Capezio's versatile unisex Fizzion Dance Shoe manages to balance out the solid look of a dance trainer but feels like you are wearing only a pair of socks!

Capezio fans who love the FootUndeez will definately love the padded suede patches on the ball of foot and on the heel of the Fizzion which offer comfort and shock absorption. ExoArmor duet suede sole patches enhance articulation and provide traction.

The Capezio Fizzion is constructed from breathable Polyester/Lycra, sheep skin leather upper, and a plush elastic topline.The material on the sole is a strech fabric that acts as a second skin and stays with your foot as the dancer rolls right through from a pointe to a flex, the Fizzion hugs your foot and heightens your natural movement.

Instead of streamlining the shoe, the Capezio Fizzion has been designed with straps and lace to offer each dancer their own unique and individual style that can be customise to your fit preference using the interchangeable strap and lacing system which can be secured in several ways to wrap the angle, provide instep support, or arch support with heel security- there are at least 9 different ways to configure the strap & laces!

This is a good shoe choice for professional dancers and serious dance students who want a barefoot feel. The sizes tend to run a little small and the shoes are made to fit like a tight sock so if your feet fall between sizes then it would probably be best to choose the larger size.

Ballet is hitting the headlines right now with the London 2012 Olympics searching for 10,000 performers to take part at the prestigious opening and closing ceremonies next July. This is an amazing opportunity for dancers across the UK to become a part of history and impress the billions of people worldwide who will be watching next July’s extravaganza at the Olympic Park in Stratford!

Oscar winning director Danny Boyle is specifically searching for talented Pointe trained dancers to perform on this world stage. London Mayor Boris Johnson has said how this is an experience for performers no cheque book can buy and is a chance for performers to be one of the greatest shows on earth.

Auditions and rehearsals for the Olympics will soon be underway and here at Dancewear Central we have everything any dancer would need to stay stylish and comfortable during their long practice sessions – Our new range of Bloch leotards are made from Microlux which offers a luxurious appearance whilst the rapid moisture wicking ensures dancers stay comfortable so they can focus on their performance.


A classic camisole leotard is always a favourite in the dance studio and this seasons new range from Mirella ticks all the right boxes. Leotards like the Mirella M2031M Cami Leotard with side front ruched detail or the Mirella M202LM Camisole Leotard which features ruched front and V shaped back and bra shelf lining. The whole collection features radiant colours and are suitable for all levels of dance.

Along with stylish practice wear, a dancers best friend if often their shoes – Something Sir Paul McCartney knows all about after spending many hours with the New York City Ballet who are performing the ballet Sir Paul has written himself! The world premier of ‘Oceans Kingdom’ took place at the home of the New York City Ballet and tells the story of a princess called Honorata who is snatched by an evil queen before being reunited with her love.

Not only did the ex Beatle write the Ballet, he also had creative input with the choreography and it was during rehearsals he witnessed the grueling nature of a dancers profession and the ‘occupational hazards’ that are involved. Dancers must take extra care of their feet and choosing the right fitting shoes and footwear accessories will help a lot in reducing injuries. For both beginners and advanced dancers alike, the range of Pointe shoes Dancewear Central stock enables dancers to match the characteristics of each Pointe shoe with their particular foot shape, level of experience and requirements whether for class or a performance. We Have a carefully selected a range of Pointe shoes from Capezio, Grishko, Kersha and Sansha – all available to order online.

Warming up correctly by using a resistance band can help dancers of all levels to strengthen specific areas of the body. The Bunheads exercise band can help with Pointe work preparation and can assist with injury recovery. It’s must have dance bag accessory available in 3 resistance strengths. The Bunheads resistance exercise bands are also ideal for young dancers preparing for Pointe work and a The Super Heavy Weight is great for male dancers too.

