In honour of International Ballet Day yesterday, we’re bringing you a Special Edition to supercharge your Wednesday with ballet inspired exercises, hairstyles and fashion.
Barre exercise classes have become the norm now so here is everything you need to know:
Kimberly Taylor explains how barre works, which muscles you work and what to expect from classes.
Chuchu Yang’s 20 min barre workout (all you need is a chair) is perfect for busy mornings.
Britany Williams’ 30 min barre workout which is slightly more cardio-based and you’ll need a mat and a pair of light weights.
Buns and ballerinas go hand in hand so lets deep dive into wearing a bun.
Be aware of tight hairstyles: Consider whether tight buns are a good idea all the time. It’s worth keeping in mind a type of hair loss called traction alopecia which black women in particular are prone to which is caused by heat, chemicals and tight hair styles that pull at the root. A way to avoid this risk in general is to create looser braids or styles.
Pretty bun ideas for natural hair: It is challenging for professional black ballerinas to deal with the pressure of creating the perfect ballerina bun which is not practical for natural hair. We love this curation of natural-hair friendly hairstyles which includes Kelly Rowland’s style below and others which will be more gentle on your scalp.
Low Braided Bun
This low braided bun is a perfect protective style for all occasions.
Double Bun
A cute temporary style and perfect for a busy day out and about after which you can take it out.
Designer Spotlight: Maximillian Davis, the 29-year old creative director of Ferragamo who was born in Manchester to Trinidadian and Jamaican parents.
Ferragamo’s latest collection: Balletcore trended heavily across various collections (think oh so casual ballerina on the way to class) but Ferragamo was a standout. Davis’s collection was a combo of Ferragamo’s past of making shoes for dancers like Kathrine Dunham (known as the “matriarch and queen mother of black dance” and studied dance forms in Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, and Trinidad) + his own Caribbean heritage evident “in the frayed, stone-washed denim, organic silhouettes, and a colour palette that fuses vibrant, saturated tones with earthy shades and deep sea blues.” (-L’Officiel and Savoir Flaire)
Probably one of the biggest topics in the ballet industry is the lack of inclusion and a number of brands are working to challenge the status-quo.
Ballet company to know: Ballet Black are a professional ballet company for international dancers of black and Asian descent to bring a fundamental change in mainstream ballet companies. They even collab with brands to create products for black and brown dancers.
Ballerina shopping: Shades Dancewear, Blendz and Nude Barre make things for little melanin-rich ballerinas and also adults.
Your underwear drawer: Nubian Skin is a brand that makes bras, tights and underwear for women of colour.
