Last minute dramas

As a dance and circus mum for many years I was always happiest when costumes were sorted out early on. Last minute dramas were something I just couldn’t cope well with, especially with 3 kids to organise. Before I started importing and selling costumes, I would often take on the job of organising costumes for groups both big and small just so I could be sure it would be done in time and wouldn’t end up:

•  a big drama where we had to find a pattern and then someone who could sew or
•  really expensive or 
•  really inappropriate to the activity being performed or the age group wearing it. There is nothing worse than watching someone go on stage when they are embarrassed by what they are wearing.

For this reason, I am always really pleased when I get teachers or parents contacting me in regards to costumes when they have a realistic deadline. So often I get “I need it tomorrow” or “by the end of the week” and I almost always have to answer that it just can’t be done with most of my ranges, despite warnings all over the website that this is the case. I hate having to do this and let people down but it just can’t be helped.

 

 

 

So, when should you think about the next costume?

Really you should start looking at designs as soon as term starts and a new routine begins, in the same way you would choose the music. And then get measurements done and ordering under way!!

The costume needs to suit the music and style of the routine, be age appropriate and something the dancer/performer is happy in, be suitable for the activity ( costume malfunctions are never fun, especially when hanging upside down on a trapeze or in the middle of the stage!), and not cost the earth if possible, because in reality they will often get little use again later, especially for growing children.

With all this in mind, the new Dance Costume range at Firefly Dancewear really does simplify the whole process of dressing groups of all sizes. Great colours and styles are available, and most have a huge size range often beginning at just 2 years old and going up to an XXL adult. Most costumes are under $80 too so they won’t break the bank! So take a look now for inspiration. We have styles that suit Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Tap and more…

I am always happy to hear from you if you need any advice on sizing or availability. Just email me at alicia@fireflydancewear.com.au

And let your teacher know about the great costumes available now at http://www.fireflydancewear.com.au!!

 

 

The value of eisteddfods

Competitions are a big part of the world of dance for many dancers. They are a great way to showcase a school, group, or individual and get recognition and experience. They can build confidence and inspire, but they can also be scary and stressful if you are not well prepared. Getting a costume you love and can dance easily in will often help alleviate some of the stress and make you feel more confident and ready to perform.

Sometimes your teacher will help with this and sometimes you may want to find something yourself by having it made especially for you or by finding it online or in store. If you live in a rural area,  online is often the best choice.

Firefly Dancewear was set up with this in mind. Having lived in a number of remote or rural locations, including Norfolk Island and now North West Tasmania, we understand how hard it can be to find something. So we have done the hard work for you and found lots of great dancewear, costumes and accessories, so now the only difficulty is to make a choice! We deliver Australia wide, and in most cases to New Zealand by request.

So have fun, learn from those around you, including your competitors, and experience the world of the eisteddfod. And remember, the judge is entitled to their opinion, but it is only their opinion and there is always another competition somewhere else tomorrow!!

Find your next eisteddfod by visiting the Australian National Eisteddfod

 

The Secret World of Dance

Have you ever taken a friend of your child’s to a an eisteddfod or dance class? A child who doesn’t dance? A lot of kids just do the sport their family does, and dance may not even be on their radar. It can often be an eye opening experience for everyone involved, and even make you appreciate all over again how special and different the world of dance really is.

For many of us, going to dance classes and competitions and eisteddfods and concerts, becomes so normal we don’t even think about it. We pack the clothes and makeup, practice hairstyles and quick changes and spend hours looking for the perfect music to use for routines.

But for those on the outside, it is often a very unknown world,  or one that seems to be used as an excuse for not being able to go to a birthday party or out with friends. It may also be seen as a very soft sport choice compared to soccer or surf club or whatever the friends are involved in. It’s all just pretty costumes and lots of makeup right?

That is until you take them into that secret world and give them a peek at what dance is really all about. Let them watch a dance class and see how hard it is! Dance is very physically demanding and disciplined. A routine doesn’t just appear. It takes weeks and months and years of learning steps and practicing routines until they look seamless. Take them to an eisteddfod and show them how  competitive it is, and how talented and committed some of the dancers are. You might be pleasantly surprised by their responses and questions. On the occasions I did this the reactions were always positive and you may find they come away with a whole new understanding of what your child does all week and a new respect for the work involved. They may even want to try it for themselves!

Using Props

These days dance and circus performances seem to be much more than just a display of talent.  They need to be visually interesting to the audience too. Performers are taught to act as well as dance or tumble, and shows have a huge theatrical element to keep the audience involved.

