Workout gear gets fashion friendly with a dancer's twist

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      Tired of pumping iron and sweating through high-impact cardio routines? You’re not alone. A lot of die-hard fitness freaks are looking for a way to tone up that’s a lot more social and a little less jarring and monotonous than, say, hitting the weight room with nothing but an iPod to keep you company.

      That’s why more and more people are turning to dance and dance-inspired classes for their workouts. But where are these rhythmic rookies finding the guts to do pliés for the first time? Well, according to Dana Johnson, who manages and does most of the buying for the Dance Shop (1089 West Broadway), they’re getting this newfound mojo from reality TV.

      “We do see more of the average person taking dance lessons because of things like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars,” says Johnson, who recently spoke with the Straight about the latest in dance and dance fashion. “Those shows have really sort of opened it up for the average person to start thinking, ”˜Hmm, maybe I’m gonna give that a try.’”

      Still, signing up for tap, salsa, ballet, or ballet-infused classes is one thing, finding something to wear quite another. Lord knows, piggy-pink leotards that cut the leg off below the hip aren’t the most flattering (can you say stubby legs?).

      “Most people aren’t going to be comfortable in tights and a body suit—let alone someone in their 40s wanting to take ballet for the first time or even someone in their 30s wanting to take ballet for the first time,” Johnson says.

      With that in mind, places like the Dance Shop have started stocking more fashion-friendly, studio-to-street pieces like the Vancouver-made Ainslie jewel-toned leotards. One of the standouts in the Ainslie collection is the solid teal Square Neck Velvet body suit ($54.95); the main part of the body is made from high-tech performance fabric, while the bodice is a stylin’ stretchy velvet. Another stellar Ainslie piece is the eggplant Lace CapSleeve body suit ($57.95), with cap sleeves and a lace-trimmed neckline. Pair either of these with a black wrap skirt and you can go from ballet class to salsa lessons to a night out on the town.

      Another hot trend in dance wear is the return of knitted warm-up gear. The thick, black KD Dance roll-top capris ($75.95), for example, are a cool way to stay warm. But if you go for traditional tights or no leggings at all, low-slung, black stretchy booty shorts ($17 to $35) are still the way to go, rather than a skirt.

      For hoofing (a louder, old-school, hip-hop–inspired form of tap), women are leaving their heels behind in favour of black leather oxford-style lace-up taps, which range from $90 to $130 at the Dance Shop.

      Meanwhile, in the world of barre-based workouts (many of which are a fusion of Pilates and ballet), the only footwear required is grip socks to keep you from sliding on the carpeted studio floors and along the ballerina barre. Newbies usually start out with conservative ankle versions in white, grey, or black. But as this fitness craze takes off, barre fans are becoming more adventurous in their sock wear.

      “People are moving into the knee-high socks because right now, everybody’s just slowly getting used to the grip and the purpose of the grip,” says Lien Phan, an instructor at the Dailey Method barre studio (3584 West 41st Avenue) and lululemon merch management allocator. She sat down with the Straight at the studio for a little sock talk. For her money, the woollen, moisture-wicking Savasana socks at lululemon ($28, various locations), with their bold stripes and sporty, knee-high length, are the way to go.

      Looking ahead to spring, fitness fashionistas are predicting ’80s-inspired patterns in a lot of yoga and dance apparel. That said, solids will more than likely continue to be the norm in traditional ballet classes. That’s because many old-school ballet instructors find dizzying patterns a tad distracting. Not so at the Dailey Method—at least not as far as Phan is concerned. She loves wearing the bold and the bright.

      “They don’t really distract me,” Phan says. “So bring on the patterns. It’s fun!”

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