CLAIRE LEVEL DANCEWEAR - making mistakes, owning a brand and giving up dancing professionally!

Another different walk of the dance industry - dancewear! Inspiring to hear how Claire from Level Dancewear has got back into the industry in a different capacity but still with the same passion!

https://leveldancewear.co.uk/

Level insta: https://www.instagram.com/leveldancewear/

Madonna live performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTaXtWWR16A&list=RDlTaXtWWR16A&start_radio=1

Thankyou for listening!

Find all the songs mentioned in our spotify playlists!

https://open.spotify.com/user/31t7e7ibcbntq6ziwbonzbra7ape?si=L0XQuZlnTYq8_ybkvlliaQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancetothispodcast/?hl=en

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dancetothispod

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Hi everyone, welcome back to Dance This Podcast with me, Zoe Francesca, and me, Jessica Faye, the podcast where you can find great songs to dance to.

SPEAKER_02 0:11

This week we have got something completely different. Claire from Level Danceware, Danceware Founder. Claire. I don't know why I said it like that. I'm excited! I'm excited.

SPEAKER_03 0:23

She's excited. She's excited. I'm excited, guys. Yeah, we we bumped into Claire at Move It, didn't we?

SPEAKER_02 0:29

We did, yes. And she's a local girl, a Leeds girl, so we had to get her on the podcast. Yeah, her stall at Move It just looks like pristine. Yeah. Perfect. And I think I'm in need of some new dancewear.

SPEAKER_03 0:44

I want that butter, what was it, buttery soft? Buttery soft. Buttery soft leotard art. Even though I don't wear a leotard either, ever. But you would if you had a buttery soft one. I might, yeah. I might. Yeah, it's really good quality stuff, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 0:57

Yeah, really, really, really nice. So definitely stay tuned to hear all about that. But just before foundation files, this week I've got a muscle gun. I actually normally use the smaller one of this, but I thought I'd bring the big one just so you can see what it's like. Um guys, this is I mean, this one is a machine. Jess you look scared. Um this honestly, do you know when like having a back massage is nice? Anything on your legs, I'm like, ah, that hurts. Or like, you know, like your calf muscles is annoying. Like it hurts to like massage that out. With this, it's great. I love it. It's got different modes. Oh my gosh, it's got five different I mean, that is extreme. Yeah, I have never used number five. No, no, no. Number two is normally where I sit. But this is so good for after dance, after running, especially. If I use this after like a big session, um, then I'm the same big set. Then it really, really, I can definitely tell the next day. If I like, if I go for a run and don't use this on my calves, I'm like, ah the next day.

SPEAKER_03 2:19

I keep forgetting I've got mine, and then I'm like, oh, oh, okay. Like, you know when you're like, uh Yeah, like, oh, I'm a bit achy. Like uh you know when you're like uh and then you're like uh uh Anthon de Beck.

SPEAKER_02 2:36

Yes, that that is when you need this, Jessica. So it's got all these different I mean this one is from a company called Muscle Gun. I don't know what what would you call it?

SPEAKER_03 2:46

This muscle gun is from muscle gun.

SPEAKER_02 2:49

But what would you call it a muscle gun?

SPEAKER_03 2:52

Uh I would. Yeah, I don't know if I've just been saying that though because this says it on the thing. I don't know. Yeah, probably would.

SPEAKER_02 2:59

So would I, yeah, a muscle gun. Um this one I like the little one. Yes, that's my favourite for your feet. That's what I was just about to say. Here it is. So it gets into like little knocks. Yeah. A big ball. Like fork. Two-pronged fork. I'm trying to describe it for people who are just listening. A two-pronged fork, which is good for down the side of your spine, but you obviously can't do that. You said, Well, I can't, I don't have bendy arms.

SPEAKER_03 3:27

No, I can't do that either, to be fair.

SPEAKER_02 3:28

Yeah, have we ever said, I don't think we said this on the pod.

SPEAKER_03 3:30

Guys, I can't do it my costumes without Jess on the gig. Which she literally can't even put a zip down, like her trying to do a quick change when she's at one side of the stage by herself.

SPEAKER_02 3:38

I have to sprint across the other side for Jess to undo my costume and then sprint back for her to do it up. I just, you know, when you put one arm at the top and one arm at the bottom and try and hold them at the back. I'm not sure. No, can you not do that? No, I can't get anywhere close. I'm like 20 centimetres away. I just split flexible shoulders, small arms. We'll go with small arms. I don't know. Uh so this one is good. I don't know whether someone with a bendy arm would be able to do it to yourself, but you need to get someone else to do that one. This one's like a I don't know, a flat stopper. I don't know what you'd call it. Like it looks like a wine, like a little handle for like a cupboard. Yeah, so there's that one, but then this one's my visual description. This one which looks like a finger.

SPEAKER_03 4:21

Um this one looks like a hot dog.

SPEAKER_02 4:34

This one looks like a hot dog. This is so good for getting into those knots. And do you know what, right? I'm gonna show you something which if you're you need to go on YouTube if you're not watching. This is actually, I've got no socks on, don't want to get my feet out. This is so good for what you talk about. Absolutely not. Oh good. The yeah, I want to get my foot out, but I don't I don't want to get my toes out on the podcast because I don't have very good toenails right now. One to fall, no, not my toenail, my toenail varnish. Let's cut this conversation. This is really good for the inside. I'll show you. Right, these are my toes. This these are my toes here. This part here, below the ball of your foot, like the inside part of your foot. This is a dream. Thank you. Why didn't you say that for five minutes ago?

