WHAT ARE THESE COSTUMES?? | Reacting to Mass-Produced Ballet Costumes | Ballet Reign

Today we're stepping into world of ballet costumes with y'all as we react to commercially manufactured ballet costumes and uncovering the hits and misses of the ready-made ballet market! We're going to be analyzing and critiquing the designs, fabrics, fit, and functionality of these mass-produced dancewear creations.
The ballet experience is not only about movement-it's also about telling the story and transporting the viewer to another world within the stage, both of which are significantly impacted by the costumes. Will these commercially made costumes achieve this? Stick around to find out, and let us know what you think!
If you like the video, LIKE the video, and COMMENT in the box below. Make sure you SUBSCRIBE to our channel if you wanna join the Ballet Nerd Club and SHARE this video to spread the Ballet Nerd love!
Grace to you,
J&E
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[@ninaradio]

I do think it’s important to remember that the biggest market for these mass produced costumes are small town dance schools that (a) aren’t actually putting on full productions of -or even doing the solos from-these actual ballets, (b) are probably performing in a high school auditorium with mediocre stage lighting, where more intense colors help with visibility in a way that isn’t needed in a proper theater, and (c) are ordered by the teachers without the kids ever seeing the names of the designs.

[@horse_girl_1001]

This is literally what my company is like. We have themes, but not actual full on shows. We use a high school’s stage (although it’s not that bad) and we share the show with my ballet teacher’s student, who now has her own company (no ballet involved with her)

[@bobloblaw9679]

so? that doesn't mean they can give crap quality. every dancer has to start somewhere and a lot of them start in the trenches of local studios. they still deserve better than this.

[@nickislade5533]

@@bobloblaw9679those dance schools are the ones buying these costumes and may apply the dresses to different students often

[@bobloblaw9679]

@@nickislade5533 every school where i have taught has made the students purchase their costumes for the purpose of a single use. the parents, administrators and i have all lamented the declining quality of costumes for years now.

[@nickislade5533]

@@bobloblaw9679 bit different to when i was doing these recitals. We had the school backing the students and of course buying costumes that would cover recitals for years

[@larissaswayze]

As a teacher whose studio orders from these types of costume companies - the names really have nothing to do with the costumes. It’s kind of like interior paint colour names 😅 I don’t think any ballet teacher would EVER pick the “Dying Swan” one for anything swan-related, but they might pick it for something else entirely. And of course these costumes are nowhere near as beautiful as the handmade ones, but most parents can’t afford custom and the kids at smaller studios love their (affordable) costumes just the same 💚

[@balletreign]

Of course not 😂 ballet teachers are much more knowledgeable on ballet rep. The costumes are perfect for the occasion 💕☺️

[@Jay.eclipsed]

YES FS. my studio actually bought the dying swan costume in a burgundy purplish colour and we used it for our comp dance. nothing swan related, was a rlly cute costume

[@autisticdancer]

I’ve actually seen that “dying swan” costume in person before. The girls in the level above me wore those costumes for their spring recital back in May. For context, the title/theme of their dance was called “Midnight Masquerade,” and for that piece, the costume was perfect! It has a elegant, mysterious vibe to it that would work well in a waltz, but definitely not dying swan material.

[@balletreign]

Yesss we can TOTALLY see it in a Midnight Masquerade! That must have been lovely ☺️💕

[@AnniCarlsson]

It is for a school production or small town prodution where people dance for exersice and fun. And it don't fit perfekt becouse they don't have money to do that. People live in rw know that.

[@lesleyclaster6878]

I grew up in ‘suburb’ ballet, but my teacher/studio owner actually danced in the Ballet Russe in her youth. This was b4 mass produced costumes. Many parents could not afford huge yardage and detailing (I was on scholarship), but there were accomplished seamstresses that volunteered (like my mom). Plus there were pattern companies that had ballet sections. We had a special fitting day for measurement taking and another for final fittings and adjustments-so exciting! It was more about pitching in together than laying out a lot of money. Our ballet mistress choreographed the dances and ‘designed’ the costumes from patterns AND we danced to piano music in the studio! This was a long time ago, and I’m counting my blessings today. We may have not been headed for dance careers and didn’t learn the historic dances, but the years of classes where I was until I turned 13 and traded ballet for other sports was life enriching. I passed it on to my daughters.

[@CheyenneSedai]

I definitely want a Rite of Spring analysis

[@balletreign]

😏😏👍🏻👍🏻

[@Oblivitana]

Ooo, yes. I love that one

[@satanoJ]

Both Nijinsky and Pina Bausch version pleaaase

[@leoswift6938]

“Honor to us all” killed me instantly

[@balletreign]

That one… 😒🤣

[@lewlavabra6811]

i'm confused, what's the fuss about ? is it because it's racially offensive, or because it doesn't match the "vibe" ? (assuming we're talking about that one mulan song)

[@super_siri]

@@lewlavabra6811 It's everything. The fabric doesn't look like it's real Chinese silk with the heavy embroidery they would do. But beyond that, Mulan was a peasant, she wasn't well off, she might wear her grandmother's or her mother's wedding clothes for her own wedding, and while they would be really nice fancy clothes for her, they would still not be as fancy as that outfit was trying to be. That outfit was trying to be princess, and it needed to be super special peasant clothes, which would be hand embroidered by her family (who were maybe only passable embroiderers, versus a princess who would have a literal team of the best embroiderers in the kingdom working on her clothes), she'd probably have one REALLY nice hair pin, and maybe a nice necklace and bracelet, but that's it.

