Cherry Blossom Spring Line

Spring has arrived at AinslieWear and to celebrate, we’ve released our Spring Line in perfect pastels; Lavender and Seafoam Green. At AinslieWear we source the most unique and ravishing fabrics from around the world to give dancers that one of a kind look, and spring simply takes the cake with our Cherry Blossom embedded mesh fabric. It’s durable, soft as can be, and elegant as ever. Coming to a retailer near you this week. Our Spring Line is a Limited Edition Line, so get them while they’re hot!

Swan Lake

There were many ballets that I loved dancing in over the course of my career and Swan Lake was one of the highlights. Although I was much more of a neoclassical dancer, there is something special about the big classics when one is a young, striving ballet dancer. I was in the corps de ballet at the National Ballet of Canada when I was fortunate enough to dance in Eric Bruhn's version of the timeless classic.

It was a challenging ballet for the women in the company, with so much Pointe work, and 4 acts of it! That said, I could tirelessly listen to Tchaikovsky’s rapturous score. The lament scene had such lilting and almost hypnotic music. I can still recall the steps from that very scene with such clarity - I absolutely loved it. There were also inspiring guest dancers from around the globe, and speed-of-light costume changes from full character dress and boots, back into our beautiful tutus and Pointe shoes. It was exciting and I have many vivid memories from that season of dance. To top it all off, the Danish dancer noble Eric Bruhn himself was there to teach class and coach us through the production. I had always been in awe of him and it was truly an incredible experience to be in the presence of this brilliant and distinguished artist.

Creative Contest Entries

Our Ainsliewear Photo Contest began in June 2012 and we are delighted by the photographs that dancers across North America have sent in. The creativity that dancers have shown, taking their pictures in forests, on the beach, in swing sets, next to brick buildings, on city streets, in public settings and more is very inspiring. Dancers have taken AinslieWear to the streets and beyond! Drawn monthly, we have awarded AinslieWear bodysuits to dancers in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Nova Scotia, California, New York and Texas.

We give a special salute to Milar Menard of British Columbia who took her photo on a mountaintop!

Birds & Dance

Birds have a relationship to dance that dates back for centuries. Perhaps it's their defiance of gravity, or the grace and effortlessness they exude that ballet in particular has strived to reflect and recreate. One of the most memorable pieces of music to a dancers ear, The Dying Swan speaks to generations of dancers of that last moment of freedom or flight. Russian Ballerina, Anna Pavlova from the early 1900’s is most recognized for her rendition of The Dying Swan, which she performed 4,000 times!

Birds even made their mark in the Art Deco period, which flourished in the 1920’s.  We love how they have recently made a come back in fashion; appearing on clothing, necklaces, pins, wall prints, ceramics, vintage fashion and so on.

Ballet, birds and art deco resonate a sense of timeless elegance.

(Photo Credit: www.etsy.com/listing/91263974/art-deco-print-of-woman-flapper-with)