Dancemania Dancewear and Gymnastics Clothing News

Casting Notice/Angel Exit looking for two performers.

2014-02-04T15:16:00.000+00:00

Casting Notice
The Ballad of Martha Brown

Angel Exit Theatre are looking for two performers to join them for their new show, The Ballad of Martha Brown. The show is about the last woman to be publicly hanged in Dorset, and the tale will be told in a physical ensemble style with live music. The show has been written after a process of devising and performers will be required to devise some scenes in rehearsal. They are rehearsing in Dorset in April and touring (mainly around the South West and South East) in May and June. Please refer to their website for more information about the company’s style and this show. www.angelexit.co.uk

Performers should:
• Be fully available from Monday 7th April to Sunday 22nd June
• Be over 25, with a full driving licence and confident driving a transit van
• Be able to sing and play an instrument to a high standard – they are especially interested in actors who can play: violin, accordion and percussion
• Have experience and a love of touring
• Have experience of devising, ensemble based, multi-role playing work

Performers will be paid at the ITC rate of £430 per week (accommodation, travel and per diems will be provided by the company.)

Please apply with a CV/ Spotlight link to info@angelexit.co.uk
Initial auditions will be in London Tuesday 11th February.
They will only be able to respond to those they wish to audition, but they do thank you in advance for your interest in their company.

Happy tutu day!

2014-02-02T12:19:00.000+00:00

Today is the second day of the second month of the year, so it's 2/2 which when spoken is clearly a reference to the most iconic of ballet garments the tutu. :)

In celebration of this auspicious day many organizations around the world ask their supporters to wear a tutu all day to help their cause, be it a charity or to raise funds for a new floor for the dance school's studio. But I think the world would be a much happier place is more people wore a tutu about their business so I say to you, embrace tutu day and put on a tutu.

If you are wearing a tutu today then Dancemania is holding a competition on their facebook page:

Post by Dancemania Dancewear.

The Gaynor Minden backpack is back!

2013-05-08T08:16:00.000+00:00

It's In The Bag...

Updated! The Gaynor Minden Backpack Is Back!

Quite possibly the most thoughtfully designed dance bag you'll ever see. Recently updated with even more of the details that dancers love. The new Dancer's Backpack features abundant storage options including ventilated compartment for shoes, spacious main compartment, deep literature pocket, and extra wide cell phone pouch. Made from soft but sturdy nylon with comfortable padded straps. Available in Black with Grey or, soon to be released, Pink Gaynor Minden Logo.

In stock at Dancemania for immediate dispatch.

Gymnastics Leotards, footwear and accessories

2013-04-02T10:32:00.001+00:00

Dancemania brings together the best names in gymnastics clothing, footwear and gymnastics accessories in to one location. Visit the gymnastics pages on the Dancemania website and you will see that the categories are clear and easy to navigate:

Girls gymnastics leotards - subcategories group girls leotards in to long sleeve or sleeveless and basic (cheap!) or design leotards (the glitzy ones!)
Boys gymnastics leotards and vests
Girls gymnastics shorts - practical, good looking and, if you get personalised shorts, unique to you.
Boys gymnastics shorts and stirrup pants
Tracksuits and tops
Scrunchies - lots and lots of scrunchies for tying hair back, which match the fabrics used in the leotards. The right scrunchie really completes an outfit.
Bags and holdalls - both practical and stylish, these bags are desirable.
Shoes and toe caps for gymnastics - specialist shoes for floor, apparatus and vault that protect your feet from injury.
Shoes and socks for trampolining - now mandatory in many trampoline clubs tramp shoes and socks aid stability in the bounce and prevent toes getting trapped in the webbing.
Gymnastics hand grips and guards - a broad selection of grips for kids and adults.

We appreciate the importance of being seen in the latest leotard so we have also provided special categories to identify the latest gymnastics leotard designs from the top names in leotard design: Milano and The Zone.

When you order from Dancemania you get your items quicker because we hold all items in stock, so there is no waiting for items to be made. On the very rare occasions when we run out of a particular size we will inform you right away that there will be a short wait for resupplies.