[@NoelleTakestheSky]

@@super_siri It’s asking a lot for a fabric that the audience won’t see the detail of to look like a real Chinese silk. Stage costumes are meant to convey an idea or a feeling, not be historically accurate. If we’re going to get into how it doesn’t look like real Chinese silk, we can talk about how the skirt doesn’t look Chinese at all. But we understand that it’s made for a stage dance, not as actual ethnic garb. Mulan wasn’t a peasant in the way you’re describing. She wasn’t poor. She was from a wealthy family. Poor people didn’t have large homes with rooms dedicated to displaying war armor and high walls for protection. In rural China, it was small, thatched roofs, a far cry from the tile she had. That costume might have gone unnoticed were it not for the hilarious name. All of these would have been uncommentworthy if the names were different.

[@Leviatiemily]

​@@NoelleTakestheSkyif you're going off Disney then yeah but the traditional story varies.

[@sarahnoble6852]

I’m not a dancer but I am a professional musician and the Rite of Spring costume made me snort 😆 it’s one of those iconic pieces that always taught in music history classes so I love that it translates into the ballet world with similar vibes.

[@balletreign]

SUCH an iconic piece! Yup, beautifully translated into tutus and pink sequins 😂

[@andynonymous6769]

I'm not a ballet dancer, I'm a slavic folk dancer and I love love love rite of spring! That costume made me snort too lol Ever since I was a kid I've been dancing, and the point of dancing was to give off a positive vibe to the region we were dancing from. Each has a different style, and a different flavour of regality: from a 1800's englishman's point of view, there's no such thing as a more civilized/snooty people than the english, but if you're looking from, say a 1600's bukovyna noble lady's point of view, they got the same amount of elegance and haughtiness, but just in *their* way. That's my goal as an adult: to portray the loveliness and better-than-youness of a culture at its prime. As a kid it was always to show off how fun and festive the culture can be. I like that rite of spring doesn't portray it as either fun, or elegant. It's hard to say if anything it depicts is culturally accurate- at least in Ukraine, the country I'm most interested in, everything related to paganism has been destroyed so we have no idea what they believed, or what they practiced. From the remaining customs we see bleeding through in modern religion, and descriptions of old customs, it makes me wonder if human sacrifice ever happened. Effigy burning in particular makes me go 👀. Rite of spring is the only depiction of slavic culture through dance that I've seen that isn't like, a fun harvest dance, or a fast social dance ect, it's the only one that I've seen that's meant to show something sinister. That makes me all the more curious about the culture it represented and love slavic cultures even more

[@super_siri]

@@andynonymous6769 Druids definitely had human sacrifice, but they were mostly centered around what is now the UK, I believe.

[@katereilly9367]

I don't think they watched Fantasia either...

[@laurovik]

That swan dyed in an oil spill 😅

[@balletreign]

OMG WE DIDNT CATCH THAT but lolll 😂😂😂😂😂

[@super_siri]

The look on your face with the Honor to us all costume was so epic!! I know you didn't plan the same look on your faces at the same time, but that's exactly what we got, and it was brilliant! I love Disney's Mulan (I even liked the not well received live action version, although not as well), and that costume option was AWFUL!!

[@balletreign]

Hahahahahaha 🤣🤣. Glad we could make u smile

[@squarechips]

The REPEATED Crayola references had me dying!

[@balletreign]

Jordan had a rich childhood 😂😂🖍️

[@Lili.sim0ne]

The production of Romeo and Juliet that I saw (National Ballet of Canada) had Juliet in a white dress the entire time; I didn't realize that wasn't standard! Very interesting because I thought the white looked perfect, symbolizing her youth and innocence.

[@balletreign]

Most productions do have Juliet wear white/cream! But sometimes in her first scenes she may wear another color such as blue or peach or something, usually something light to- as u said- convey her innocence 😊. We love National Ballet of Canada 🇨🇦

[@Lili.sim0ne]

@@balletreign Not sure if you’re familiar with him, but I was lucky enough to see Guillaume Coté in one of his final performances as Romeo, which is his signature role! It was an honor

[@curzonproduct]

The much duplicated Macmillan R and J starts Juliet off in pale gold, long sleeves and high neckline. Then white nightdress for the Balcony scene. It was the plunging neckline that I was objecting to in the online Juliet costume. After all, Juliet is supposed to be only 14!!

