r3dh3d Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Christmas. Sorry to start so early, but DD has her birthday 4 days before Christmas, and then I have to buy presents on behalf of relations that have no clue what to get her, so I end up needing four or five times as many ideas as I can reasonably think of if I leave it till December. DD will be 11 this year. She recently moved from a very laid-back dance school to a much keener one and is now doing 8 classes a week minimum, because she needs to catch up. She is absolutely loving it (rather more than I am loving spending my life driving her about tbh, but I'm making a lot of progress with my crochet which is one present sorted at least). She needs more uniform, as it's constantly in the wash, but that's hardly a present, is it? There are, of course, lots of "little girl" dance-related things I could buy her: gimmicky stuff - but she's not a little girl any more and she hates pink. What can I get for her that will be genuinely useful or nice to have at this stage? Any online shops good for this sort of thing? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 There is a thread about Christmas present ideas for dancers on here somewhere, perhaps some might be able to find it and post a link. Re online shops - try the Just Ballet website - loads of good stuff on there 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletmummy Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Following, r3dh3d, as we are pretty much in the same situation as you...and dd will be turning ll on Christmas Day in fact! Always makes for a very busy Christmas! Looking forward to getting ideas re presents from others on here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balletmum55 Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 I've started a list as and when I think of something but haven't started to buy yet! These are a few things I've jotted down .... Warm up clothes Theatre tickets to watch a ballet New dance bag Hair accessories Flexi stretcher Water bottle Voucher for great workshop or Easter course etc Phone case Pirouette surgery book (if released in time) Subscription to dancing times Hope that's of some use xx 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 There is a thread about Christmas present ideas for dancers on here somewhere, perhaps some might be able to find it and post a link. Re online shops - try the Just Ballet website - loads of good stuff on there And here is the link: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/2121-christmas-present-ideas-for-dancers/page-1?hl=christmas 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Ballet dictionaries could be good presents: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/13541-ballet-dictionary/?hl=dictionary Books and films - although this thread is in Performances Seen quite a lot will be suitable for youngsters: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/12132-ballet-books-and-ballet-films-and-documentaries/ There may be stocking filler ideas in this thread: http://www.balletcoforum.com/index.php?/topic/13521-parcels-from-home/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletbean Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 (edited) Christmas. Sorry to start so early, but DD has her birthday 4 days before Christmas, and then I have to buy presents on behalf of relations that have no clue what to get her, so I end up needing four or five times as many ideas as I can reasonably think of if I leave it till December. DD will be 11 this year. She recently moved from a very laid-back dance school to a much keener one and is now doing 8 classes a week minimum, because she needs to catch up. She is absolutely loving it (rather more than I am loving spending my life driving her about tbh, but I'm making a lot of progress with my crochet which is one present sorted at least). She needs more uniform, as it's constantly in the wash, but that's hardly a present, is it? There are, of course, lots of "little girl" dance-related things I could buy her: gimmicky stuff - but she's not a little girl any more and she hates pink. What can I get for her that will be genuinely useful or nice to have at this stage? Any online shops good for this sort of thing? How about Bloch warm up booties, very popular footwear, Foot stretcher, Elastic/Therabands. Balance board. Turning board. All in one "andy pandy" suits, comes under Warm up clothes. Actually great for putting on after lessons to come home in. DVD's for RAD ballet exams, very helpful teaching aid especially if you say that she is on a catchup. Dancekit has just been launched. Very grownup. A pretty non syllabus leotard. Just a few ideas, unfortunately except for DVD none are that cheap but make a great ideal individual present from family members. Collectively they would break most ample of budgets. Dance Direct, Planet Dance, Move Dancewear are all good websites and have a return policy. Enjoy PS Tickets for the Nutcracker, if you can find a company performing in your area. Fantastic childrens' ballet and of course perfect seasonal present Edited October 4, 2016 by balletbean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 How about theatre tickets? For clothing item ideas, have a look at what the older girls/teenagers are wearing at the dance school - those clothes will be the current 'in' thing. I second the Bloch Booties suggestion (but obviously you will have to suss out which would be the 'right' colour) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointetoes Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Dd's birthday is a month after Christmas Eve,for the last 5 /6 years we have bought theatre tickets. We try and go to ROH, to help make up for having her birthday so soon after Christmas especially as most of our family seem to forget ( she finds it quite funny,thankfully) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointetoes Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 Meant to add - her birthday present for January will happen in December as she is doing a UK masterclass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mariska Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 Our DS and DD both wanted turn boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 Last Christmas I bought dd a portable harlequin floor! My aunt bought her a gym/Pilates may. She already had a wobble board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 My dd has had a couple of Royal Ballet themed Locitane sets. They are doing a Sleeping Beauty & Nutcracker one this year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r3dh3d Posted October 5, 2016 Author Share Posted October 5, 2016 Thankyou all - v helpful. Have bunged a couple of books and a DVD on my list. Turnboard is a good idea - currently pirouettes are just great... as long as you only go in one direction! Is there any major difference between brands? Ebay seem to have cheap import ones from China for literally half the cost. We generally go to the ballet at some point over the holidays - Matthew Bourne can usually be counted on for topless men, which is always a bonus, isn't it?Warmups are a tricky one. Am holding out against the booties because she has to walk several hundred yards between classes and I've got her some cheapie fuggs from Primark instead, because they have proper "outdoor" soles. The andy pandy suits are a thought, I'll nobble one of the kids that have them and have a look what the favoured brand is. The younger kids will be spending the winter in fleece onesies, of course. Re: flexi stretcher - probably a separate thread. Feet do NOT need stretching, lol, she's got my arches poor kid. (Great for dance. Can't buy boots to fit, ever.) