Good morning! (And the wee bunny I just spotted in the hedges wants me to add, 'Happy Easter!')

        I was happy to get my April Dance Magazine in the mail this week, which has my feature article on "dance-inspired fashion for the non-dancing consumer," aka 'balletcore.'

        This was a truly fun and interesting piece to research and write. On its surface, it seems like the topic would be pretty light-- ballet-esque clothes and accessories are nothing new, after all-- but there is a definite surge in their trendiness lately, in both "fast fashion" outlets and on chic designer runways. The questions that make this interesting are why ballet dancers' workday wardrobes are so alluring, who cares, and why does it matter?

        Dancers have long been aware that people like to mimic our "legwarmers-look," and that stars like Sarah Jessica Parker, who famously wore a pink tutu on a New York City street, like the tulle-and-ribbons effect, but we've usually just sort of chuckled and snarkily commented that if real pointe shoes were as comfortable as spike heels with bows on the toes we'd be out of business.

        What I think the balletcore phenomenon matters, though, is that it does prompt the question of why ballet has an indestructible aura of glamour, allure and aspiration. Even in this age when the business of ballet, and in fact the art itself, have been highly criticized in the media (and by some voices within the dance world as well), non-dancers still want to look like they at least adjacent to the ballet crowd. As one of my sources, Patricia Mears, who is deputy director of The Museum at The Fashion Institute of Technology, said, "I see an undercurrent of interest, especially in young people, of searching for things that are beautiful and true. And ballet is one of those things." 

        Of course, the styles you see on the street are really just reminiscent of what ballet dancers actually wear-- and frequently are quite stereotypical and outdated, which gives us pause: does the world really think ballet is all pink and puffy skirts? Surely not. But if that's what a lot of the fashion brands are putting out there, is that just reinforcing a diminished, somewhat demeaning and definitely belittling impression of who we are and what we do?

        My other sources had great comments about all of these questions. Harper Watters, a vocal and visible fashionista who's a soloist in Houston Ballet, sees balletcore as potentially both good and harmful to the art form. And Jeraldine Mendoza, a Joffrey Ballet dancer, wishes the looks were more realistic but is generous in hoping people wear what makes them feel good.

        The two dancers behind the Instagram account @modelsdoingballet are amazing in how they find actual ads featuring models who have zero dance experience-- but who are attempting to look as if they do. The results are both hilarious and horrifying, making people like me think a license should be needed to wear a pointe shoe, and prompting scores of equally hilarious comments on their IG feed.

        The balletcore article is not on the Dance Mag website yet, but never fear, you can pick up a copy at the newsstand even if you aren't a subscriber! Below are a few bits as teasers.

        One last thought I had on the subject.... for many little kids (yes, mostly girls) the "ballerina look" is a main point of entry to ballet itself. I know it was for me. I guess balletcore can draw people in at any age.