[@zappacademy3393]

When ordering costumes for a recital , I paid no attention to the names of costumes. I ordered the costumes that fit the choreography and music. When they come in I don’t think anyone even noticed the name, they were just excited to get their costume and try it on. Always felt like Christmas watching their excitement!

[@NoelleTakestheSky]

​@@curzonproduct Juliet was 13. She “has not yet reached her 14th summer.” You experience your first summer before you turn a year. You experience your 14th before you turn 14. This is very frequently misunderstood. Actually, most of R&K is misunderstood. It was written to be satire, not a tragic romance.

[@awanna-bechristine9324]

As a classical musician "Cello Song" HURT MY SOULLLL

[@balletreign]

It hurt our souls too, and we’re not even musicians 😓😓🤣🤣

[@elizabethingermann5911]

I danced at a studio that bought these mass produced costumes. We didn't do the actual variations but like our teacher would pick a song and write a choreography for the class. We got to help choose the costumes, and the names were kind of the last thing we looked at. We would sit with all these magazines and listen to the piece while looking for something that suited the vibe. Some of the names would be inspired by famous ballets or classical pieces but they aren't necessarily FOR any show in particular. Also the tutus are so small because they do not pit enough structure into those things for them to hold shape after being packed into those little bags. So that's why some of them look a little funky.

[@minissa2009]

You guys are so diplomatic! I think the issue with the brief skirt on the tutu-type costumes is (in my experience) is these catalogues are used by schools not necessarily preparing kids for a career in ballet, often for a term-end performance and they have to keep the costs down for the parents who have also paid for class all year plus leos and tights and pointe shoes. Cute segment!

[@balletreign]

True true! these costumes were designed for that very purpose 😄. Thanks for watchinggg ✨💕

[@wastrouss]

These are all pretty dresses and costumes, but it would be so much better if they added 'Inspired' to everything. 'Carmen Inspired Tutu,' or 'Sleeping Beauty Inspired Dance Outfit'--those are fun! It makes me happy! But the Dying Swan and Rite of Spring... I'm sorry, I don't think anything justifies that level of ignorance or unwillingness to do a simple Google image search. And your reaction to the Honor to Us All one... I just about died! X-D You guys are a breath of fresh air and I love your content.

[@balletreign]

Yesss that’s a good point!! That would have made more sense. Glad we could make you laugh 😂

[@lindapops]

When I was a child, I remember my mother, who was a fairly talented seamstress, making my recital costumes. They were lovely but quite pared down from a full on professional costume. I've always been amazed at the real tutus and other costumes I've seen and can appreciate the amount of work that goes into just one.

[@balletreign]

Wowww props to her! Costume work isn’t easy 😧😧

[@sophieistiredandwantscooki8806]

‘The Cello Song’ was actually the costume of my pointe dance for our yearly dance recital! I overall really liked the costume, but the mesh up top did make the shoulders look a little odd (and was very itchy). I did think the skirt looked pretty in motion, and I adore the color. The dying swan costume was gorgeous, but did not fit the ballet at all. Love you guys! ❤️

[@balletreign]

Ooohh itchy costumes are not fun, but that purple velvet was lovely!! Much ❤️!

[@MiaGrace2348]

As a comp dancer who gets a lot of their costumes from Weissmans, which is a website they got a lot of these costumes from, they often put costumes up on the website with a name that is something along the lines of, “off the shoulder ballet dress”, and then rename it to something else that kind of fits but really, they are just trying to name it to make it more memorable

[@newbie6036]

I'd love to see you guys creating a series of ballet fashion or something along those lines. (E.g. ballet costume fashion transformations from the last 100 years)

[@balletreign]

OOOH that sounds like a fun one!! Thanks! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@brit1583]

What a wonderful mixed bag. Top tip to costume makers - watch the ballet first 😀 Thanks for another fun evening girls. I’d love a proper live Q and A chat xx

[@balletreign]

110% 👍🏻👍🏻. Thanks for watching we’re glad u had fun!! (Live chat to come 😉)

[@elizabethfeuerbach5006]

As someone who’s going to college for costumes in the fall, reading the script or synopsis is a MUST!

[@balletreign]

Absolutely, thank you! 😊

[@nina-oh1fs]

i would feel so bad for any little kid who bought that costume and searched the rite of spring oh my gosh!! loved the video

[@balletreign]

Right?? It would be so traumatic! Glad u had fun today ☺️☺️

[@Hundelsa]

My hypothesis is that the Carmen costume takes inspiration from Carmen the opera rather then the ballet.

[@balletreign]

Ooohh that’s a good hypothesis! 🤓🤓

[@heatherbateystudio]

Agreed! As an opera lover and singer, that’s the first thing I thought of, even though I’m familiar enough with ballet to recognize the Kitri variations. I would say the general public is more familiar with Carmen the opera, as well.

[@strawberrylime33]

This was so interesting! I'm more into figure skating than ballet, but i loved hearing y'all explain the reasoning of the scores u gave out. Maybe, could u keep the photos up longer so we can really take in the intricacies of the costumes as u explain the details?

