Raising the barre: choose the right one for your studio.Your dancers grip it, check their balance against it, and slide their legs along it. If it wobbles, they may feel unstable and distracted. If it stands firm, their concentration soars. Whether it's made of wood, metal, or high-grade aluminum, ballet teachers can't do without this basic piece of equipment. Barres that are splintered, dirty, broken-down, or shakey create an unappealing environment for the dancer, and an unprofessional look for any studio. That's one reason why the Joffrey Ballet Joffrey Ballet, one of the major American dance companies. It was founded in New York City in 1954 by the dancer-choreographer Robert Joffrey. From 1956 to 1964 it made yearly tours of the United States. School in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of makes barre Barre (bă`rē), city (1990 pop. 9,482), Washington co., central Vt., SE of Montpelier; settled late 18th cent., inc. 1894. Granite quarrying, which began in the region in the early 19th cent., is still important. maintenance a priority. "The quality of the wood is what makes barres last, and we use oak, which is sturdy," says John Magnus, the school's artistic director and unofficial barre caretaker. He points out that continuous pushing on the barre can loosen screws and brackets, so the way barres are mounted is also crucial to their lifespan. "We put a separate piece of wood along the wall at barre level, and attach the brackets to this strip, which strengthens and stabilizes the barre" Joffrey School barres get cleaned with wood polish, and Magnus says that if they are well-coated with polyurethane polyurethane Any of a class of very versatile polymers that are made into flexible and rigid foams, fibres, elastomers (elastic polymers), surface coatings, and adhesives. , they'll rarely need to be resanded or refinished. Stability is key, agree barremakers. "Start with a good-quality hardwood like oak, maple, or ash, so the barres don't flex or bow in the center like a softer variety such as pine would," says Paul Ellis, owner of Ballet Barres. He believes there should be no special maintenance needed beyond dusting and making sure they're tightly screwed to the wall. Barres can be installed at a fixed height, but some studios opt for an adjustable barre that can move from child to adult height. "You can position them according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the class you're giving," says Joseph Reinke, an owner of Dance Equipment, a studio supplier. He has a personal preference for wood barres. "They are warmer to touch, which I think is more comfortable for the dancers," he notes. "I also think that wood has a tendency to have a little more give." However, he recommends leaving a wood barre unfinished. "Finishes can make the barre sticky and hard to move along smoothly." He also feels wood is easier to maintain unfinished. If a barre gets splinters splin·ter n. 1. A sharp, slender piece, as of wood, bone, glass, or metal, split or broken off from a main body. 2. A splinter group. v. splin·tered, splin·ter·ing, splin·ters v. , a light sanding and dusting easily restores the surface. Some studios supplement their barres with portables. "People want them when the class size exceeds the amount of wall barre space," says Jack Lucas, owner of En Pointe Dancing en pointe (pronounced /ɑ̃ poɛ̃t/, often anglicised as /ɑn pwɛ̃t/ or Enterprises. The classic portable is made of ultra-heavy plumbing pipe, and though you can't disassemble dis·as·sem·ble v. dis·as·sem·bled, dis·as·sem·bling, dis·as·sem·bles v.tr. To take apart: disassemble a toaster. v.intr. 1. them for storage, they last forever. "Because portables aren't as rock-solid, dancers use them more as a reference point than an anchor," notes Ellis. "Sometimes wall barres are so strong, the students rely on them too much." While portables serve their purpose on tour and in the studio, their weight, stability, and ease of storage can be a concern. However, many of the new portables are often made of strong, non-bendable yet lightweight, aluminum. They are also made to collapse for easy storage. Some can be custom-made to a specified length, and many come with their own travel cases--a great idea for touring companies. So whether your studio needs a new wall-mounted barre or a handy portable one, this essential tool will help your dancers take the next step toward their work in the studio's center, and finally, to center stage. Barres Classic and New Baum's Dancewear dance·wear n. Clothing such as leotards and warmup suits that are worn for dance practice and exercising. president Peter Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. says that a barre's mount is key to its longevity. His company's Deluco double and single barre brackets are sturdy and easy to install. [$18.99-$25.99] www.baumsdancewear.com Stagestep president Randy Swartz recommends the company's Black Beauty portable barre, which has no separate parts and collapses down to 5" wide. It's made of airplane-grade aluminum, won't bend, and is light enough for one person to carry. [$299-$499] www.stagestep.com En Pointe Enterprises owner Jack Lucas suggests his company's StudioBarre. "It's easily moved, so it's great for touring companies--the Royal Winnipeg Ballet The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America. It was founded in 1939 as the "Winnipeg Ballet Club" by Gweneth Lloyd and Betty Farrally. has about 15 of them." Made of a high-grade aluminum, the Studio Barre is available in gray, white, or black, and comes with double horizontal bars horizontal bar Event in men's gymnastics competition in which a steel bar fixed about 8 ft (2.4 m) above the floor is used for swinging exercises. Competitors generally wear hand protectors and perform routines that last 15–30 seconds. in standard adult and children's heights. [$195-$435]. www.en-pointe.com Gerstung's director of administration Jeff Tarleton recommends the Ultralite Aluminum barre, which was created for home use, but is sturdy [as long as you don't hang on it], durable, and balanced, so it stays in place, even if the dancer doesn't. www.gerstung.com |
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