SPEAKER_03 5:24

Do you know why you're a child? I'm just I'm just in awe.

SPEAKER_02 5:28

I'm a bit I'm a little bit lost, but the in step of your foot, especially after a heels class, oh my goodness, that I would just carry this around just for that. Like, like I say, I've got the smaller one as well, and that's the one I like use more often because it's a bit more like it's smaller to carry around and stuff. Just put it in your bag. That is so good for the in step. But if you don't have a muscle gun, one, I'll link it below. Two, use your elbow. Have you ever done this? Dug your elbow into the instep of your foot. Oh, you've done that in a clasp.

SPEAKER_03 5:59

I feel like you did that in your night and you were like, guys, everybody try this, and everybody was a bit like, what are we like? I thought we were doing a jazz class. Like, it's just like guys.

SPEAKER_02 6:07

It's so good. It's so good. So the opposite elbow to the opposite inside, like fleshy part in step of your foot, it just get it's like similar to that, the little hot dog bit on that. It like just gets into all the little bits, and when you've been using that, I do that straight after I take my heels off after a heels class, like been using that muscle so much to keep on your heels and not fall over. Like, it's so good to release all that after a night. Ow, I always say when you take your heels off, just get your elbow digging in there. I don't know where I first learned that. It's probably Christy Lee Manning, seeing as she everything I do is from her. She's jazz queen. Probably from her, but yeah, that does the same. That one there. Do you do it on your shoulders? You would just say that's where I always get like achy. Like, when I show it up, though, it makes my head go. I always feel like my brain's being knocked around. I use it mostly on my legs, is where I use this. You run a lot though. Yeah, that's true. I haven't for a while, but yes.

SPEAKER_03 7:06

That's mine.

SPEAKER_02 7:07

That and heals definitely like the lower part of my leg. Like I say, like when you just like this on your calf, it's like, oh, it like hurts. I don't know, but that just makes it feel so much better. So anyway, muscle gun, definitely recommend for rehabilitation. Is that the word? I don't know what the move is.

SPEAKER_03 7:24

I don't know why it came with a move, but rehabilitation.

SPEAKER_02 7:27

Rehabilitation. Is that what the word is? Like, yeah, just physiotype. Yeah, we'll go with that. We'll go with that. Definitely, definitely recommend. Anyway, let's jump into moving on. Moving on to the episode with Claire from Level Danceware.

SPEAKER_00 7:42

Enjoy welcome Claire to the podcast. Thank you for asking me.

SPEAKER_02 7:51

Yay, Claire from Level Danceware. How exciting! I can't wait to find all about having a dancewear brand. So exciting. First of all, tell everyone, I mean, I've just said it, but tell everyone what you do in the industry now.

SPEAKER_00 8:03

So um I started a dancewear brand only just two years ago, I would say. Um, and we basically create dancewear for you know, studio, performance, audition, long-lasting styles that people can wear over and over over and over again. Supportive, make people feel confident and comfortable. Yeah. Oh, it sounds amazing. That's the main ethos of it.

SPEAKER_02 8:29

Love it. Perfect. I can't wait to find out all about the beginnings of it. So let's go first of all, take it from the top is the section where you started dancing when you were little. Tell us all about that.

SPEAKER_00 8:39

So I was a dancer since I was six, and obviously, probably like most dancers, completely was obsessed. Like obsessed. It's just a different world, isn't it? I spent my whole childhood doing it like dance comp shows every weekend, and I just absolutely loved it. Like it was just everything. Was it the traditional jazz, ballet, that's ballet, jazz, tap, yeah, musical theatre, everything. Yeah. As an adult, I kind of well, all I wanted was to be like a professional dancer, and then when I got to dance college, I'm a big home girl and I thought I don't know if I actually want the lifestyle of it. And then um it was kind of like, okay, well, if I don't want to be a professional dancer as a job, I kind of have to come out of it altogether. And that was like my mindset. I was like, okay, it's like all or nothing. And then I was just saying, wasn't I? Like, I went into dentistry, like worked in dentistry for 12 years. Um such a switch up. Yeah, and then I actually started to learn ballroom and Latin as well, because that's like another tick box list that I really wanted to do. Um, and then somehow I've ended up backing the dance world, but with dancewear, so it's been like a bit of a like a bit of a circle, which is quite nice. Full circle memory. Yeah, that's so sad that you thought if you weren't gonna like it. Yeah, it was kind of like, okay, well, what I always thought I wanted to do, I kind of need to do something completely opposite then. And then actually that's not the case. Like, life doesn't always work out how you have think it has to. It there is other, you know, windows, not because we were just saying there's like so many different things you can do now, isn't there, in the industry. Like you guys, like you've got so many different projects and it's just really exciting, and it's nice to do different things, isn't it? Yeah, 100. Yeah, which is mad, like I never thought I would be, but it's amazing. I think it never leaves you, does it? Literally never leaves you.

SPEAKER_02 10:28

It's ingrained when you're that young enough. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 10:31

What college did you go to then? Where did you train? I went to Lane um when I was 18. I was supposed to go to Northern Bali in Manchester when I was 16. So I was like, okay, I'll stay a little bit longer and then go at 18. So I went for a year and I did love it. I loved it, like the classes were amazing, but then I was just like, I just don't know about the career side of it. I don't know if the lifestyle with it is for me. Um so I did make the decision after a year quite early to be like, right, okay, I need to pursue something different. But yeah, like the classes were unreal. It's like it's just it's amazing, isn't it?