[@balletreign]

Glad u enjoyed this!! 😁😁✨and thanks for the tip 👍🏻

[@meimartignago8456]

Who else is kinda addicted to their content?

[@thecuriositycollective1000]

Me!

[@kpopstan7520]

Mee

[@pelikan2]

ME

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

Yes! ❤

[@caffeine1299]

Me

[@Jayjen35]

Speaking of kids and "The Rite of Spring"... When I was in elementary school we had a field trip to see a youth concert by the Cleveland Orchestra, and they played an excerpt from The Rite of Spring. The little kids all around me got scared! A lot of them wanted to leave - but I sat there grinning from ear to ear nodding my head in time with the music, From that day it has been one of my absolute favorite pieces of music. So yup TRoS has the power to cause fainting, riots and to scare little children...I LOVE it!!!

[@balletreign]

Hahahaha you sound just like us 😂. Loved this story 👍🏻

[@FV1TH.]

15:57 HOMOR TO US ALL GOT ME DYING HAHAHHA

[@christophernguyen1750]

Omg not the “Honor to us all”

[@balletreign]

They really went there 😡🤣🤣

[@Hermione.Granger]

the fact that i knew each brand just by the information format on each costume bc of my old studio 🤣🤣

[@balletreign]

Hahahaha 😂😂

[@Hermione.Granger]

@@balletreign the ones with a box/pink buttons on the side were from a wish come true and the others r from revolution dance wear

[@eslolin]

Their look at 15:57 is PRICELESS. Enough said 👍 my eyes are rolling with you.

[@balletreign]

😂😂😂

[@lisajean228]

My sister sews ballet costumes for a local school, they are definitely expensive and time consuming to make! You two are very knowledgeable about your costumes, well done!😊

[@balletreign]

Thank you!! That’s so cool that she does that… we love and appreciate all costume makers! 💕💕

[@sharimeline3077]

I can see how easily proper costume design could be produced at this level. A good business idea.

[@balletreign]

Right??? 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@cateplink1633]

As always ladies I love your work. You have given me a lot to work on with my dancing children. So much in there to work with.

[@balletreign]

We’re so glad to hear that! Thank u! 💕☺️

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

Wait ... The black swan does not die? Your editing was superb as always! I especially appreciated the background music matching the costume for the ballet it was supposed to be for. My favourite was the Pink Panther music, though, which I think is not actually a ballet, but I would love it if it were! 💕🐆 It must get pretty expensive for parents - having to buy costumes for each new variation their child performs. I'm assuming that judges are not supposed to take the quality of the dancer's costume into account? It would be really unfair if there was a very talented dancer, whose parents couldn't afford a better costume, to receive lower marks just because of that. Thank you very much for providing us with another educational and entertaining video! 🩰💧🦌🩰💧🦌 Have a great week! 😎🙏🌻🏖️💐

[@balletreign]

The Black swan (Odile) does not have a known death. The dying swan does die at the end of the brief solo. Most competitions would not reduce marks bc of the costume although we’ve heard that some will if the costume is inappropriate/explicit. These costumes were designed mostly for youth competitions so these would be acceptable 😊😊. Hope that helped, we’re glad u enjoyed the video and we’re so happy to have u here as always!! 💕💕

[@dronesclubhighjinks]

@@balletreign well, I think it’s time for there to be a Swan Lake spin-off ballet about Odile! Thank you for the information and I hope you have a wonderful week! 🙏😎🌻🌺

[@mydogsmom9206]

And please give her a nice painful ending! LOL Maybe a hunter could mistake her for a turkey or something!

[@K0nt4kt]

hahahahahaha the FFWD sleeping beauty scenario has me dyingggg

[@balletreign]

LOLLL glad we made you laugh 😂

[@Short_Round1999]

I can’t say I’ve seen Jordan and Eden that straight faced on THAT one

[@balletreign]

A rare sighting of JE being like 😑😑 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@crunchybubblewrap]

istg literally every ballet school has the same tarantella costume for one reason or another or at least like 3 schools in my area does

[@balletreign]

Really?? lol it’s a good costume though so it’s no wonder!

[@susanpaul4752]

You are both so generous and kind in your assessments. I really enjoy your nerdy comments. Dance on!

[@balletreign]

We’re glad u had fun and enjoyed this one! ☺️👍🏻✨

[@elizabethfeuerbach5006]

This is my first time watching your videos, and it was amazing. I’m going to study costumes at college, and I was studying ballet for years. So, seeing a video like this was fascinating and entertaining for me. Keep up the amazing work! ❤ 🩰

[@balletreign]

Welcome!! 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️ we’re so glad to have u here. Costumery is a whole world of its own and it is so cool that you’ll be studying that! Wishing u the BEST in college ✨💕

[@firstlast6109]

It is not the dying swan, It is the dead swan, and it has apparantly been dead for quite some time. I found however a dying swan on the internet. I think it was Jordan. It was very fine, but I am quite happy that you lived up again.