To enhance this character development props are invaluable. Props are increasingly used at eisteddfods, public exams, feature shows and yearly concerts. A doctor looks much more identifiable in not just the right clothes, but with a stethoscope around their neck. A Nun or priest looks great wearing a crucifix. Sherlock Holmes need his pipe. Vampires need fangs. Ninjas need weapons. Pirates need hats and telescopes. All of these things help the audience relate to the character, but also help the dancer or actor get into their character and build a believable persona.

So how to get the balance right? You don’t want the stage overflowing in props that get in the way of the dance or act. The safety of the performers still needs to be paramount, but it is great to have something to work around or with, and directors seem to be more and more creative. The more shows you can go to for creative inspiration the better when developing your own. You don’t always have to reinvent the wheel. Maybe just tweak it a bit to suit your purposes!

At Firefly Dancewear we have introduced a great range of Props and Weapons to help with your next production. Take a look at the great ranges for inspiration, and if you need something you don’t see here email us and ask if we can help. Our suppliers have lots more available than we have room to list!

Metallic dancewear

The range of fabrics available for dancewear is huge these days. One of the most popular trends is of course metallics. With leotards, catsuits, tops, shorts and leggings all available in stunning metallics for use on stage, the look of costumes has definitely changed since I danced as a child. 

The question of course is how to wear them? Our liquid metal range range lets you mix and match products. With 6 stunning colour options for the majority of our range, you can easily and cost effectively team a pink skirt with a pink sleeveless tank style top or crop top. A silver leotard with silver shorts or leggings. A gold catsuit with a gold skirt. The choices are huge, and with a large size range, dressing a group is super easy and gets stunning results. We also offer discounts for group purchases.

In addition we have stunning metallic foil dancewear, including a range of dance tops that are perfect for public dance exams or feature performances. The tops are available as off the shoulder, tank style, polo neck and cross back style. Great vibrant colours that stand out on stage and look amazing under the lights. Just add some black dance shorts or leggings, a skirt or tutu and fishnets or pretty much anything you want! Adding someone new to a group isn’t a drama either when you can just get another top in whatever size you need! And with multiple colour choices you can all go the same or mix it up.

Our metallic foil range also includes our brilliant fire print range. With lots of great products to mix and match these are perfect for dance, gymnastics, circus, aerials, pole dance and so much more. The only limit is your imagination. Leotards look great on their own or add some metallic black shorts or leggings, or the matching flame print ones. Wear a plain black top with the shorts or leggings or a matching flame crop top. Available in 4 stunning colours you can create an individual costume you ( and everyone else) will love!

So if you love metallics as much as we do at Firefly, take a look at the huge range of metallic dancewear now!

 

Tutus as everyday clothes

Tutus used to be for Ballet dancers. Stunning and often very expensive costumes for stage, and slightly cheaper but still expensive practice ones for class.These days tutus are part of regular life. Everyone from babies to adults can wear tutus in public these days. Girls add them to fancy dress costumes to create Fairies, Clowns, or just fun going out or party clothes. Available in a huge range of colours and styles they are a simple and easy way to add some pizzazz to a costume or look.

At Firefly Dancewear we have a great range of tutus from Sweida’s to add to costumes for fancy dress. Our girls tutus are available in pink, black or white, and the adult ones come in a gorgeous range of colours to match to your outfit including purple, pink, green and blue. With quick delivery Australia wide they make a great addition to your next performance or party.

 

We also have a stunning range for young girls from Giggle Me Pink. They have everything from My First Tutu for 3-9 month olds, to beautiful soft classic and everyday tutus, to the beautiful Princess tutus.

Designed for young girls who love to twirl and spin! Made of soft fluffy chiffon, this ruffle tutu skirt will definitely make her feel like a princess. And of course we have crowns and tiaras and wands to match too! So let them have fun and feel special everyday with an item from this amazing range. Perfect for presents from a Grandmother or Aunt on birthdays or just because!

What makes a costume stand out?

What makes a costume something special? That all depends on what you want to achieve and create. We’ve all seen a Cirque du Soleil  costume and they are stunning because of the detail and care that goes in to making it a total look. Of course they wouldn’t look the same without the fabulous facepainting they use. Neither does a geisha without the classic red, black and white face and hairstyle. Or The Joker or the TinMan. It’s those additional touches that are needed to finish the look and go from just sticking a costume on to becoming a character.

Many dance and circus schools now have extravagant mid and/or end of year concerts that involve so much more than just dance or tumbling. They might have a theme or recreate a well known musical or movie. These all require attention to details, with the perfect costumes, hairstyles, makeup and accessories like jewellery, shoes and stockings. I’ve seen teachers who give lots of help to their students so that this isn’t a drama, but I’ve also seen dancers and performers really struggle to achieve the brief. Nothing looks worse on stage than a hodgepodge of great and very ordinary.

