Day 76 of 84 Days of 84 Ribbons: Sewing

Grab a needle and thread. If you dance, you sew. Yep. Guys and gals are responsible for sewing parts of their wardrobe to prepare for performances.

For Women

Pointe shoes do not come with ribbons. Dancers must sew on the ribbons, attach elastic and them break-in the box (where the toes fit into the pointe shoes). Professional dancers soften the box by placing it against the hinge side of a door and closing the door. It helps reduce the harsh clopping sound of a new shoe during a performance. Young dancers are not allowed to crush their shoes since they need more support than professionals and because they can’t afford to replace their shoes as often as professionals must.

Headpieces often need adjusting and sewing as well. Costumes, however, are usually sewn and repaired by the costume mistress.

For Men

Elastic is added to their shoes to ensure they stay on. Boots, hats, etc. may need to be sewn to adjust for individual needs because of turns and leaps. For some performances boots are soft fabric and must be attached to the tights to keep them in place. When footless tights are worn, an elastic band under the arch keeps the leggings in place; more sewing!