If you happen to be in the neighbourhood then why not drop in to the Dancemania shop where you will be able to try on a select range of gymnastics leotards, shorts, footwear and accessories.

Shoes for Zumba for people who have wide feet

2012-11-13T11:45:00.001+00:00

We have a blog titled "What are the best shoes for Zumba fitness?" which we keep up to date because there are a lot of people who seek advice about shoes for Zumba, Jazzercise and all other dance fitness styles. And whilst this blog answers many questions that we are often asked about shoes for Zumba it does not provide advice for people with wide feet.

This is a tricky subject because dance sneakers are typically narrow fitting and "wide feet" is a subjective description that is not satisfactorily served by a generic dance sneaker sizing. However, through experience we can say that the best fitting dance sneakers for people with wide feet are the RV Impacts (above right) and the Bloch 538 Boost DRT dance sneaker (above left).

We understand that when you have wide feet finding shoes that fit is a pain but these two styles will give you a fighting chance of a good fit compared to other styles ...and don't forget our no hassle returns policy allows you to return shoes up to 21 days after purchase.

See you in Rio 2016

2012-10-21T10:06:00.000+00:00

"Thanks for the inspiration Louis Smith. I'll take it from here!"

Motivated gymnasts buy from Dancemania Gymnastics!

Denise Van Outen Wears Bloch Slipstream Jazz Shoes on #SCD

2012-10-19T12:17:00.000+00:00

As spotted on BBC Strictly Come Dancing!

Eagle eyed fans of Strictly Come Dancing may have noticed that during training Denise Van Outen has been practicing her ballroom routines wearing Super comfy Bloch Slipstream jazz shoes.

You too can try Bloch's Slipstream jazz shoe, just follow this link: Bloch Slipstream Jazz Shoe - Dancemania Dancewear

Wearing a proper dance skirt can make all the difference

2012-10-17T09:44:00.000+00:00

Fans of Strictly Come Dancing will have seen the how Olympic gold medallist Victoria Pendlton suffered dreadfully with nerves during her first dance and how she subsequently forgot her routine. In an effort to help her recover her confidence and to make her feel more like a dancer her professional dance partner Brendan Cole bought her a long swirl skirt.

The transformation was a joy to see, as Vistoria explained: "Brendan bought me a lovely dance skirt, and it definitely makes you want to spin around the dance floor and be a bit more elegant – I just want to swivel around in the skirt a lot."

Brendan added "Yes, I’m seeing a smile on the girl’s face, especially after the weekend I thought it might be hard to bounce back from but she’s come back firing, exactly what you’d expect from our Olympian."

The skirt that helped make this transformation posible is available from www.Dancemania.biz and is the Capezio Long Swirl Skirt - 7424.

It has a gorgeously flattering fit and is made of a so-soft microfiber which drapes beautifully to provide excellent leg coverage but has perfect movement when swirling. Fabric features DanceDry technology that wicks away any body moisture to keep you dry.

Along with a great range of ladies ballroom shoes Dancemania has all that you need to feel fantastic on the dance floor.

Gaynor Minden make Green pointe shoes

2012-10-09T09:26:00.000+00:00

Gaynor Minden pointe shoes are made in their factory in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Nothing spectacular about that expect the factory is solar powered. If you would like to know:

How much energy the factory extracts from their solar panels each year
Who discovered that you can convert sunlight into electricity
Which four facts link the Gaynor Minden factory in Lawrence to the Dancemania warehouse in Broadstone

...read our blog post Gaynor Minden pointe shoes are made using the power of the sun.

You don't leave a carbon footprint when you are in Gaynor Mindens!

Bella Ballroom Shoe - Dancemania Dancewear

2012-10-02T18:58:00.004+00:00

Ideal for girls of all ages looking to start ballroom dancing is the Bella ballroom shoe from Roch Valley. This shoe comes in UK sizes from child's 11 to adult 8 and is a quality shoe at a very affordable price.

The shoe has X-Straps with quick release buckle, 1.2" Cuban heel, and Suede Sole. It is available in four traditional ballroom colours: Silver, Black, Flesh and Silver Hologram, which really catches the light and sparkles.