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted October 5, 2016 Share Posted October 5, 2016 R3 - my dsughter feels your pain! Boots are interesting for her as indeed are most shoes. Slip ons - forget it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 I've just paid for a ticket for Rosina Andrews Pirouette surgery in London on 30th Dec as thought it would make a nice pressie and something to look forward to in the holidays Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTu Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 My dd has asked for a flexistretcher amongst other things. Does anyone have any experience of using these & are they worth the money.. Or maybe I should say will it be something that she will get use out of? Definitely going to include tickets for a ballet in the New Year & a ballet dictionary is a great idea too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r3dh3d Posted October 7, 2016 Author Share Posted October 7, 2016 My dd has asked for a flexistretcher amongst other things. Does anyone have any experience of using these & are they worth the money.. Or maybe I should say will it be something that she will get use out of? That is a very good question. Is the difference in price between a flexistretcher and any other sort of band (elastic or fixed) worth the price? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird22 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 ENB have some workshops on the website that tie in with the Nutcracker and Giselle performances. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTu Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 That is a very good question. Is the difference in price between a flexistretcher and any other sort of band (elastic or fixed) worth the price? She already has the gaynor minden flexibility band which she uses mostly for splits but it's not adjustable so is trickier for her using it for arabesques though it was around 1/3 of the price! The latest thing she has added is a practice tutu which she would get get use of but finding a pancake one that doesn't cost the earth as she is already getting a new tutu this year might be more difficult. If anyone has any recommendations of one that would fit an 11 year old that isn't a budget buster I would be really grateful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingShoes Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) Try Just Ballet, I got my daughter a beautiful practice tutu for her birthday. It's really good quality and not too expensive. Forgot to add she's 12 but bought a small ladies. Edited October 7, 2016 by DancingShoes 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTu Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Try Just Ballet, I got my daughter a beautiful practice tutu for her birthday. It's really good quality and not too expensive. Forgot to add she's 12 but bought a small ladies. Thank you. I just had a look & the price is great. My only worry is that it might be too big as the waist & hip measurements for the s/m tutu are a few inches bigger than my daughters measurements. Is the fit quite neat? If it was she could maybe get away with it. It's definitely the best I have seen short of getting one made Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DancingShoes Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 (edited) My dd is very slim and it fits her fine. It's very stretchy. Edited October 7, 2016 by DancingShoes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peanut68 Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 I agree with Bloch warm up booties - my DD loves her funky paint splodge design ones whioch were an Xmas present last year. If fi=unds will stretch, what about saying she can book for a weeks Summer School course (either day/residential courses are run all over the country) as a birthday present she can look fowrad too! One year I booked DD onto a morning ENB Romeo & Juliet workshop followed by tickets to watch the matinee at our nearest regional theatre.....we even had lunch in between at lovely theatre restaurant so it was a very special mother/Daughter day.....a cherished memory as she is now boarding at vocational school! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooTu Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 My dd is very slim and it fits her fine. It's very stretchy. Thank you DancingShoes I will order dd one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoglett Posted October 9, 2016 Share Posted October 9, 2016 Not on the high street .com have some lovely bangles with a silver ballerina charm on . The bangle is an adult size though so they're fitting me the charm on one of their child's sizes. Less than £30 and they've been very helpful too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 A bit pricey (!) but lovely for older dancers: http://www.operabracelets.com/nutcracker/ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pud Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 (edited) Have a search on Etsy.com for 'ballet gifts' or 'ballet charms' or whatever, and you'll find hundreds of mostly handmade individual ballet related gifts Edited October 30, 2016 by Yorkshire Pud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
operabracelets Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 A bit pricey (!) but lovely for older dancers: http://www.operabracelets.com/nutcracker/ Thanks so much for posting this link, Janet- it is so greatly appreciated! I've seen a lot of traffic coming from it! Hope to create more ballet bracelets in future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 Hello Operabracelets and welcome to the Forum! I'm glad our members have been looking at your wares. I picked up your link from an American FB friend. In accordance with Forum acceptable use policy for members with commercial interests could I please ask you to add a signature to your profile? "Members who have commercial interests must indicate that by adding a Signature line to their postings, stating the name and type of their business and giving their website and/or business email address for enquiries. (You set up a Signature via My Settings in the dropdown menu under your name.) If members wish to contact businesses, associate schemes or other commercial enterprises this should be done via the vendor’s website or email, not by starting threads on the forum. Sending promotional “mailshot” messages to other users is not allowed." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aklf Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 Hi everyone, I have just completed some lovely nutcracker themed Xmas lucky charm boxes for dancers and very adorable gingerbread bracelets. Lucky charm boxes available for boys and girls. Please take a look at my Facebook page here https://m.facebook.com/KirstenGraceJewellery/ First time posting with signature so hope ok moderators? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waltzingmatilda Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 re phone cases - i ordered on ebay a photo phone case. I found a fab photo of my daughter and four of her friends in silly ballet face pose (but gorgeous tutu's) and had photo put onto the phone case!! Really popular. Lots of ooh's and admiration from her friends etc!!!! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemongirl Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 My dd is a bit older but in recent years she has had a flexi stretcher, foot stretcher and turning board. The first two are quite expensive but they are used a lot. She's also liked ballet themed stationery e.g. notebooks etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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