Hello!
My name is Allison Whitley, but most people just call me Ally. This year will be my second year in the Corps de Ballet at Houston Ballet. I trained with Houston Ballet Academy and was in Houston Ballet II before receiving my Apprentice contract in 2023.
My dance bag items are essential to my daily routine, and I honestly don’t know what I would do without half of the items in there! These items get me through my long days in the studio rehearsing for our upcoming performances and help me feel my strongest, most confident self.
Pointe Shoes!
I currently wear Bloch Aspirations, and they strike a good balance between being hard enough to support and stabilize, while also allowing me to articulate through the box well and feel the floor while dancing. I usually keep about 3 pairs ready to go in my bag. If I am lucky, one harder pair, one worn pair, and one pair that's probably way too dead to dance in, ha!
Perfect Fit Toe Pads
I love my perfect-fit toe pads! They are customizable and allow you to determine how much padding you need and where your unique pressure points are for your foot! I have found that my feet have been in much better shape since switching over to Perfect Fit.
Orza Brand Flats
Every morning during barre, I like to start my mornings warming up my feet in my Orza Pros 2.0 flats. They have much more support than a typical flat shoe and significantly reduce my plantar fasciitis and metatarsal pain that I used to experience a lot with other brands.
Jule Shorties!
You will almost always find me wearing my Jule Shorties in class every day. They are the
perfect combo of flowy, sporty, and feminine. They are such a hit at Houston Ballet. Our
company ladies are big Jule Dancewear fans :)
Leg Warmers/tights
I will typically have one or two pairs of legwarmers in my bag and will take them on and off throughout the day, depending on what I am rehearsing. They keep our muscles warm, particularly when we might not be involved directly in a rehearsal but need to keep our bodies ready to go at any moment. Shout-out to the Jule warm-up tights!
Warm-up accessories
I always have a Theraband, a Yamuna ball, and a small spiky ball in my dance bag. Therabands help warm up my ankles and shoulders, especially before class. Yamuna balls help roll out sore muscles and increase circulation in the body. I like to use a tiny spiky ball to break up fascia in my feet.
Snacks!
Last but certainly not least, I keep a few quick snacks in my bag to refuel between rehearsals. My go-tos are typically a beef stick for quick protein or some fruit.
I think that is just about everything! I hope you enjoyed hearing about what I keep in my bag and were introduced to items you might not have heard of before!
Happy dancing!
-Ally
Follow Ally along in her dancing journey with Houston Ballet on Instagram at @allydancer_123
