ScottishDancerMum

So many lessons!  I love this forum!

Sarah, I sealed my ribbons with a lighter - I've had trouble with craft ribbon unravelling before, so I started with that.  I am finding that after stitching it on, it seems to pull a bit at the stitches.  I think I might reinforce it behind the ribbon if I can.  

I tried one shoe like the video above, and one where I did it so the ribbons are a bit behind.  But I think the second shoe looks better.  I'll get her to try them both on again and see.  

She's not tried canvas shoes yet but Ill keep the washing thing in mind if we get some (plus for the satin ones).  

That's fantastic - thanks for the video!  Unfortunately I've already cut my shoe ribbons but I'll know for next time (all the other pages I looked at said to cut them!)  

Back to my sewing....

Photo hosting site cancelled my sharing rights...  and now I can't seem to edit my post.

http://imgur.com/a/yVCYI

Thanks, TooTu

I keep seeing that the ribbons should be sewn on an angle, but most of the diagrams show it being sewn straight!  How do I tell how angled to make the ribbon?

We now have these, size 13 Bloch Stretch Satin.  Much better, I think!




A few more questions:

1)  Do you adjust the binding elastics, tie them and then cut them?  I've never seen ones so long!  Or will I need to adjust them again in time? (I thought maybe tie them, trim them down a bit and tape them inside the shoe?)

2)  I've looked at a few ribbon sewing guides... so do I cut off the elastics that came attached to the shoes, then?  
I've seen the "invisible" (covert) elastic and ordered a length - is it necessary or just stick with the ribbon? (I've read that it's used to keep the heel of pointe shoes down but can't find any indication you need it for slippers.



 

1 hour ago, Legseleven said:

We once overheard a teacher from a different dance school advising a student to put cotton wool or lambs wool into the 'baggier' bits at the side of her satin shoes. We both had to leave the room before the giggles overcame us as we had visions of the poor girl dancing her solo with lumps of wool flying out of the shoes....

That's made me laugh too!  Can you imagine!

28 minutes ago, Moomin said:

I have a 12.5 a in satin you could have but think they would be too small?

Thanks Moomin... they probably would be, but thanks for offering!

I've just written to the seller and sent her the photos to see what she thinks.  I checked her messages and yes, they do come in half sizes (my error).

These are the stretch satin Blochs, but yes, maybe a narrow fit is possible.  

We live in the middle of nowhere, so I bought them online.  The seller has been very helpful though - she thought at the time that the 13.5 might be too small, but offered at the time to change them over.  I'd love to get her fitted properly in a shop... next time perhaps

 

Thank you everyone!  I really appreciate the time you've taken to have a look and comment.

These are a size 1C.  She has been wearing a size 13C leather Bloch shoe and has been complaining about the fit being too tight (i.e., they are perfect )   I've got ribbons and some of the wide invisible elastic used for point shoes... I didn't think the current elastic was in quite the right place (they were attached at purchase).

I don't think Bloch do half size satin shoes, and didn't think the 12 would fit.  The shop said she would exchange them.  

So should I exchange or just try to shrink them?

Thanks for that, Sissonne!  Good reminder!

Here's two shots I got tonight.  They have the original elastics on and I haven't trimmed the sizing cord yet.





 

They fit nice in the arch under the foot, but the toes have a few slight wrinkles.  I was wondering if I got them wet if they might snug up even more?  

(I'll get a pic later to show you)

Thanks everyone!  It's all these little things that add to the confusion, and you all are such a great resource    

Thanks, TooTu and Legseleven


Did you find your dancers had to adjust to dancing with ribboned shoes, rather than elastics?  I thought I might put ribbons on her leather practice ones, but would it make any difference?

Child just got her first satin pair of shoes in preparation for competitions.  Do they need to be broken in?  They look like stain-magnets so I wasn't too keen on getting them messed up before she needs to wear them.

 

BW Edinburgh Associates is Sunday too.

Fatbob - congratulations to your daughter!

We are using the theme to "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego" for my daughter's tap number.  It's pretty international!

