Get to know 'Tights Under'

Get to know the ballet dancers from ‘Tights Under’

Do they wear their tights over or under their leotards? Let's find out....

We fired the questions at the team behind @tights_under. Meet our new social media collaborators and tights ambassadors living their best lives in the Professional Division of Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, Washington. 

Meet Nat, Jae, Lee and Stella. 

1. Tell us about your individual dance journeys to get to where you are now at Pacific Northwest Ballet. 

Natalie: I grew up training at St.Paul Ballet. In 2023, I attended Pacific Northwest  Ballet summer course and was offered a place to stay for the year as in the Professional Division. 

Jaelyn: I started dancing when I was 2, but didn’t get serious about ballet until I was 10. My new ballet teachers helped me discover my love for ballet, and I trained with them for 6 years after that. In the summer of 2023, I went to the PNB Summer Intensive in hopes of getting invited to their Professional Division program, which I did!

Stella: I started dancing when I was 3 or 4 in lots of styles, but I always gravitated towards ballet. When I was 8 years old,  I auditioned for PNB school and got in! I got serious and stuck with it through the 8 levels of the school, and during my senior year I got offered Professional Division (PD)! 

LeeAnaca: I'd begun taking my ballet training more seriously when I joined the Florida Ballet’s Conservatory in 2020. In April 2023, I attended the Universal Ballet Competition finals, where I met Jonathan Porretta, who gave me a scholarship to come to PNB and I was offered Professional Division during the summer.

2. Is it true that you prefer to wear your tights under your leotard, or is that just the inspiration behind the name “Tights Under”?

Stella: The name “tights under” was inspired by how as Professional Division Dancers we have to wear our tights under our black leotard for our class uniform, so it’s a fun occasion when we get the opportunity to wear our tights over like professionals do!

3. What’s your biggest “ballet tights ick” or pet peeve about most ballet tights?

LeeAnaca: Some of my biggest tight pet peeves are when tights have an elastic waistband; it gives you a strange line on your stomach and messes with your line. Also, when tights get holes or snags really easily.

4. As pre-professional ballet dancers, what’s your favourite way to incorporate sustainability into your lifestyle?

Jaelyn: One way I incorporate sustainability into my lifestyle is by reusing my ribbons and elastics from old pairs of pointe shoes. I also sometimes cut old tights into hair ties or make a top out of the old tights.

5.Do you have any unique or weird habits when it comes to customising your tights to make them personal to you?

Natalie: One thing I do to personalise my tights is when I wear convertible tights and flat shoes I roll them only over my little toes, leaving my big toe sticking out. It’s super random but it’s more comfortable and it helps me feel the floor and use my toes more when I'm dancing. 

6. What’s your best advice for dancers attending summer ballet intensives and are Tights Under attending any yourselves?

Natalie: I think the best advice is to be a sponge! Even when it’s hard, remember you are there to learn and grow. I attended Ballet West’s Choreographic workshop this year.

Jaelyn: My best advice to dancers attending summer intensives is you are only there for a short time so don’t stress, just relax and have fun in class. This summer I’m mostly taking classes at home, but later I will be going to Complexions Contemporary Ballet Academy  in New York! 

Stella: I am attending the Chautauqua Institution’s pre-professional programme. It’s super fun ‘cause it’s like we’re a small company. My best advice is to not put too much pressure on yourself and really enjoy it! The time flies so fast. Take it all in, and be ready to see all these people again and again throughout your career because the dance world is so so small.

LeeAnaca: I attended the Miami City Ballet choreographic summer intensive this year! My best advice is to learn from your peers. You’re around so many new and interesting people from all over the world. More times than not they all have tips and tricks that you’ve never even heard of and you can learn a lot from them about the dance industry. 

7. Which Imperfect Pointes leotard has caught your eye recently?

Stella: I love the Mersey 3/4 sleeve leotard in grey. It’s such a flattering line and a cute combination of colours.

LeeAnaca: I love the Marseille Wrap Leo with the yellow trim. My favourite colour is lavender, but I actually don’t have a lavender leotard. 

Jaelyn: I’ve been eyeing the Seychelles Leotards, I love the back, it is very flattering. 

Natalie: I love the leotards in the colour Porcelain Peach. It’s perfect for the summer and wearing all year long.