So what can you do to get the perfect look next time? Research! There are lots of websites out there to teach you how to do a particular hairstyle. Watch them and practice until you can comfortably do them without taking 2 hours each time. You often only have very short amounts of time between costume changes so practice helps avoid the stress. If you are going to a Fancy dress party or wearing a costume for roving at a function you will probably have more time to get ready. Practice before the big day is still vital! Try lots of looks. Add a wig, experiment with facepaint until you get it right, and then take a photo so you can remember what you did. And look at lots of other peoples ideas. Inventing the wheel again isn’t necessary.

At Firefly we have heaps of costumes and accessories to help you to easily achieve that look you are after. We have face and body paints from Australian company Global Colours. These products are ideal for make-up artists, theatre and performance, sports team supporters, parties for children, festivals and fairs. The BodyArt range is suitable for all age groups and a wide range of uses and is Water Based, Cosmetic Grade, 100% Non-Toxic and Hypoallergenic. 

And with our wholesale costume supplier Sweida’s we have you covered for costumes, stockings, hats, masks and so much more. Why not take a look and get inspiration for your next costume? Quick delivery Australia wide and great prices.

http://www.fireflydancewear.com.au/Costumes__amp;_Accessories/cat851145_2842734.aspx

 

The humble leotard

French acrobatic performer Jules Leotard made the leotard a recognised dancewear item and and while he didn’t name them himself, the word came into use after his death in 1870.

Most of us think of ballet when we hear the word leotard but these days they are more than just the domain of classical ballet dancers. They are worn for dance, circus, aerials, gymnastics and figure skating, and at the gym. They allow freedom of movement like little else can.

Jane Fonda and the fitness craze of the 80’s saw a huge rise in the wearing of lycra but these days they can be made of velvet, metallics, lycra, mesh, lace and more. Actually the only limit really is your imagination.

They are even worn by musicians on stage these days. Demi Lovato, Beyonce,
Iggy Azalea and many more have made the leotard a stage staple for female pop stars. Of course they probably look a little different to the one you wear to class or for your exams!

For modern styles like Jazz or Tap,  rules are often relaxed and allow dancers to add dance shorts to them to make them more comfortable and modest in class or public. There are still very strict rules for Gymnastics competitions though, with limitations on the cut and fabric used.

So which type of leotard do you like best? Plain or fancy? Polo neck or camisole? High cut or low? Whichever you prefer, Firefly has a huge range of leotards to suit you and your needs. With so many colours, styles and fabrics it is super easy to dress a huge group or create a stunning solo outfit for your next concert or performance.

Are leggings pants?

I see them at the local high school, down the street and at the shops. Leggings!

Some times they look great and other times you wonder why? So what makes the difference? Is it how thick they are or what you wear with them? When did activewear become regular clothes that are ok in public?

To be honest I think leggings are perfect on stage for dance costumes and fancy dress costumes, or for the gym or dance class. The world of dance and performing is so different from regular life and a whole different set of rules apply anyway, from makeup to hairstyles and more.

They are comfortable and versatile and great when doing aerials and walkovers and tumbling routines at circus, or rehearsing routines at dance class. They give you freedom of movement and warmth in cooler months.

At Firefly I sell lots of leggings, some with stirrups and some without. We have plain ones and patterned and metallics too. They look brilliant when used to create a costume for on stage and with so many colours to choose from it’s not hard to find something you will love, particularly with our two new patterned ranges which have matching crop tops, leotards, shorts and pants. So if you perform, take a look at what we have and try adding leggings to your next look.

 

 

How to wear Catsuits

Catsuits are by far our biggest sellers at Firefly Dancewear. More than all our other products combined in fact! These days they are common for lots of sports, like speed skating, bobsled, cycling and more.

But where did they come from and why are they so popular?
Catsuits have actually been around  since the 1940’s, but were especially popular in the 80’s when everyone was fitness mad. They even became street wear in the UK!

Today I see lots of use of them as dancewear, especially the animal prints and metallics. Quite often they are turned into superhero costumes too, with Catwoman being the most obvious, but I have even had one used as an invisible woman, and one for a man to wear to a Priscilla Queen of the Desert style party.

Today the fabrics and colours available make them a very versatile item for dance and circus concerts and performances, particularly Cats remakes, but also for animals in a production of Wizard of Oz or a silver one for the  Tin Man. They are brilliant for aerials acts, especially if they have stirrups built into them.

So for your next show take a look at the huge range we have and see how you could use a catsuit to create a character, or a fabulous costume.