SPEAKER_02 11:07

Yeah, different worlds, yeah. Training in it all the time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:11

Yeah, no, yeah, it was. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 11:13

Let's go for so we're gonna run the interview like normal, but then also bring in the dancewear side. So tell us about the start of that. When did you what made you start that up?

SPEAKER_00 11:23

To be honest, when I think back now, I think it's evolved and changed as to why I actually wanted to do it and do it. I was actually inspired by some equestrian brands. Oh, I saw a lot of them like like you do on social media, on the internet, and I loved the idea of like the sport side of it being really technical and for a purpose that's like a competitive sport, but then also being nice to wear as well, and like blending the two together. So I was like, oh my god, like I'd love to do that for dance wear. Um so I started designing all the pieces actually in 2022. What are we in now? 26. I designed the first designed the first collection in 2022. I then had my little boy Presley, so it kind of took a back seat then. Um but all I kept thinking all the way through, I remember when I was at my dance school when I was younger, I'd been to London with my mum and I'd been to the Bloss shop in Covent Garden, and I'd bought this. I my mum had bought me this little red crop top and matching shorts. And I feel like it was my first like elevated piece of dancewear, and I couldn't wait to like go to my Monday night dance class and put it on. And you know that feeling when you're like new fit when you're like I have got and you crop top and shorts on, and I am gonna dance so good right now because of it. Like, and it's that feeling I was like, I would love to create that. So that was it, that's what was in my mind the whole time. But then now it's kind of evolved from meeting our actual customers and speaking to them and what it's all about. So now I think it's important to be a little bit of a support system for dancers. Like, I met a customer move it last year that was going to dance college, and she'd bought like a few things from level dancewear, and just like the excitement, and it's like that feeling that you can be part of that next huge step in someone's dance career, which is obviously a massive important step, isn't it? Just to be part of that and just be like, okay, you've got this is for that big moment, and we're there to support you, and we're there to help, and we're there to bring you that same feeling that, like, okay, I'm taking that big step. I've got this new dancewear to find it's gonna make me feel good and confident for that big step that they're taking. So that's what it's all about now. Oh, that's yeah, and I love it. We've just had another customer actually order something, and I think her friend got her a gift card because she's going on her first professional contract, so just moments like that. I'm like, the fact that you have trusted us to buy dancewear to then go on that professional contract and site, that is just that's what it is for me. Like, I just love it. Oh, right. Your song for the first section. Tell us the song. So take it from the top. So when I was dancing, this reminds me, it just literally throws me back to it every time. Fame by Irene Cara. We all know it, we all love it. It just gives dance school, doesn't it? Gives dance college. Um, I remember the dance school that I went to in that sort of like fame era. A few of the girls like that were older than me had like this fame top. And I remember being I had one, and I I was only really little, like they didn't sell it in my size, and I used to be like, Mum, I won a fame top. I didn't even seen the film, but obviously I knew it was a dance track, and like we used to dance at school. I think they did it in a they did it in a show as well, and like I just loved it, and it just throws me back every time. I heard it the other week um when I was out. You started leaping down the show. Yeah, it's such a like fame. I remember it's so good.

SPEAKER_02 14:52

Let's play a bit if you didn't know it. Everyone knows it.

SPEAKER_00 14:56

It literally is it just embodies dancer, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_02 15:02

Yeah, 100%. Remember, remember oh, I feel like every yeah, maybe like one in three listeners will have some choreo to that. Yeah, some choreos and everyone's got a routine to that. It's iconic. Let's go on to the next section, the turning point. Yeah. When did you think we know why you started your brand, but when did you think I'm gonna actually do this and make it a proper thing and make it like a job rather than just having these designs? Yeah. When you were designing it, did you think this is gonna be it, or were you just oh, this is for fun?

SPEAKER_00 15:36

I I am learning on the job, if that makes sense. I have no experience in clothing, I have no experience in manufacturing, I have no experience in online retail. So it's kind of been a journey, and recently I have made the decision to focus on this full-time. So I think just because of the positive feedback we've had from customers, I'm thinking like, right, I really need to push this and give it what it deserves because it needs my time and effort more than what you can do, like when you're juggling loads of different things. Um so yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:13

Oh, that is so fun. I just can't I've I feel like maybe everyone I definitely have been like, oh, I'd love to like design that. You know, when you see like influence design in a collection for something, it's like that would be so fun picking the materials, picking all that, like it must be so fun doing that.

SPEAKER_00 16:29

It is fun, it's a whirlwind, and it's like such like I have learned so much in two years. It's insane.

SPEAKER_02 16:36

Well, you've got to start somewhere, yeah, and it's a complete journey.

SPEAKER_00 16:39

And I think once you get that in your mindset that like there's so much for me to learn and constantly evolve and improve, then it becomes a journey, if that makes sense. This is why I was struggling with this song. Like, when it says a highlight, I'm like, I'm not there yet. Because I'm I've just got that mindset where it's like gonna constantly evolve and constantly improve. I'm like, where how do you even pinpoint where you're like, okay, this is a highlight? Yeah, that's exciting though. It's exciting to think what's coming up.

SPEAKER_02 17:07

What are the bits of having the business that you like? Do you prefer like the designing bit? Do you like seeing it on people? Is it kind of a mix of everything?

SPEAKER_00 17:15

A mix of everything. I love seeing it on people, I love uh getting reviews and feedback. Whether that's not not negative but like constructive, um, I like to hear what they've bought it for. So, like I say, it makes it really real for us. We're an online online business, but then when you go to events and actually speak to customers, um, and they say like, oh, this is for this reason, I just think, of course, like yeah, and this is why we've designed it for these particular reasons. I do love I love hearing from the customers, that's the best thing.