Footwear accessories such as the Bunheads Jelly Tips are especially useful for use with Pointe shoes. The inside is coated with gel to help alleviate the pressure that can cause bruised toenails and can be cut to size to create a perfectly seamless toe sock. Whist a A Tendu Toe Spreader is solid gel spreader used to help keep the big toe joint straight in the Pointe shoe and can be worn when there is a gap between the big toe and 2nd toe.

For Pointe work in the studio or on stage ballet dancers often use rosin on their Pointe shoes. Rosin has a strong friction-increasing capacity which makes it suitable for using to increase grip and control when dancing on Pointe.

As Sir Paul McCartney’s ballet dancers and the lucky Pointe work performers at the Olympics will know, foot injuries are part of the job, but they can be reduced by having the correct fitting shoes and accessories to help alleviate the risk of injury and future foot problems.

We all love a good film and some of them are so good that you can watch them over and over without ever feeling bored. Dance plays an integral part in a lot of films.... but which dance scenes are the most memorable from the movies? Here are three of our favourites...

1. Save the Last Dance

Julia Stiles plays a classical ballerina in this film. She meets a (rather dishy) hip hop dancer and while it seems their two 'styles' are a million miles away, the fusion of classical ballet with hip hop works. And whether you love or hate the film, you can't deny that the heroine's final audition dance scene is simply stunning.



2. Pulp Fiction

A classic film and a favourite for many, Pulp Fiction was a global hit. 17 years after its release it continues to be just as acclaimed. 'That dance scene' might not show off any classical moves, but there's not denying it as one of the most memorable in a much loved movie.



3. Dirty Dancing
You could argue that's far too predictable to include, far too cliche or perhaps simply overused, but think 'dance in the movies,' and everyone thinks 'Dirty Dancing.' Patrick Swayze sent women worldwide weak at the knees with his moves in the unforgettable final dance....

Youtube has proven a global phenomenon for sharing videos. The most popular videos range from “talking” dogs through to music videos. Bloggers, celebrities and animals have all enjoyed massive success.

But the video most widely regarded as Youtube’s most popular is a video based around, you guessed it... DANCE!

The Evolution of Dance is a video uploaded to the video sharing giant in April 2006. Since then it has enjoyed more than (as of October 2010) 155 MILLION views!

The video is a “dance” performance of sorts by comedian Judson Laipply. It shows him dancing (completely differently) to snippets of various musical styles ranging from Elvis right through to Kung Foo Fighting!

What this does demonstrate, albeit in a hugely comedic way, is just how diverse and hugely entertaining dance can be! A really thoroughly enjoyable video!

London’s ‘Move It,’ dance festival proved once again this year that London is the place to be to celebrate the diversity of dance. And in keeping with this ethic, Honey Kalaria (who is best known for her role as a choreographer on ‘So You Think You Can Dance,’) has announced an exciting dance contest. The Bollywood Dance Championships will take an X-Factor style format and will be an amazing opportunity for Bollywood style dancers to win an excellent prize of £30,000 worth of tuition and a very real opportunity to land roles in film and stage productions.

Kalaria has her own dance school in London and wants to encourage dancers of all backgrounds to take part in the Bollywood Championships, saying, “The idea is to encourage people from all dance genres and cultural backgrounds to participate and compete: Indian Classical to Bhangra; Salsa to Belly dancing, right through to Hip Hop and Street.”

Bollywood is a spectacularly colourful form of dance, incorporating traditional dance styles from India with Western dance – with consistently spectacular results!

The auditions kick off in London in April and there will be further heats for those who make it past the judges in May, with the final stages scheduled for later in the year. The competition is divided into four age categories, catering to 4 – 7 year olds, 8-12 year olds, 13 – 17 years old and then the over 18s. Full entry conditions and audition schedules are available from the Desitara website.

The Dance Champions group was put together in October 2009 at the request of the Secretary of State for Health. Its aim is simple – get 100,000 people dancing as a regular activity. The website, www.dancechampions.org is an excellent place to find out more about dance related activities taking place in each region. It lets dance providers upload details of events they are holding and allows the public to view all these.