[@balletreign]

This one had us like 🤣🤣. Quite happy to be here too lol

[@claudetherabbit]

I’ve been binging on ballet videos for the last few months and one day your videos started popping up in my feed…I’ve really enjoyed your fun content! Then, out of curiosity, I visited your website and I was wowed by your gospel-driven mission. How awesome! Keep up the great work, ladies. Just subscribed 😊

[@balletreign]

Aww yay! Welcome to the ballet nerd fam! 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️. We hope you enjoy yourself here 👍🏻💕✨ (Bonus points for finding us on the web ☺️)

[@erinstevens4886]

I keep coming back to rewatch this one. I would love a part 2!

[@nightivory247]

I’ve danced in the “dying swim” costume as a storm costume it’s very pretty irl

[@balletreign]

It would work much better in that context! 😄😄

[@jenniferMcEndree]

Yup the look on your faces for Honor to Us All was perfection! Agree with previous comments about the face that these are usually ordered by dance teachers whose students don’t see the “titles” of costumes chosen by manufacturers. Being affordable for parents is also a factor! Love Ballet Reign ♥️

[@HeatherLandon227]

That Gisselle one looks like it took inspiration from Disney's 1959 film...

[@balletreign]

Didn’t know Disney did a Giselle?!!

[@annbrookens945]

Very fun! I wish you would show the costume on-screen while you are analyzing it. Maybe a small shot of it between you both?

[@livetodance1995]

Most of the time I feel like the costumes are named randomly. The kids rarely see the names of the costumes! I also think that most of the costumes are made for younger students, so a wider, thicker platter tutu may be difficult for them to dance in at that age

[@idasettenbrino7970]

I would LOVE a Rite of Spring Analysis

[@judyfluorrunels6575]

Love your channel. Keep up the great content 😎❤️

[@balletreign]

Awww thanks so much! 🥹🥹

[@davarrashayde]

Honestly i think what would have saved that more simplistic sleeping beauty outfit would be doing a longer skirt maybe a bit past the knee and more of a butterfly off the shoulder sleeve with a little bit of sequins or other bead-work down the center of the bodice (not a lot, just a little for accent purposes). The color could stay as is, and it would look really nice for that ballet in my opinion. I sew and embroider as a hobby, and have even made my own renaissance dresses, and done bead-work on my friends wedding dress and so on, so while i'm not professional by any stretch of the imagination i do understand the points behind the different aspects of the costumes in the show. The alterations that i suggested for the sleeping beauty costume that was shown in whatever online store that was being looked at for this is simply how I'd make it look a bit more regal and likely fit a bit better with the show that it would be a part of, while still highlighting the character and making it apparent that she is the princess, maybe even making her seem a bit more delicate in a way as the more flowy cloth instead of the platter tutu would lean more towards an ethereal/whimsical faery-like quality to the character. These are just my thoughts, but there we have it...The other outfits i 100% agree with your thoughts, though the one that was labeled Gieselle reminded me of Snow White when i first saw it.

[@LadyBlack22]

The Rite of Spring.. That one got me!

[@balletreign]

Hahahaha us too 😅😅

[@naomimckay]

This is the company my studio uses. The tarantella was used in our Nutcracker as Russian. If you look up the "True Love", I wore in a Don Q Suite and the "Into the Unknown" was used in the Midsummer's Night Dream Scherzo. Those were the costumes I wore at our Spring Showcase. A couple of the other ones have been used as well. Our Artistic Director tries to keep everything as accurate and as classical as possible when it comes to the costumes, but some of the other ones are 🤭🙈 a little ✨interesting✨.

[@balletreign]

That’s awesome!! They def had some costumes that weren’t bad at all, but yea some were just funny 🤭🤭

[@altongrimes]

You girls are great

[@starrylane5071]

I've never gotten the impression that these sorts of costumes were named for or even meant to be a part of any of these shows in particular - more so that they're meant to evoke a feeling or reference some part of pop culture around ballet (not necessarily the actual traditions of ballet). That said, I can see how some of their names may end up being pretty irresponsible/detrimental to an aspiring dancer's knowledge base

[@balletreign]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! They did reference the different ballets to a degree for sure 😜

[@starrylane5071]

@@balletreign I definitely see that now. My ballet education growing up was definitely more on the casual side so I never knew that before

[@LilyLawn]

Yeah, i’d like to see a Rite of Spring analysis… that would be amazing! ❤

[@yukismith4518]

I' always in shock at how bad costumes can be on the fast fashion or fast shopping sites.

[@balletreign]

Hehehe yeaaa 🤭😏

[@OvcharkaShepherd]

Was contracted to create the Nutcracker Act 2 costumes. I burned out my machines sewing the tulle and attaching miles of sequins on the platter tutus. The Director came back asking for Swan Lake. I had visions of feathers covering my work room and said, no thanks. All of the mass produced costumes were too cheap and Halloween for me. Would rather they used a standard leo with a quality platter tutu and have the ballet moms whipstitch the lace, sequins, stones and decoration by hand. The dancers work so hard, they deserve beautiful frames (costumes and accessories) for their efforts.