When not on the dance floor these shoes are equally at home out socialising or partying.

Go and take a look now>>

Mutual Admiration

2012-09-26T07:42:00.001+00:00

Awwww! I'm feeling the love :)

Basic gymnastics leotards for girls

2012-09-20T12:07:00.000+00:00

Basic gymnastics leotards for girls

...and adults too! During this economic period of austerity cash is King and no one wants to pay for something that is not value for money. So when looking for new gymnastics leotards it makes financial sense to buy only a basic gymnastics leotard whilst the intended wearer is going through a growing spurt or has yet to commit to years of gymnastics training.

On Dancemania's official blog we have reviewed the range of basic gymnastics leotards to highlight what is available in terms of style, fabric and colours. All the basic leos are the cheapest leotards around and are of exceptional quality and value so if you are looking for a cheap basic leotard for gymnastics then you should read it. More...

Z103 CADENCE Gymnastic sleeveless leotard - Dancemania Dancewear

2012-09-13T18:19:00.002+00:00

The cheapest gymnastics leotard we have - The Z103 Cadence from The Zone

The Z103 Cadence is a Nylon/Lycra sleeveless, round neck gymnastics leotard made by The Zone. As with all leotards made by The Zone this leotard has been designed, sourced, made and tested in the UK. It is an excellent entry level leotard for gymnastics, which comes in a choice of 7 colours:

Royal Blue
Navy Blue
Purple
Kingfisher
Raspberry
Red
Black

This leotard comes in sizes from age 3 up to adult and starts at only £13.95. Be sure to buy a matching scrunchie to complete the look!

Who is on Strictly Come Dancing this year – 2012?

2012-09-11T08:26:00.001+00:00

It has become a mad-dash to be the first blog to post the celebrity contestants who will be competing in this years Strictly Come Dancing contest. This year we were able to post the official list of celebrities as they were announced, but the payoff was quantity and quality of content - but at least we included a photo and a (very) brief bio for each. Take a look at who is on Strictly Come Dancing this year.

Looking down the list I think Denise is certain to do well, especially since she is an old school performer with more than a little dance training - did you buy her dance fitness DVD?

One thing is for sure, we at Dancemania will be very busy with requests for our latin and ballroom shoes.

The DanceSocks - Dancemania Dancewear

2012-09-02T10:51:00.000+00:00

Turn Sneakers into Dance Shoes™

We all know that sneakers and trainers are a nightmare in the dance fitness studio: you can't spin, and when you try to turn you stumble over, and worse still you risk popping a joint. The answer, of course, is to buy specialist dance sneakers from Dancemania. But not everyone is convinced dance sneakers will make a big difference to their situation, so don't want to pay out for something they are not sure about.

To these people I say: Try Dancesocks™. Pull the DanceSock over the front of your shoe. Cover more sole to increase glide. Cover less sole for additional grip. You will notice the difference straight away. Best thing is they are small and light and you can carry them around in your back pocket. Each pack comes with two pairs so lend a pair to a friend and have fun!

Available in Pink and Black. Suitable for men and women.

Order now from Dancemania and get free shipping!

New Leotards from The Zone - Dancemania Dancewear

2012-09-01T16:48:00.001+00:00

It’s that time of year again! In anticipation of another fabulous season of gymnastics, manufacturer of high quality performance gymnastics leotards The Zone have released more super styles to enhance your performance.

There’s brilliant new styles in a collection of amazing new fabrics and colours for clubs, teams and individuals who want to look stunning and feel great in the ultimate performance leotard.

The new leotards are, as one would expect from this company, brilliant in style and colour. Points of interest in this collection:

The Price: These leotards are such excellent value for money, with the prices starting at only £24.95
The Fabrics: The Zone are expert in Velour and these leotards make ample use of velour, but there is much use of foil print, which has seen a step change in the colours, designs and features incorporated, e.g. holographic stars anyone? they have them!
The colours: The Zone have mixed some interesting colours together to make some very eye catching combinations, such as orange and pineapple, plum and lime - very tasty!
The sparkle: The Zone know just how much bling to add to get the right reaction. Some of these leotards have been dressed with crystals and jewels and the result is stunning. The long sleeved leotard called Eclipse for example has a fan pattern of crushed crystal and jewels on the torso and left arm, which is going to absolutely light-up under any gym lighting.

