday for pointe shoes!
1. Stars Legwarmers at LOLAstretch,
2. Stretch Sequences,
3. TheraBand,
4. The Joffrey School's Ballet-Fit,
5. Build your Own Ballet Barre