But the concept is more than just a resource for event listings. In February, the group held a Summit, which included a cross section of industry professionals, which looked at barriers to dance. What stops people from getting involved? Is access to dance related activities good enough for everyone? Can everyone, irrespective of age or ability, access a dance activity suitable for them?
The findings of this summit will be used to improve access to dance for everyone. The site will grow to show a massive range of events and from Autumn of this year, the Dance Champions Group will be actively supporting a key dance event in every single region. They’ll be seeking out volunteers closer to the time to help with this.

It seems there is no better time to try and get Britain grooving! The popularity of dance in TV shows and in the media is unprecedented and the British health authorities have recognised this as an opportunity to encourage us all to don our dance shoes and get active.

You can get involved with Dance Champions group by submitting your listings, or if you’re not a provider, by encouraging dance providers to submit their listings. You will also be able to volunteer to help run key events closer to Autumn or get involved simply by turning up and getting dancing. Remember, the group wants AT LEAST 100,000 of us to dance regularly - you can be one of the,.

It seems we can’t turn on the TV these days without coming across an offering of something dance related. Since 'Strictly Come Dancing,' won the hearts of the British public and its US counterpart did the same stateside, more people are pulling on their dance shoes. And it seems the explosion in popularity of dance is set to infiltrate the movie scene too!

MTV’s second original film, ‘Turn the Beat Around,’ produced solely for broadcast on the small screen, hits the television sets around the USA today with a scheduled DVD release date of 9th March.

The film tells the story of 21 year old Zoe, who works in a shop while working towards her real dream of being a professional disco dancer. Struggling to make herself known on the dance scene in Los Angeles, Zoe and others seeking out the same, set out to get themselves seen on LA’s disco club circuit.

There’s a back story to the plot too, as it emerges that Zoe’s Mother too wanted to be a professional dancer. Instead, however, she now works in a call centre and is married to a less than likeable chap. This of course makes Zoe ever the more determined to succeed to fulfil both Mother and Daughter’s dream.

The film has a cast that includes musician, Jason Derulo, who plays a pop star seeking out the next big thing in dance and if the reviews are anything to go by, features some incredible contemporary disco routines. David Hinckley of the NY Daily News says the dance scenes, ‘Inspire some of the best scenes in the movie.’

Fans of disco music might also be pleased to know that the soundtrack promises to be a modern take on some of the great disco classics and has been well received!

However, as there’s no UK screening date available for MTV viewers, it might be a case of those of us on this side of the Atlantic waiting for the DVD release. Fortunately, that’s only a couple of weeks away!

We’ve been crazy about ‘Strictly Come Dancing,’ since its UK TV debut back in 2004. In fact, the show is credited with increasing the uptake of dance here, with dance schools up and down the UK reporting surges in registrations during and immediately following each series. ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ the US show based on the hit BBC show, has caused a similar effect on the other side of the Atlantic too.

And they’re not daft, at the BBC! The ongoing and consistent success of ‘Strictly,’ proved to bosses that the combination of reality TV and dance is a winning one with the British public. And no sooner had the seventh series of the hit show finished in December 2009, when the BBC launched another dance related reality show. ‘So You Think You Can Dance?’ is based on the US show of the same name, which has been running in the States since 2005. The first series started in January 2010, less than a month after the ‘Strictly,’ final. Presented by Cat Deeley, who has also presented the US version since the second series, the show invited both amateur and professional dancers alike to audition. While the first in the series introduced some of the auditionees, the focus is those who made it to the final 14. Each of the finalists performs a routine alone and as a part of a pair each Saturday, with a female and male participant eliminated weekly. Unlike ‘Strictly,’ no celebrities are involved. Over 6 million of us tuned in for the opening show and it looks set to prove a hit with UK audiences.

The British public’s love affair with dance continues to grow, something again attributed to media coverage of the various dance forms and a growing number of dance related TV shows.