On the down side there are no new leotards for the boys this time but the next Zone catalogue is only 6 months away ;)

Born to Dance - Baby Dance Shoes

2012-08-26T16:14:00.001+00:00

Following the sound of women going all gooey I discovered that the latest dance shoes from Pineapple had arrived at the Dancemania warehouse and with them the smallest dance shoes that I have ever seen! Perfectly formed mini dance shoes for new born babies, and larger sizes for babies up to 12 months old. To get a look at these baby dance shoes follow this link: Born to Dance

These baby shoes are beautifully packaged in a sturdy box (embosed all over with love hearts - a Pineapple staple) with a window on to the shoes and a pretty ribbon handle. I wouldn't be surpised if people who don't know any babies buy them for themselves as a collectors item, they are that cute.

There are two styles each of which come in three colours. The Twinkle is a glossy Mary Jane and would go with a smart outfit and there is Starz, a dance sneaker that would better suit a casual outfit. Either shoe makes it clear to all that see them that the wearer was most certainly BORN to DANCE!

Bloch's JFM Mesh Loop Leotard - Dancemania Dancewear

2012-08-23T08:41:00.001+00:00

We've just had our enormous "back to school" order arrive at the warehouse from Bloch and in this order we have a NEW, never been seen before, creation: Bloch's JFM Mesh Loop Leotard in Black and Prune. Now Prune has never struck me as a colour to dress yourself in ...but, seeing this new leotard being modelled so beautifully in the picture above I must say I rather like Prune.

From the pictures you can get a sense of how the leotard must feel because it looks so good and in your hand the feeling does not disappoint. Made from Micro Jersey this leotard is more lively than standard cotton-Lycra and has a substantial butter texture - lovely!

Added to our Vocational leotards category this leotard is sure to be a favourite with career dancers looking to stand out from the rest in a leo that clearly states their confidence.

Special Offers - Dancemania Dancewear

2012-06-22T10:59:00.000+00:00

Special Offers - Dancemania Summer Sale

Over the period of 12 months Dancemania introduces hundred's of new product lines to its website and as always we always stock sufficient quantities to make sure that we can fullfil customer orders. But as a product becomes discontinued we do end up with lots and lots of odd bits and pieces that are end of line. Right now we have dozens of crates in our warehouse full of end of line products that we would like to get rid of. Frankly we need the space to prepare for the arrival of next seasons back to school stock and of course the new lines from Milano, The Zone, Pineapple and others, so we have slashed the prices of end of line items to shift them!

Follow the link at the top of this post to our sales pages where you will find dancewear and gymnastics clothing on sale at up to 75% off the recommended retail prices. On these pages you will find cheap prices on specials, discontinued and end of line dancewear and gymnastics clothing and shoes with prices reduced by up to 75%.

All products on these pages are in stock at our warehouse and will be dispatched to you as soon as we process your order.

A Father's day gift from a dancer

2012-05-21T14:19:00.000+00:00

Father's day in the UK and many other countries is on the 17th June this year, which means there are less than 4 weeks left to arrange a special gift for the Daddy in your life. If you are a dancer then a great gift ideal is this glass photo frame for Daddy's little dancer:

The frame holds pictures or photographs 15cm by 10cm and is made of glass, which is transparent. The glass is adorned with silver mirrored decoration that declares "Daddy's Little Dancer" and includes ballet shoes hung by their ribbons, stars and love hearts.

The frame is presently on special offer at £2 off the normal retail price and is available for next day delivery.

Accepting 2 awards for Dancemania at the Poole Retail awards 2012

2012-05-15T17:55:00.000+00:00

Hopefully you have seen our blog post about the Top of The Shops Poole retail awards and through that discovered that Dancemania won the Best Customer Service award and the Social Media Star award. These are two mighty awards indeed and both recognise the hard work and dedication of the Dancemania staff to engage and serve our customers.