 

1 hour ago, ArucariaBallerina said:

Is the little match girl very very common? I have just been given it as a character! I like the choreography my teacher has given me a lot, but am worried about my chances if I am the 10th little match girl!

I think it might be pretty popular.  I've read about it quite a few times here but I'm sure the more experienced members can tell you more about how many to expect.  Plus on a second-hand costume site I work on, it's a frequent request.  

HOWEVER... you can make any dance original and yours.  Even if there are other competitors doing the same character, they won't be doing it the same way you do.  Break a leg!

On 8 May 2017 at 23:44, Balletmum55 said:

Or an idea could be that she has a cats tail already attached to her school skirt at the back (or bursting through it) but hidden by her cloak for the first part of the dance ... then when she she tastes the potion, she removes her cloak as she's shocked to feel a tail grow? Might be easier and less fiddly than trying to put a mask on ..... 

 

I ordered a cat mask and she steadfastly refuses to consider it... it smells funny and "is too scary".  So now I'm looking at an ears and/or tail combination.

The cloaks are quite long, and I don't know how she's be able to dance in it without obscuring her line (the jumper and skirt are slim fitting but might look bulky on stage).  Perhaps a shorter cloak/cape?  Either that or have the tail tucked under the jumper and find a way of pulling it out without being obvious?

Her teacher hasn't started choreography yet - we find it's best to work out most of the details first and then she fills it in.  

 

Thank you so much, Richie. You have been very reassuring.

I'm still going to try to find a download that I can pay for, but I'm just so nervous about stepping in the wrong here.  I'm not out to stiff the performers/writers, but it's just trying not to step in a legal wrangle, either.

 

1 hour ago, xanthe said:

With old songs that aren't on iTunes, it can be worth having a look for it on CD on eBay and doing a download from there.

 

I'm having similar issues with backing tracks for singing. I've had to do a YouTube download as I just can't find it anywhere else in the right tempo/key and without vocals, but I do worry a bit. The venue it's needed for are also being utterly hopeless and can't even tell me what format they need it in so I imagine copyright and performance fees for music aren't even on their radar.

 

I can't see how the festival people will be able to tell what is bought and what isn't from a file done by a sound engineer - can the person who did the cutting reassure you on this? It may just be that they don't want people turning up with unprofessional sounding downloads.

I've asked my sound engineer - he thought it sounded like an empty threat.  That the id codes on the music are often lost during editing, plus some illegal downloads still regain their legal codes.  How can some sound tech guy police hundreds of songs during a competition?  I just hate the idea of getting in there and having our music rejected.  

I found another version of the song available for download, but it's not quite the same tempo and I don't want to screw up her timing (it's a fast tap number).  Another version of the song is a live version off a concert album, complete with clapping and audience noise    So barring that, I found the original group on Facebook... should I write to them directly and ask permission? (it's an acapella group from the 90s but they are still touring).

Next time I'll sort this first before rehearsals, but just making sure we take care of this before drama ensues.  

Does anyone else have experiences with this?

Thanks, Glissade x

I've found another version of the song on a paid download site, but it's not the same timing (same singers, different arrangement).  The timing is significantly different enough that the number might have to be rechoreographed    (it's for a tap number, and our version is quite fast)

My sound engineer friend also said he thought it was an empty threat... how can some sound tech working that day police hundreds of songs for a competition?  

I did email the organisers but haven't heard anything back.  I might push a bit harder later this week.

 

I'm worried about the music we've chosen for E's first competition.

I just read the rules for an upcoming festival.  There, it states:

Bumping this as I have a related question.

I just read the rules for an upcoming festival.  There, it states:

9 hours ago, sarahw said:

Sounds great! People do wear quite substantial costumes for character. You could start with a cloak and get rid at some stage? 

Yes, I was thinking this too.  

I had fun today ordering bits and bobs for the costume - I'll just try to tailor the pieces a bit to make them fit a bit better than her regular school uniform.  

I also ordered a cat mask... part of the plot involves the making of the polyjuice potion in "Chamber of Secrets" (where Hermione makes a mistake and turns herself into a house cat for an hour).  My daughter is horrified by it, but we'll see. She was Hermione for Book Day last year and loved it.