SPEAKER_02 17:47

Yeah, is it just you doing it all by yourself?

SPEAKER_00 17:50

Yes, my mum, my mum helps, um, but yeah, it's just me at the minute.

SPEAKER_02 17:57

Where did you even start? Because, like I was saying, if people are oh, I'd love to design that, but then actually making it into a brand and having it, even like the labels that go on it, like packaging, like how did you start that?

SPEAKER_00 18:10

Yeah, like finding manufacturers, trialling, trialling and testing, making a lot of mistakes. Like the first samples that I got manufactured, um they were like shipped overseas and like arrived, and I was like, that's not I was like, where have I gone wrong? What have I done wrong that this has not been made to like what was in my head and like on our tech packs and CAD designs and things? So it's just that learning came where you're like, okay, this is an expensive mistake that I've just made, and what do I need to improve in how I have done this to get things back? So it's a lot of trial and error, and it it takes a lot longer than you think. Like the sampling, um, if things aren't right, you've got to have another sample because you can't then get it made in bulk without that being right because that's an even costlier mistake and things. So it's just literally it's a complete learning experience.

SPEAKER_02 19:06

Have you done all the research for it yourself and just kind of not winging it, but you're not making it up? You haven't like followed any mentor or guidance or anything.

SPEAKER_00 19:13

You're just like, that's amazing. I've read some books, but I I I will read more books. Yeah. Yeah, it's like constant learning. Yeah, and do you know when you like you're like into it? I don't know if you've started like projects before and been like this is crazy. Like, this is actually crazy what I've got myself into. Yeah, it's a little bit like that. Yeah, but you just keep going, and then you end up like the other side of one problem, and then you know that's just how it works.

SPEAKER_02 19:41

Yeah, you go through it, don't you? Yeah, and you just have that like end goal in your head of what it needs to be. Like, I was gonna say, I feel like this van was that for me when we'd ripped things out. I was like, oh. What have I got myself? We need to now finish this because I've turned it apart. Yeah, yeah, like you've started it now. I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:58

Actually, I'm invested and that's that.

SPEAKER_02 20:01

Oh, yeah, that must be a thing, like investing and and putting your money into it as well. If like a start up, anything is expensive to stay.

SPEAKER_00 20:09

Yeah, it's just it's what you weren't really want to do, isn't it? If it's something that you're really passionate about, then it's always worth it, whether other people can see it or not. So you guys will feel the same, will you? It's your vision and your keep going, your goal, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:22

Stay delusional.

SPEAKER_00 20:25

Stay delusional, make it. Oh, is it something?

SPEAKER_02 20:30

Yes. Um stay delulu before it comes Trululu or something like that, like before it comes true.

SPEAKER_00 20:36

Yeah, yeah, that's it. That's what we're gonna live by.

SPEAKER_02 20:40

It makes so much sense. I love it. When was it that you got your first customer from putting out the collection?

SPEAKER_00 20:47

I kind of just went online, bearing in mind I was like two months postpartum, and I didn't know I know, I said, I know, and I was in the thick of like being a new moment, stuff like that, and I was like, I'll just put it online because I obviously need to learn that side of things as well. Did a rough website like myself and then put it online, and like our first customer bought something, like a full outfit, and I was like, I was like, oh my god, I've got that's such a good feeling. And it's when I think it turns from a thought and an idea to an actual, okay, we've got people that need this and like it. That's when you like you feel like you're then doing this for somebody, yeah. Which, yeah, yeah. So it was on the first day that we went online, I was like, oh my goodness. Oh, first day streaming. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 21:34

Your song for this section is a banger.

SPEAKER_03 21:38

I'm a grand woman.

SPEAKER_02 21:40

I'm not gonna try to sing it. I actually love this song.

SPEAKER_03 21:42

Yeah, I don't actually hear it that much. It's not that popular, is it? But it's such a good song. It's actually on Spotify because I remember at one point you had to like, I feel like you had to dig to find it. Yeah, it's one of those, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 21:55

It's like an album track, and I've did she ever release that properly? It's like a single dog. I don't know. It's on the music.

SPEAKER_03 22:00

Video because it was like videos of her when she was younger, wasn't it? Like dancing. Oh I remember being younger. Such good stuff. I knew what I need. Oh, I might do this podcast tonight then.

SPEAKER_02 22:12

I was just thinking, like, what can I dance to this to? Oh but yeah, that's a bat that is a good one. Next section. I like to move it, move it. This is normally about your favourite dance style, which we are going to touch on. Then we're also going to go into the Clovis side. So your favourite dance style is?

SPEAKER_03 22:34

Love.

SPEAKER_00 22:34

Yeah. Adore it. Always have, always will. This is not necessarily jazz, however, the song Vogue by Madonna, just like the concept of it, like I absolutely adore. Those dances in that video and in those performances are just exceptional.

SPEAKER_02 22:51

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 22:52

I love the choreography, like the voguing, just everything about it. Like the videos in black and white, it's so sleek, which I think then ties into like the fossil jazz style vibe a little bit, which is why I picked it. But yeah, phenomenal.

SPEAKER_02 23:04

We haven't really talked much about music videos yet on the pod. And I'm there's not much in the thing now, are they? I know, and I'm gutted because some people like come up with it, it's more like a concept video. It's like here's the concepts, or like a concept album, or something like that.

SPEAKER_03 23:19

But I suppose you don't just put like a music channel on though, like you know, back in the day, like you just have the music channel.