We are especially pleased to be awarded the Best Customer Service award as we prize nothing more than total customer satisfaction, which reflects the effort and determination we at Dancemania put in to serving our customers.

The social media star award is tremendous: everyone here at Dancemania puts in the extra time to keep existing and future customers informed and abreast of the latest news and views within our market sector. We particularly enjoy getting our hands on new, yet to be released products before anyone else and being able to publish reviews long before the product reaches the shelves. It allows people to form an opinion of the product and to give sufficient notice of their availability.

Here Margaret and I are being awarded the Best Customer Service:

...and here we are being awarded with the Social Media Star:

The awards were sponsored by Breeze VW and Sibbert-Gregory and organised by the Economic Development team of the Borough of Poole and they did a fabulous job too! The Quay Thistle Hotel played host for the evening and Steve Power of Wave 105 made should things went along smoothly.

Shoes for Belly Dancing

2012-04-21T17:40:00.002+00:00

We had a belly dancer walk into our store this week to ask for shoes for belly dancing. Not too sure what she meant, it turned out that she was talking about Bloch's Elastosplit X. Apparently everyone at her belly dancing classes was wearing them because the flesh coloured shoes were less conspicuous than any other shoe that is light and as flexible; the flexibility being brought about by the minimalistic nature of the design with all unnecessary materials being removed so the dancer’s arch becomes more visible.

So there we have it, for belly dancing get a pair of Bloch's Elastosplit X ballet shoes.

Find where to buy Gaynor Mindens within the UK and Europe

2012-04-09T15:30:00.000+00:00

Gaynor Minden's are great pointe shoes, perhaps an evolutionary step up from other types currently available, and they are certainly worth the investment if you can can afford a pair. I've no doubt that in the long run if you do buy a pair you will soon realise that you are saving money - at a time when a normal pair of pointes would be broken and need replacing your Gaynor Mindens will still be a fresh and strong as the day you first tried them on.

Since Gaynor Mindens are still a bit of a novelty within the UK they are only available within major cities or at premium dance shops. Therefore it can be a little tricky find a stockist. To help you find where you can buy Gaynor Mindens Dancemania has created a blog post - "Where can I buy Gaynor Minden pointe shoes in the UK?".

Only 259 shopping days to Christmas 2012

2012-04-08T20:30:00.000+00:00

A look at Dancemania's opening times will show you that now Easter Sunday is over Dancemania doesn't close again until Christmas day 2012. That's right, Dancemania is open 7 days a week all the way up to Christmas. That is because at Dancemania we recognise modern society expects a quick response to their demands, and quite rightly so. In an age that has seen the rise of the internet customers should no longer accept anything other than swift deliveries of their purchases and we accept this challenge wholeheartedly. That is why our website www.Dancemania.biz is monitored 24/7 and you can speak to a real person on our orderline +44 (0)1202 604968 each and every day.

Happy shopping!

Zooma: Clothing inspired by Zumba classes at pineapple

2012-03-02T16:45:00.002+00:00

Zooma: Clothing inspired by Zumba classes at pineapple

As well as teaching dance in their Dance Studios Pineapple makes very eye catching dancewear, usually in avant garde colours but always with massive pineapple logos and print designs. Since the targeted customer is very young the designs have appeal but there is a new market shaper on the block in the form of the rapidly growing number of Zumba exponents.

Typically those that do Zumba or similar dance fitness are a little bit older than Pineapple's usual patrons, are equally are more mature in their fashion tastes so are less likely to want to wear brightly coloured clothing emblazoned with large logos & motifs. Pineapple has realised this and has launched a new line in dance fitness clothing called Zooma.

Zooma benefits from the years of experience Pineapple has with making performance dance clothing with a great choice of colours and fabrics, but they differ in that they appeal far more to the maturer person seeking an ideal outfit for Zumba dance fitness. Gone are the billboard sized logos and motifs and in is a small understated embroidered label identifying the garment's pedigree.

The Zooma items are light, bright and fun to wear and will soon be the clothing of choice in Zumba classes throughout the land. GET YOURS NOW!
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