[@jane268]

I still can’t wrap my head around the fact the Rite of Spring doesn’t involve flowers and fairies.

[@balletreign]

Ikr?? that’s what the audience members of the very first premier of the ROS thought too 🥸

[@annasolovyeva1013]

It's set in Russia, in early March. There would be snow yet. No flowers or birds/insects . The people in more modern times would burn the like of a female scarecrow, which is supposed to be posessed by godess of death and winter. The spring would come later, as shown in "snow maiden".

[@brittanyjansen475]

"Sleeping Beauty" is kinda giving Cupid variation from Don Q

[@balletreign]

Oh yeah! 💘😃

[@firstlast6109]

The black duct tape is most likely there to cover the fact, that the head of the model has been screwed on

[@balletreign]

OHHHHHH 🤣🤭

[@claudetherabbit]

That whole costume reads very “pirate” to me. Definitely the choker

[@_spudnick]

my studio has used the "Carmen" costume for a recital and honestly, it's pretty stunning on stage. I also have personally worn the "Tarantella" costume and it was probably my favorite costume I've ever had for any performance I've ever done, but that's entirely subjective. It doesn't look amazing but the red really pops on stage and it's super comfy.

[@balletreign]

Both Carmen and Tarantella were def the most accurate design-wise! 😁😁

[@sianavassileva403]

if u make part 2 definitely have the costumes on the screen for more than 1 sec because I keep forgetting the little parts you describe 😅😅 best of wishes 😗😗

[@balletreign]

Noted! Thank you! Best wishes to u too ✨💕

[@ausican4ever]

Agree 😊 I was thinking minimizing it to a corner while discussing would be nice.

[@CosetteHenderson-p8j]

8:44 I just wore this costume for my duet this season! My partner wore the white version.

[@autisticdancer]

Eden: "I always envisioned Giselle, especially the first act, to be a very lighthearted, very wholesome, happy scene." Also Giselle: Literally a ballet where the main girl ballet protagonist gets basically tricked into falling in love with the main guy protagonist (who is already engaged), gets blamed for THE GUY CHEATING when his fiance finds out, Giselle goes mad, dies from a weak heart, literal ghosts in the second half who kill people by dancing them to death, another character gets killed by said ghosts, and Giselle forgiving the person who cheated on/tricked her for literally no reason. There are a lot of words I would use to describe the ballet Giselle, wholesome and happy aren't on that list.

[@Leviatiemily]

I had to replay the honor to us all. I coundnt get enough of your expressions after seeing it. Too funny! 😂❤😂❤

[@balletreign]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Wellitsjustus]

i just did a classical/contemporary-ish swan lake piece with the dying swan costume 😬

[@balletreign]

Wow!🤩 how did it go?

[@cynthiat6505]

Some of the costumes were almost awful but some were passable. I really enjoy you both!

[@balletreign]

Yes!! Some were really very good. Thanks for being here 💕✨

[@yvonnestrong3856]

Well, that was fun, although I'd really love to know about the quality of those mass-produced costimes. Some of them look more like trick-or-treat costumes than something a dancer would wear on stage (more than once at any rate). As to the costumes themselves, I don't think even Balanchine would send a dancer out to play Aurora in that pink leotard thingy. And they really ought to rename that Rite of Spring costume to something like Spring Fairy (a character in Cinderella).

[@balletreign]

Right?? It’s the spook factor! 🤪 the Balanchine comment had us rolling 🤣

[@ctooson]

The main site they viewed (A Wish Come True) does a lot of costuming for the marching band color guard world both the outside fall season and inside winter season and they hold up pretty well!! Hehe they’re wearing them about 5-15 times a season. And the price point, for a small school: pretty affordable! I’ve never been disappointed.

[@AdirondackRuby]

For the hi-lo skirt thing...I can think of one: Arabian from Balanchine's The Nutcracker...that is low/long in the back and then higher/draped across the front. Other versions tend to go for the split pants look, like what appears in La Bayadere. But I think it all depends on the aesthetics chosen by the company. --- The synced-up side eyes over the "mulan" one! You two crack me up!

[@InaMacallan]

I think most people know Rite of Spring from the Disney Fantasia movie. Waiting for a costume company to market dinosaur costumes for a modern ballet production (it would be closer to the original than the one pictured!)

[@balletreign]

Never seen Fantasia… but a dinosaur costume would be pretty epic 😂 🦖 (anyone remember Dave??)

[@ausican4ever]

Oh you have to watch Fantasia! As much as you love music and musicality, there is a lot there for you! (Including some Very interesting ballerinas...)

[@andynonymous6769]

Rite of spring analysis now!!! I'd love that!

[@balletreign]

👍🏻😁

[@turkoala9193]

Please give us a Rite of Spring analysis!