SPEAKER_00 23:25

Bring back the music channel. Another thing with this Michael Jackson film coming out like a thriller 15 minutes long. Apparently, that was like a major milestone in like everyone's life. Yeah. Everyone like sat down to watch it, like, oh my gosh, it's been released, and like it's just not like that anymore, is it? Which is a shame.

SPEAKER_02 23:40

I know, I wish it was. I feel like some people like Sabrina, you were like, the Sabrina video's coming out today. Yeah. Like she does things like that, but again, it's more like a bit of a concept, and I love that people they're like throwing Easter eggs in for like other songs and stuff like that, and making it like the whole album mix, but just but you've got to go out and look for it though.

SPEAKER_03 23:56

Like, it's not just I mean, it's not just yeah, it's not on.

SPEAKER_00 23:59

Yeah, it's not the same, is it? Yeah, things change and evolve so much, and it's hard to keep up with.

SPEAKER_02 24:04

What would we do about YouTube? Like, that's where we literally find them. But bring back the music videos. I love music videos. Anyway, let's go Vogue Madonna.

SPEAKER_00 24:13

It literally gives me spine tingles this song. I think it's phenomenal. Do you know?

SPEAKER_02 24:19

Hold on. This song gives me like terrors because we have to dance to it and I never know the choreography. It's so hard. It's so intricate. It doesn't repeat the co- So sorry, we dance with Jenny J, who does Madonna. It it doesn't repeat, it's just like well, the chorus little bit repeats. Every single count is a different arm, and I'm like, I'm lost. I'll just end up like making vogue in making it up.

SPEAKER_00 24:47

Have you seen a perform it on the Vietnamese?

SPEAKER_02 24:50

No.

SPEAKER_00 24:51

She's dresses, is it Marie Marie Antoinette? Yes, like yeah, that like it's so good. Oh, literally so good. Oh my gosh. You know, when you find yourself in like um a scrolling rabbit hole and I'm like what hole watching Madonna perform from like 1990, like for ages. I just think, okay, maybe I should like clean up and do something.

SPEAKER_03 25:13

It's so good on this thing. I'm just imagine your reaction now if you'd have been at that Coachella performance when she popped up. Yeah, I know. I would have died on the spot.

unknown 25:20

Dying.

SPEAKER_02 25:22

Did she did they come out to that? I think it was. I think it was like yes. Have you ever tried this one? That's a clever idea.

SPEAKER_03 25:33

I've been like, is she here?

SPEAKER_02 25:35

Yeah. Oh my gosh, I love that. Um so this in terms of let's try and loosely link to styles, the styles of the clothes. So tell us more about what your style of your dance wear looks like.

SPEAKER_00 25:48

We're very minimalistic in terms of I want to create pieces that a dancer will want to wear in five years. Whereas sometimes things go out of fashion, things go out of style, you kind of go off things. Um we want to like be there for you if that makes sense, where you're like, okay, what am I gonna wear to this? And you think, right, I know that feels good. That supports me. Like you're a little bit of a safety net, so quite minimalistic, very studio friendly, um, very versatile. So yeah, that's that's the styling. I've based a lot on the first collection of like the zip because I feel like that suits so many different body types, so many different ages. It can be worn like to the top or further down, just depending what the style is. Just very versatile. Whereas we don't want to be sort of in one box, like we want you to still be wanting to wear it in say five years' time. So that's a great idea, and also a zip for getting it over your maids.

SPEAKER_02 26:45

What a dream! Yeah, the amount of times I'm like, hold the back.

SPEAKER_00 26:51

And then the literal, like anything, just like the foundation just goes brilliant.

SPEAKER_02 26:57

Definitely, is it like lots of leggings? I'm just trying to like describe it as a few.

SPEAKER_00 27:00

Yeah, so really, really soft material, really like buttery, really supportive, double lined on the leotards, nice, flattering cuts.

SPEAKER_01 27:11

Yeah. Sounds like a dream.

SPEAKER_00 27:13

Yeah, because everyone's different as well, aren't they? And there's nothing worse than dancing, something that you feel conscious or uncomfortable in. So that's what is number one to us, like really making it comfortable. And if there is anything that like we've made and I think, okay, this needs improving, then like that will be improved as things go on, you know, as we evolve, and there'll be little changes in like the leggings or something like that, where I think it could be improved based on what the dancers tell me. So it's very like feedback based. What's your favourite piece? My favourite piece is the black zip core leotard. It's our best seller, actually. And I just think that was like the first one I designed. Um I just always thought it should exist. I've actually got it in my bag, if you want to see it. YouTube exclusive. This is this is actually mine from my drawer, which is hilarious because I don't need a leotard.

SPEAKER_02 28:09

But you've got one anyway. Yeah, it's just hilarious. It's like proper staples, something that you can just pull out again and then like we've had such good feedback on it from people, which is obviously what it's all about, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 28:21

Yeah, that's what you want. So very minimal logo on the back. So it can be versatile. So for dance, obviously, sometimes you don't want anything too much. It's like a three a quarter zip. Yeah. Very soft, double lined. If you want to wear a bra, you can wear a bra. Love that. But it is designed to not have to. Yeah. So again, very versatile. And someone actually said at Move It that they'd bought it like over a year ago, and it's been washed loads, and it still is in the same condition as it was. Things like that are so important to me. Yeah, that's it. And I'm like, I was like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 28:59

It's like amazing. Because that must be hard not knowing you won't have them for a year to try that before you put them out.

SPEAKER_00 29:05

I mean, we do wash test everything, so we wash it like, and there's instructions obviously with anything like dance wear or like active wear, you've got to wash inside out, cooler, you know. Um, so yeah, things like that. I'm like, I love this hair type. Can we feel it? Yeah, I can feel. We're actually um it's going into our production again this year in young dancer sizes as well because it's going to be quite popular for uniform. They've got a uniform order for it as well.

