Stretch ribbons are a game changer
I got mine from a dance shop, Ballerina in Japan, but Bloch also sells similar ones.
I don’t use traditional ribbons anymore even when I tie ribbons in a traditional way because these high-quality ribbons are so good – They stay fit nicely around the ankle without squeezing the Achilles tendon too much.
Tips
- When you put your foot through the second loop, cross the ribbon in front of the ankle and put your toes through the loop first.
NG: If you cross the ribbon at the back of the ankle and put your heel through the loop first, you need to pull the ribbon much more because the back of the ankle is farther away from the toes. - On the other hand, to untie it, put your heel out of the loop first.
Pros and Cons
- Maybe you can tie ribbons more quickly using this method?
I’m so used to the traditional way of tieing ribbons, so this method cannot beat the traditional way in terms of speed.
- However, it’s definitely useful when I need quick changes for performances because I don’t have to tape or sew them to make sure that the ribbons don’t come undone or that the ends don’t pop out while dancing on stage
- It can be a bit too loose for some of you. If you want to tie the ribbon pretty tightly and have strong support from it, this may not be for you. You need to stretch the ribbon a lot to keep it tight around your ankle, which can be a bit tricky to do.
By the way, everyone has to know how to tie ribbons in the traditional way. If you don’t know it, learn it first 🙂