[@balletreign]

If y’all want controversy we’ll give it to u 😂 🌱

[@firstlast6109]

@@balletreign Absolutely.

[@katstephens6482]

Figure skater here, love this video. Because a lot of figure skating is inspired by ballet, we often have similar costumes. For high level skaters, also often handmade and hand embellished. However recently there's been some controversy because some people (men mostly) have been opting for much less elegant looking costumes. All this to say I would love to hear your thoughts on the Nathan Chen dorito shirt / figure skating costumes in general

[@Digglesisdead]

I was the Costume Shop Head for a ballet troupe for several years. The shop always lovingly referred to these dance recital catalogs as "Dolly Dingle" catalogs and costumes.

[@balletreign]

Hahaha our teacher used to use the term “dolly dingle” too 😂. Didn’t realize it was a universal term lol

[@Stephanie-ry9or]

Besides saving fabric (and cost), I think that shorter skirts a better for young dancers. They look more youthful and you can see whether their knees are stretched. :-) I was so lucky that my ballet school had its own costume department. Many of our costumes were simple (little skirts that pulled on over leotards) but very well made. We got more complicated costumes as we got older.

[@MiriamAl]

We recited The Rite of Spring at our small town Ballet School once and we all loved it so much!! Choreography was inspired by the one by Pina Bausch (PG Version) and we seriously had so much fun dancing this piece cause it is so different and a biiit crazy 🙈 This Ballet and stravinsky‘s Music have a Special place in my Heart since then ☺️ I really enjoy your videos and I would definitely watch your analysis of that particular Ballet 🥰 Love from Germany!

[@angelmagickcosplay4162]

As an ex ballet brat and a now hobby seamstress (with two talent neices now doing baby ballet at my aunts dance school), I think I need to learn how to make these tutus properly so my fave girls aren't let down by these mass produced things. Have yet to work out how to make the plateau tutu as yet tho 😭😭

[@balletreign]

Awww they’re so lucky to have such a lovely auntie! ☺️✨

[@angelmagickcosplay4162]

@@balletreign she has her own school now and teaches both my neices dance. My 6 year old neice did her first ballet competition last year and got placed. I may have helped improve the hideous tutu my mum (her nana) bought for her 🤣

[@Caroline-jt6ez]

The way you skipped that "Honor To Us All" costume🤣that costume is so horrible, hope nobody uses that costume for Chinese in Nutcracker.

[@balletreign]

YES and don’t get us started on Chinese from the Nutcracker lol 😂

[@Caroline-jt6ez]

@@balletreign I'm guessing your editor wanted you two to suffer seeing that costume...

[@balletreign]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@daydreameraj9777]

Please grace us with Rite of Spring analysis. 🙏🏻

[@balletreign]

If u insist 😏😁😁😁

[@daxhopkins7312]

Yes

[@pelikan2]

I was expecting that they just put some model in the costume but they look like they are dancers or did ballet before. I think it would be fun if you reacted to models doing ballet.

[@balletreign]

THAT would be a fun one 🤭🤭

[@draikairion]

Hey ladies! First time seeing one of your videos and I very much enjoyed this! You had some wonderful points and your occasional comedy was enjoyable. Thanks so much! One tiny little thing that might make a visual review video like this better would be to have the image of what you're reviewing on screen through the entire segment you're talking about it. It was a bit tricky to fully appreciate all your review points because the images of the items were on screen for a short time and I couldn't fully follow along. Even having them on screen a little longer would be lovely. Thanks again and best wishes for future content! :)

[@balletreign]

Hey there! Welcome! 😁😁. So glad you enjoyed this video, and we hope you’ll stick around. Thanks for your feedback, we’ll make note of it to our editor 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Avanell]

OMG...the pink panther music...I'm dying. Great video!

[@balletreign]

Hahah! U noticed 😂😂 thanks Avanell! 😁😁

[@deeamparo1703]

I love how you guys call the classic tutu, the platter tutu.🤣 (We called them life preservers hehe)

[@balletreign]

LIFE PRESERVERS 😂😂😂😂😂😂

You are both so lovely and knowledgeable, thanks for doing this videos. I specially enjoyed the ones of swan lake and giselle, explained.

[@okeekio]

I'm glad I have found this channel ! You won a subscriber :) for an improvement I would have personaly prefered if you added each costume photo in a small square on the side so we could see the costume you're commenting the all time

[@balletreign]

Welcome, welcome!! 🥳🙌🏻. We’re so happy you’re here. Thanks for your comments 👍🏻👍🏻

[@mariellouise1]

Right on! As a costumer, your analysis was excellent!