SPEAKER_02 29:32

So that's so good. Nice, so the whole dance school can have yours with their logo on it. Yeah, so co-branded. What a great idea. That's like taking it to the next level.

SPEAKER_00 29:42

So you're getting like a level dancewear co-branded uniform.

SPEAKER_02 29:45

Love that, guys. This is such a nice material. Oh my gosh, stretchy, but like supportive, like you said. And this zip actually goes like a really good level down. That is oh so nice. I'm gonna be on the website with you. It has a long sleeve sister, but this one's the best seller. Next is put on your dancing shoes. So where we find out more about you through quick fire questions. There's only six. There's six of them, and it's ready. Warm up. But Jessie's got them on her phone today. Shall I start? Yeah, go for it. Matching or mismatch cohort? Matching. In front of the camera or behind the camera? In front.

SPEAKER_00 30:29

Oh!

SPEAKER_03 30:30

Beyoncé or Madonna.

SPEAKER_00 30:32

Both icons, but for me personally, I would have to say Madonna.

SPEAKER_03 30:35

Black and white or pop of colour?

SPEAKER_00 30:38

Black and white.

SPEAKER_03 30:39

Shoot day or design day?

SPEAKER_00 30:42

Shoot day. Pilates or spin class. Spin class. I do love Pilates for spin class. I am obsessed. Oh, I love that.

SPEAKER_02 30:50

And the last question, you can have a bit more time, don't have to be quick quiet. If your life was a dance movie, what would the title be?

SPEAKER_03 31:00

Wow, okay. I do always feel bad when you put it on a spot for the bottom. I know, but I would have just been sat there for an hour, like uh whirlwind.

SPEAKER_00 31:08

Oh, I like it.

SPEAKER_02 31:11

Noise. Because there's lots of different things going on. Yeah. Yes, I can see the covers like someone's spinning around, it's like a motion shot. I don't know why I'm not making this as a natural thing. You do that all the time. I know, I just get the vision straight away. Right, let's pull these up and dig through these answers. The first one was mismatched or matching cord. Matching UN.

SPEAKER_00 31:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 31:35

Have you got some match? Well, I suppose because it's all like staples and black stuff, it all matches anyway.

SPEAKER_00 31:40

I mean, I think other people look wonderful in mismatching ones, but I it's just like the feeling of being like sort of put together and like matching. Yes, you've still got that red crop and the short thing. It's from the blush red crop and shorts.

SPEAKER_02 31:52

Matching.

SPEAKER_03 31:53

It's been engrange. Yeah, it is.

SPEAKER_02 31:55

In front or behind the camera? You said in front. I was thinking maybe you'd gone into that let me watch on the shoot days. Do you get in on the shoot days?

SPEAKER_00 32:03

Sometimes, but it's more about like seeing the dancewear on people, which is like great. But then dance is about being is performing, isn't it? So at the root of it all, that is what it's about. So that's why I've gone for. Yeah, you've still got that. I know, it just never leaves you, does it? It's mental. No, I love being behind the camera.

SPEAKER_02 32:23

Beyonce or Madonna. You and Madonna.

SPEAKER_00 32:26

I love Beyonce though, too.

SPEAKER_02 32:27

Same.

SPEAKER_00 32:28

I feel like Madonna, when I was like younger, I was just obsessed. Oh. So you know, like the 80s, 90s Madonna.

SPEAKER_02 32:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:37

So Madonna Sarah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 32:39

I would go Beyonce. What would you go for?

SPEAKER_00 32:43

I actually find it insane that I've had a question where I don't choose Beyonce because that's mental, isn't it? But yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:49

Yeah, I don't know. I actually I can't actually answer that, you know. You've got to, come on, which one? Sorry, I don't know. I can't answer that. If you can think about it, we'll come back.

SPEAKER_02 33:01

Um black or white or pop of colour. Black and white or pop of colour. I'd say black and white. Just for like sleek minimalistic, which is yeah. Nice. Shoot day or design day? I love this question. Shoot day.

SPEAKER_00 33:15

Design day, I think I can get a little bit stressed. Oh you know when you just like wet I mean you can on a shoot day, but you know when you're just like, where's my creativity? You'll be the same though, won't you, when you're like choreographing and stuff when you want to get out of here. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 33:30

Some days you're like, what's a bit of a brick wall, don't you? You should got a bit more of a buzz when it's all coming together as well.

SPEAKER_00 33:35

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 33:37

With other people and seeing it.

SPEAKER_01 33:39

Oh, it's so fun and exciting.

SPEAKER_02 33:40

On just quickly, on the design days, do you do you have a like collection in your mind? Do you have collections like in your mind that you want to do going forward or are you like Yeah, and certain pieces that I think could really work?

SPEAKER_00 33:52

And like I say, it's sometimes a little bit slower because we're not we're not a fashion brand, we're a dancewear brand, so it's not like oh, you know, we're gonna do a summer collection and things. I'm thinking like for the long term, what are the dancers gonna wear like for the foreseeable, like long term? So that's why it's a little bit less that we won't necessarily always sell it type thing. We do have some like pieces that are more seasonal, which is always fun to do because you get to experiment more with the colours and stuff, but the core of it is like the studio uniform minimalistic vibe. So yeah. I love and Pilates or spin class. The spin class. I love Pilates, but the spin classes, yeah, I love them. Do you go to the same spin? Yeah, we got divide, it's so good. Oh, that's interesting. It's like a choreographed though, isn't it? So it gives me dance class vibes, which I think is why I love it so much.

