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Hello Lady-Lindy Hoppers of the world!
I’d like to ask you an important question:
Does your bra pass the Charleston test?
I wasn’t sure if I should post this publicly or not. It’s a bit uncouth but I do feel that it’s an important topic.
In addition to being a Lindy Hopper, once upon a time I used to manage a lingerie store and breast health and care of our feminine form is an important topic for me. Let’s talk about DANCE BRAS.
A good dance bra makes a huge difference in how you carry yourself and your confidence on the dance floor. I used to be extremely busty (read: 34DDD/F) and I learned quickly that wearing the right dance bra could make or break my dancing experience. My personal size and situation have changed but picking the right dance bra is still something that I take very seriously.
I know that this is less of an issue for some women as for others, but no matter your size, I think it’s worth considering. I do NOT wear the same bra for every day life as I do for dancing.
When you’re not supported and you bounce a lot (too much), it actually causes the breast tissue to break down and we can start to get saggy… and then even bouncier. Not ideal! A good bra is great for protecting your breast health, and it will also make Charleston a lot easier and more pleasant.
My current favourite bra is the Lululemon Ta-ta tamer. It’s terrific. I use it both for dancing and the gym. I also enjoy that it comes in a variety of colours.
Next is the Shock Absorber. This is a phenomenal bra. For many of them, you have to be able to reaching behind your back to do them up which, for me, is the only draw back. You have to slip it over your head and then hook it behind and I have very inflexible arms and have a hard time with it, but if you’re not weirdly tight in your rotator cuffs like me this brand is AWESOME. Check out the really informative website. They do carry these at the Bay.
When I was larger, I used to rely on Lilyette bras as my go-to brand. They are fabulous full-support bras that are not specifically sport bras but they’re awesome and I found them to pass the Charleston-test.
Old videos from the bustier days:
There are other great bras out there too. It’s a matter of finding the right bra for you and that can take some time and effort. Also, don’t cheap-out! You might have to invest anywhere from $50 to $120 or more for a good bra, depending on your size. That might seem daunting and unfair, but you’re worth it! If you haven’t been properly fitted for a bra recently, this is also important and really worth having done.
Happy Charleston, and don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions.
Mandi
Mandi Gould is Director & Head Dance Instructor for Bees’ Knees Dance in Toronto and St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.