[@balletreign]

This is high praise thank u 🥹🥹

[@hedwig7425]

As a young dancer, my company use’s this costume for our showcase’s and we don’t normally use the costume to exactly what it says so like the dieing swan we would use it for like a witch dance. I recognize the brand as Weissman showtime and dance company use them for showcases where there isn’t one theme so every age category is doing a different dance so dance companies don’t rlly look at the name and use them for there dances(the theme they want to do like a Spanish theme or flower theme)

[@lydiahoward1382]

I can definitely see some of the strap placements and mesh paneling (as well as the skirt for the 'carmen') as almost a modesty buy-in/appeasement for parents? (Cause haven't we all had times where the initial costume was called into question by somebody's mother, haha) As for Rite of Spring, I imagine naming it that has probably caused to have more eyes on it than any other name! (It's definitely one of those ones the teachers share every semester as a laugh, but then one thinks, "well that *would* be cute for a spring recital" lol)

[@balletreign]

Haha those are some very valid points! 😂😂

[@voyaristika5673]

Fun! Enjoyed your concise critiques, comparisons to actual costumes, and how well you work together. One suggestion: Please show catalog item one final time when you finish analysis before moving on. Your summations say a lot in few words, and a final shot of the costume would go well with that. I just stumbled across your channel and am ready for more!

[@balletreign]

Welcome welcome welcome!! 🥳🥳. Happy to have u 💕✨

[@markbeck8384]

This was fun, and I agree with your opinions; but it seemed unfair. These costume companies are trying to reduce costs, thus some of the shorter skirts and smallish tutus. They pick a popular name to sell the outfit, with only a slight desire to be authentic.. just a hint towards a style. These costumes are mostly for younger girls, and recitals. I think more authentic companies usually rent costumes or have them made by a real dressmaker/tailor. Of course, most amateurs haven't anywhere near the budget to do a professional costume; but they can get the proportions, colors, style details more right. I remember as a little boy liking the sequins, cheap satin, bright colors. Oh well, got to sucker the little kids in; and save their parents money. It's a start.

[@balletreign]

We agree, It’s definitely a start. Thanks for watching and for sharing your take on it. Glad you found it fun!

[@annabellethefisher]

I actually have the la vie en rose costume and i totally agree with everything they said

[@faerienightingale9100]

I know that I only started watching this site yesterday but It enjoy each video so much and have been moved to comment more than once (or twice~ I'm sorry if I've bored anybody with my words 😏)... Anyhoo , as well as enjoying this as a former ballet dancer I loved watching as you reacted to each costume ~ you remind me of my daughter and her friend 😺

[@arasartsandjewelry7647]

The Giselle costume reminds me of a Scooby Doo cartoon episode.

[@balletreign]

We’ll never unsee it now 🤣🤣🤣

[@katelynanderson9787]

i had to wear the “dying swan” for a phantom of the opera peace and it was the worst thing I’ve ever worn😭

[@balletreign]

Oh no! At least it was put in the correct context! (Not in the dying swan 🦢)

[@janesteinberg2713]

Am a former dancer have to say you girls did pretty well

[@balletreign]

Thank you!! 😄🙌🏻✨

[@kathygodbeaux4837]

I wish you had put up a thumbnail of the costume as you were talking about it.

[@cm5061]

I'd love a Rite of Spring analysis!

[@kerriemckinstry-jett8625]

Most of these are really quite pretty, if somewhat mislabeled. The most egregious mislabeling was definitely "The Rite of Spring"! 🤣 I saw The rite of spring in person & really didn't care for it. It was very ugly in a way which fit the theme. I get that it's a piece of ballet history & it's supposed to make people uncomfortable, but nah. Absolutely do a explanation piece on it, if you wish to. I'm not sure nondancers have even heard of it. The 1910s were a strange time for ballet (L'Apres-midi d'un faune, anyone?) and I think there's this odd perception that ballet can't be shocking or push boundaries, so it's a good educational piece. (Probably don't comment on the Nijinsky piece because some of that is "adult themes" & might get you booted from KZbin). And yes, "Honor to us all" doesn't deserve comment. Umm..... 🙄

[@balletreign]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! You’re absolutely rite (😝) on the 1910s being a bizarre time in the dance world. The Rite of Spring is the epitome of that lol. But yah both those costumes were… 🙄🤣

[@chez5620]

Mid summer nights dream sounds like a Royal High set 💀

[@BeatricerIVA-lm3vp]

Bellissimo video! Anche se la maggior parte dei costumi non lo era. Credo che i costumi siano una delle cose che determinano il destino dello spettacolo. Mi è quasi venuto un infarto a vedere quei costumi di Sylvia e Aurora. Quello della sagra della primavera andrebbe pure bene, se i Ballet Russes non avessero scelto di rappresentare il lato "selvaggio e violento" della primavera, solamente che è esattamente quello che volevano fare. Parlando di costumi inadatti, una volta ho visto un tutù di Odette rosa! Tra i mie costumi da balletto preferiti generalmente ci sono i costumi di Manon e di Giselle. Grazie.

[@balletreign]

Hahaha we’re glad you had fun today! These costumes were very amusing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on these ones! 😄💕

[@susanpaul4752]

Oh SPARE ME! The Rite o f Spring????? Ignorance Reigns!

[@balletreign]

LOL 😂

[@anna-katehowell9852]

Rite of Spring analysis please!