SPEAKER_03 34:47

Right, oh nice. You'd love it. I don't know why the ending with me. It's like a blood. It's so good. Oh my gosh, we need to go. It's like literally like the lights and everything, like you're literally just like this sounds like a bit of me. Yeah, really.

SPEAKER_02 34:59

This sounds more me than the yoga. I've got all these things I need to try now. I'm making a list. Don't be moody, shake your booty, my favourite. So, this is where we do a little blooper reel and a little highlight reel. Yeah. So tell us something that you've struggled with or something that's come up and you've been like, uh.

SPEAKER_00 35:22

In terms of the dance wear.

SPEAKER_02 35:25

Yeah, let's go with that. Or anything in your dancing life, not your normal life, don't go with that dance.

SPEAKER_00 35:30

I think making the decision, making the decision to like not be a dancer, which is what I thought I wanted the whole my whole childhood. So it's just mental and then like coming back full circle, it's actually really nice.

SPEAKER_02 35:42

Yeah, that's good. Was there something that you were like, this is the last time I'm gonna do this? Or you just like finished your first year and that was.

SPEAKER_00 35:50

Yeah, finished the first year, but I genuinely thought I'd just never do it again. And then, like, to be back in the world, it's like, how has this even happened? Oh, that is so nice.

SPEAKER_02 35:59

I bet you at Move It thinking, yes, I'm still, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 36:03

And obviously, it's a lot different now as well. So, like the dance world changes and evolves, doesn't it? So I've kind of had to like relearn, relearn what it's like. Because when I was younger, it's completely different.

SPEAKER_02 36:13

Yeah, I was saying this the other day, like I felt out of it for the first time teaching a jazz class because I was like, is this what they do still? Like, is it my old school now? Like now a highlight, give us a highlight of your career. It can be when you danced or with the dancewear brand.

SPEAKER_00 36:32

I feel like in when I was dancing, I just used to love it that much that that was just what I love doing. So there's not necessarily one highlight, I just really loved it. Every day, really. Yeah, I literally died of it. Um, and then I'd say since signing the brand, seeing customers in it.

SPEAKER_02 36:54

Is it just an ongoing thing they can just order whenever it's just a no-yeah, so the best way to order is through the website.

SPEAKER_00 37:00

So it's leveldanswired.co.uk. Um and yeah, we're making like studio partnerships as well, which is good. But yeah, it's online. I do love doing the events though. Um just because you get to speak to people and like learn.

SPEAKER_02 37:16

So yeah, what they want and then put that into it. Oh, that is so fun. Oh, I just love I love like people doing things to do with dance, even if it's not like like I don't like the I've danced with like it's obviously amazing. But if you're like, I've danced with Beyonce, that's the only way to make it. Like, I think that's not a thing anymore, as much. It's like there's so many, like you were saying, so many different avenues to go in.

SPEAKER_00 37:39

But that's why I was so like when I decided I didn't want to do it as a career, I was like, okay, I can't do anything to do with it then. So it was very much like okay, I need a different life now. And then actually that's not true, and it's just like how things come back around, it doesn't always work out how you think it's gonna.

SPEAKER_02 37:54

Yeah, so yeah. Yeah, I bet you love when everyone tags you, you're like, Yeah, it's like so fun. What do you have looking forward? Do you have anything that you want to? I could imagine like working with dance schools was like a goal. Do you have any other goals or anything where you want to take it? You don't have to give too much.

SPEAKER_00 38:15

I'd love to expand that more. Keep pushing, just keep getting it out there.

SPEAKER_02 38:20

Have you ever done any pop-ups?

SPEAKER_00 38:23

I'm gonna do some more this year. We've got um an ambassador program coming up, which will be really fun for this year, and we're gonna do sort of community classes and events and workshops throughout the UK. So that'll be amazing. Oh, that'll be super. Yeah, that's so exciting. And then having all the dance right now, which you can buy as well.

SPEAKER_01 38:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:43

So because it's about the community, isn't it? It's about the dancers and doing something for them, so that'll be really good.

SPEAKER_02 38:49

That's really coming across when you're like talking about it or you're just like saying what they want and what like staples they'll want and stuff like that.

SPEAKER_00 38:56

That's a good couple of things. That's gonna be one thing, and then actually, as you go into it, it completely changes as to why you're yeah, what you're actually doing, and yeah.

SPEAKER_02 39:05

Tell us about your song for this one Dirty Dancing, Time of Your Life. Another classic, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 39:12

I feel like very classic songs. This film was the whole reason that I was taken to dancing because I used to watch it on repeat, as well as Madonna's Blonde Ambition Tour when I was younger. It's still my favourite film. The song still literally I have tear up. It's just amazing. Well, I'm gonna see. Some people say cheesy, I say again, iconic. This is about time tell you, I've never seen it before. You've never sorry you've never seen dirty dancing.

SPEAKER_03 39:46

What do you mean?

SPEAKER_00 39:48

It's an on-stage musical now as well.

SPEAKER_03 39:50

She's not saying many musicals.

SPEAKER_02 39:52

I've no, this is true. I know, I'm really, but I'll add it. I feel like now if you watch the film class, yeah, dirty dancing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:01

I can't believe you've not seen that film.

SPEAKER_02 40:04

No, I've seen obviously the iconic scenes. Yeah, definitely. I've never watched it all the way through. I just think we didn't have it when I was younger. Yeah. And then I just never got it. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 40:13

We always have a discussion that like you just haven't like it's like classic. Did you go straight into the step up era? Yeah, did you skip it 100%? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 40:20

I went from like cats the musicals straight to step up.

