What are some words that come to mind when you think of “fall”? Besides pumpkin spice lattes… Crisp. Colorful. Vibrant. Fresh. Chill. Fall is an exciting time of year, with the new school and dance year underway, a hint of the holiday season in the not too distant future. It’s also a great time to unveil a new look! Só Dança’s new BE YOU™ collectionfeatures multi-colored leotards with geometric designs and delicate floral patterns, long-sleeve lace, fierce crop tops, flattering skirts and more.
And part of the excitement of the new collection was the fun, fall-inspired photo shoot in Utah, featuring some incredible Ballet West dancers! We wanted to get a behind-the-scenes look at what that photo shoot was like, so we reached out to some of the dancers involved. Read on to hear about their favorite looks and what they like most about being in front of the camera.
What do you think of the new BE YOU™ collection from Só Dança?
Lillian Casscells, artist with Ballet West
“I love the new Só Dança BE YOU™ collection! All the pieces are extremely comfortable and flattering!”
Vinicius Lima, corps artist with Ballet West
“I really loved the new BE YOU™ collection from Só Dança. The materials are super comfortable, and the colors bring a smile to my face. I’ve gotten so many compliments wearing some of the products.”
Katlyn Addison, principal artist with Ballet West
“I love the new BE YOU™ collection from Só Dança! It’s comfortable, colorful and has a variety of great styles.”
What are some of your favorite pieces from the collection?
Lima
“I love all of the unitards. They are always my go-to because they’re a look by itself. You can feel well dressed and confident while not having to put too much thought into your look.”
Casscells
“I love all the leotards with lace detailing! Each leotard has a unique elegant and feminine quality to it while being comfortable and flattering.”
Addison
“My favorite piece from the collection is the Elise three-quarter length pink lace leotard. I feel gorgeous when I wear it to the studio!”
What a fun fall-themed photo shoot you were a part of! Can you tell us a little about it?
Addison
“Our fun fall photo shoot took places in three beautiful areas of Utah: Bonneville Salt Flats, Provo area, and Moab. The first day of shooting in Moab was rainy, and the weather was freezing. We spent a lot of time racing the sun, running in and out of the cars to capture us dancing in the sun during breaks in the rain. It’s actually funny to think back on that day. The second day was gorgeous! We were outside on the salt flats with wind blowing in our faces. I love the salt flats; it feels otherworldly. Our third and final day was spent in the sun with the leaves changing colors in Provo, Utah. We can try to predict the weather all we want, but Mother Earth will always have the last say.”
Lima
“All three of [the locations] were beautiful and complimented the collection in a different way. We had a bit of challenges with the weather… [but] we all felt really proud to have been able to get some good shots, and of course it turned out to be an experience that I’ll never forget.”
What are some of your favorite parts about a photo shoot, and this one in particular?
Addison
“My favorite part of doing a photo shoot is getting to work with the designers and team of creatives for the brand. The Só Dança brand has a great team working toward creating these gorgeous leotards for us dancers. Every leotard has a different feel, style and design that allows each dancer to express themselves and their unique personality. The Só Dança team is particularly fantastic. There are truly fantastic, caring people working for this brand.”
Lima
“My favorite part about this photo shoot was connecting with the team and the other dancers who were included in the project as well as getting to know them and spending time with them.”
Casscells
“This shoot was so great because the whole team at Só Dança is so supportive and light-hearted. They made sure we all felt prepared and ready to shoot. I loved that we never stopped moving. We were either taking photos or filming TikToks. They made sure we were never bored.”
Which products did you have a chance to wear for the shoot?
Lima
“I wore tights, unitards and t-shirts in the photo shoot, and I really liked all of them and their fit.”
Casscells
“I wore head-to-toe Só Dança. They provided pointe shoes, bottles, warm-ups and, of course, leotards, skirts and even tutus!”
What are your tips for a successful shoot? How do you stay warm, energized and focused?
Addison
“The top tip I can give for a successful shoot is to find ways to enjoy the experience. Laugh at the hiccups, relish the moments of brilliance, and have fun with the team. The BE YOU™ collection photo shoot was challenging because the temperatures were freezing, but I focused on the beautiful locations and the fact that I was lucky to have the opportunity to work with such an amazing team. As I’ve mentioned before, the Só Dança organization has so much pride in providing all artists with clothing that help us feel comfortable in our unique self.
A couple of other suggestions: If it’s going to be cold, bring a heated blanket. Also, it’s a good idea to prepare poses prior to the shoot that work well with your body type. The purpose of the shoot is to highlight the clothing, but having poses in mind for your aesthetic can help you feel confident and beautiful, which makes for better photos.”
Casscells
“I think the team made sure we had food, coffee and enough time to stretch beforehand, which gave us a great start, and once we started shooting we didn’t really stop, which let us stay warm and focused.”
Lima
“I think for a successful shoot, it is important to know where and when you are taking the photos and prepare yourself accordingly to your own needs. Which I think will vary person to person. I personally like to do some active stretches and a short warm-up so I can prepare my body for whatever pose I am about to create or reproduce.”
How do you think this shoot captured the new BE YOU™ collection and also the fresh fall season?
Casscells
“Being in Moab really encapsulates fall perfectly with the beautiful orange and brown hues. The collection complimented it perfectly, so I think the dancers had the easy job of being pampered with gorgeous outfits and amazing photography to make the collection pop.”
Lima
“The new BE YOU™ collection captured the love for the fall season and its colors and the intent to bring a little bit of that energy into the dance studio.”
Addison
“This shoot did an excellent job of highlighting each outfit and also each dancer’s personalities. We were given the chance to be ourselves, which, of course, is the whole point of the collection. As far as the fall season, I still dream of those gorgeous fall colors in the trees. I love spending time outside during this time of year. It was amazing to be able to do a photo shoot in a place with such amazing natural beauty.”
To shop the new BE YOU™ collection and more, visit www.sodanca.com.
By Laura Di Orio of Dance Informa.
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