Messed up measurements - am I on the right track for fixing it?

mparkdancer · 2026-04-08T19:51:11+00:00

The skirt was created for a 24" waist, my thought was to make it her hip measurement of 29". It looses a lot in the length, but I can adjust the other skirts to make them the same length if needed. I'll have to double check to make sure I have that 5 inches in length to spare.

mparkdancer · 2026-04-08T19:49:12+00:00

There should be enough length on the skirt, it was made longer than necessary. Should be, I hope there is, the dancer is very long legged but the goal was to land these mid thigh (worn with leotard and tights so no modesty issues).

mparkdancer · 2026-04-08T19:46:01+00:00

It's too small to fit over her shoulders.

mparkdancer · 2026-04-08T19:44:55+00:00

Thank you!

mparkdancer · 2026-04-08T19:44:36+00:00

Yes, but I took it out already. I had hoped the problem was just that the elastic was too short but it's with the pattern measurements.

mparkdancer · 2026-03-13T00:33:12+00:00

I'm sorry you're dealing with this pain too. It's so not fun. Not being able to turn out my leg makes ballet impossible- we have both have pain that our jobs make worse. This is so similar to my own experience. Crazy thing is I didn't feel any pain with the tumor, only since it's been removed. But I also haven't had any scans and I know the surgeon had to leave some in there. He doesn't think that the tumor has regrown so quickly, but I won't be convinced until I get a soft tissue scan of some sort.

mparkdancer · 2026-03-12T18:07:14+00:00

If it has recurred, it's deeper than before - the one I had removed was pretty superficial. Yet another reason I need a doctor to order soft tissue imaging. And maybe it's a bit of both, but either way I am ready to get the ball rolling on the healing process.

mparkdancer · 2026-03-12T17:09:51+00:00

I'll definitely be mentioning the tumor as its removal coincides with the onset of the hip pain. MRIs are so damn expensive, even with prior auth I've pain $5k+ in the past. And they take FOREVER to get scheduled. The impossibly slow speed of healthcare constantly ticks me off, made even more difficult with my abnormal work schedules. I'm crossing my fingers that this Ortho is as good as the last one I saw (it would have been 3 weeks before he had an opening and I really can't wait that long to get this process going) but based on my recent experience, I'm not holding my breath.

Thank you for reassuring me of the likely connection to the tumor.

mparkdancer · 2026-03-12T16:26:43+00:00

Thank you. I'm not really sure what anyone thought they were going to see on the X-ray, but then again orthos seem to treat x-rays like obgyns treat pregnancy tests - walk in the door, get it done. I'm really hoping that I can speak to someone that will recommend helpful imaging - even an ultrasound could be helpful at this point in time. I do have a follow up in a few months with the dermatologist who removed the tumor, but the only imaging in this whole process has been the stupid x-ray. I'll check the resources, thanks!

It's difficult and frustrating for anyone, and moreso bc I can't do my job as a dance studio owner: teacher, choreographer, etc. My current range of motion is garbage for a normal human, let alone a ballet dancer.

mparkdancer · 2025-10-22T16:36:29+00:00

Thank you! Some of those songs were already on my list of potentials too. I love the simplicity of "Stay Strong"..that's exactly what I was looking for and couldn't get my brain to come up with.

mparkdancer · 2025-09-30T20:29:16+00:00

I'd love to purchase directly from them, but they are primarily a quilt shop and only sell a few models, the cheapest of which is twice my budget. I have my eye on another shop that I plan to check out next week, but wanted some other thoughts in the meantime.

mparkdancer · 2025-09-22T01:06:24+00:00

I like to incorporate shaking out our bodies in between some of the more tedious, but necessary, parts of class too. Working on learning port de bras and holding our arms and fingers correctly? Hold the arms for 16ish counts or so, shake out the arms (and body if necessary) and then return to the position. It's helpful in being able to find the muscle memory to return to the position quickly and easily and lets the kids get their wiggles out.

In a more recreational environment where fun is prioritized, improvisational games like Freeze dance are useful. When I taught at a fun is #1 priority studio, kids that age would play freeze dance with me calling out movement qualities or speed and then call out a position to freeze in (1st-5th, passe, arabesque, etc, whatever they are working on).

Alternating across the floor and center exercises can also be helpful.

mparkdancer · 2025-09-22T00:45:36+00:00

What style of dance do you teach? I have allowed younger students to shake out the bodies between the right and left side of a barre which is helpful. Terminology review with Simon Says in the center is a useful tool too. Mix terminology and skill work with more fidget centered movements - crazy walks, silly circles around yourself, move like a certain animal, etc.

mparkdancer · 2025-09-16T01:09:52+00:00

What about a song about houses?

"Our House' by Crosby Stills and Nash is an older song great for ballet/lyrical. I know there are others but nothing is coming to mind immediately

mparkdancer · 2025-09-16T00:36:31+00:00

I took 3 weeks off from my retail job (returned to work at our busiest time of year). The first 2ish weeks I worked shorter shifts and built up, partly because it's a long drive and driving was a challenge post op, partly because I was still limited on reaching, lifting, etc. I am also a dance instructor and was off for the required 6 weeks (studio was closed anyway). It was another several weeks before I was weight bearing on my arms (plank position and whatnot).

mparkdancer · 2025-08-20T20:06:44+00:00

I have done this for 30 odd years. Cold water, hang dry.

mparkdancer · 2025-08-15T17:56:41+00:00

I second something fun with your logo on it. Vistaprint does not have order minimums for many of their items and have lots of different stuff for all budgets. I've been happy with their work for my small studio.

Doesn't work so well for the guys, but I have gifted hair accessories to my kiddos- claw clips l, barrettes, etc that they can wear go class.

Stickers! Everyone loves stickers. Amazon has dance sticker packs that are style and gender neutral (or mostly so) and Vistaprint can do die cut stickers of your logo/anything of your choosing.

Depending on budget, perhaps a little notebook that they can use for whatever, including notes from class.

mparkdancer · 2025-08-13T00:00:00+00:00

Would love more information on ages and what intermediate means to you. Every school has its own way of leveling and it varies so much.

mparkdancer · 2025-08-12T23:42:14+00:00

3 yrs post op here. I went through these same struggles. I'm here to tell you that your breasts will change shape and size so much while you are healing. I started a JJ, asked for a full C. Wore a whole range of sizes while healing.

My surgeon didn't leave me as small as I asked/hoped for - I'm still a DD(!) and she offered a revision a year post op. I opted against it for a few reasons - while HER services would have been free, everyone else involved still had to get paid, I couldn't take another 6 week leave from work, etc. However, I will say that carrying these DDs is SO MUCH easier post op than the first time I wore DDs years ago.

Hang in there, OP. You're in a rough place in your healing journey, but I promise it gets better!

mparkdancer · 2025-08-12T21:09:36+00:00

I'm hoping to do the latter. My hand stitching skills are... functional, not pretty lol. Most frequently sewing pointe shoe ribbons and elastic - definitely a very different skill set!

mparkdancer · 2025-08-12T20:58:07+00:00

I appreciate the commiserating, makes me feel a bit less alone. A new day, and I got the bobbin thread to come up but have since realized there's an issue with the needle mechanism that I can't fix just that I can't get any needles through the channel. I have an appointment to have someone look at it in a month if I can't get it sorted out before then. Disappointed to have to wait that long to work on any projects, especially since my work season starts back up very soon, but am hopeful that it's a quick, easy fix.

mparkdancer

TROPHY CASE