SPEAKER_03 40:23

Well, it was the 80s, wasn't it, did it dance him?

unknown 40:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 40:25

But I didn't watch it until I was like a bit older, like, and it was just like, oh right, okay, like I'll watch it now. Like it weren't something I grew up with. It was like I was a teenager when I watched it. But I will add it to my list.

SPEAKER_00 40:34

I mean, I wasn't alive in the 80s, but I don't anyway. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 40:38

Literally love it. So it decided to oh it's just got a long lean in.

SPEAKER_00 40:45

Oh yeah, there's a real um crescendo. Dramatic, is that the right word?

SPEAKER_02 40:50

Yeah, it is.

SPEAKER_03 40:53

Oh, you skipped about the best bit.

SPEAKER_02 40:54

Yeah, skip to the best instrumental. Such a good film. That was a good guess, actually, wasn't it? Have you ever tried to do the lift?

SPEAKER_00 41:02

Um I feel like I haven't. I can't remember why. I can't remember why. Oh my god. Why would I ever try to do that? I can't remember what the what the can I would have been. It can't have been successful else, I would have remembered properly. Anyway.

SPEAKER_02 41:19

Last section, the masterclass minute. Claire, you've got 60 seconds. Oh my goodness, okay. To give some inspiration for the next generation. It can be anything to do with dancing, to do with setting up a brand, whatever you think. Let me get my little timer. Are you ready?

SPEAKER_00 41:37

Yeah. I wouldn't be necessarily a person to give like inspiration.

SPEAKER_02 41:41

Well, come on, you're living your dream, you've got a sensor brand.

SPEAKER_00 41:45

That is so cool. I can give some life experience, I suppose. Here we go, there we go. Try to keep it to a dance. Ready, free to one game. Um, like I was saying earlier, life necessarily doesn't necessarily end up how you think it has to. So, say if you've got like a certain job in your mind that that's what success is, there's a huge journey around that and you've just got to keep going and keep believing in yourself. Um, it's not necessarily how you think it's gonna be. And it doesn't mean that just because you don't get to that point or don't you know have a particular job in mind or anything like that, that you're not still gonna be happy and still like work in that industry if that makes sense. Um just the belief in yourself, because it's a really tough industry, isn't it? In everything. So obviously I'm not a dancer, but I am in the industry in a different way. And things go wrong, you learn things and you're constantly learning. So you've just got to keep believing in yourself. That's the main thing.

unknown 42:47

Yeah!

SPEAKER_02 42:49

Amazing! That was so good. What a good piece of advice to the young people. Yeah, keep going, keep believing.

SPEAKER_00 42:54

Even though I need that advice still. But everyone does, don't they? There you go. You can just play this clip. I love being talking to you. I love being like other people's cheerleaders, but then like struggle with it for yourself. Do you know what I mean? Oh, yeah. Everyone's like that. I know. Tell yourself, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:08

Wake up, listen to that every day. Yeah. Yep, I'm good to go. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 43:12

Right, your song for this one is probably well, what a great link to this song. One of my songs in the world. Has this been on before? Surely. So an house pitch this one so much. Surely it has. Oh gosh, I believe from uh Honey Yolanda and I've seen that one.

SPEAKER_00 43:36

You've not seen Honey Dancing.

SPEAKER_02 43:38

I think that's worse than dirty dancing. I don't. I don't know. No, actually, dirty dancing's more iconic, but honey is so good.

SPEAKER_03 43:46

You'd love it. I feel like once you've seen one dance film, though, it's all the same story. No, this one isn't.

SPEAKER_00 43:51

This one isn't. Jessica Albert in Honey is oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_03 43:54

I thought you were gonna tell me off then. I thought you were like Jessica. Jessica, not.

SPEAKER_00 43:58

And that was another one that I kind of just used to. Watch it on repeat, same. And I'd be like, please do you curl my hair like honeys?

SPEAKER_02 44:04

Do you know what is for me when she covers herself in like that oil and she does music video? I'm like, that again, music videos like that's I want to be that.

SPEAKER_00 44:11

What about when you have that crop top on and that's the other one? They used to do that, and I'd be like, You want to be like school? Why are you doing that? You're not Jessica Albert.

SPEAKER_02 44:25

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 44:26

Right, you need to watch that. And I'm not sure. But this song is so good. Like, I literally blast this up in the car. Yeah. The traffic lights are. Hi.

SPEAKER_03 44:40

That's like another feel-good song as well.

SPEAKER_02 44:43

Oh, 100% a feel-good song on the little piano. Did I make so good? I can't. Do you know that song at least?

SPEAKER_03 44:49

Yeah, I know that song.

SPEAKER_02 44:50

Did that come back around recently on Instagram? I feel like it did. I think it was it related to one like video trend. Maybe, yeah, like a trending. What a tune. Amazing. Oh my gosh. Do you have anything else you want to tell the podcast? Come by your dancewear. Yeah, level dancewear. We'll pop it all. Yes, where can we find you? Your socials.

SPEAKER_00 45:11

Yes, it's leveldancewear.co.uk to order on the website. We do next day delivery if you're in a rush, which I know you do tend to like need last-minute dancewear. We've got Instagram, which is probably the best way to catch us for like new pieces and new news, things like that. And yeah, we'll keep growing with you guys. And thank you for having me on.

SPEAKER_01 45:30

Oh, thank you for coming in.

SPEAKER_00 45:32

No problem.

SPEAKER_03 45:36

Thanks so much for listening, guys. That was a really fun conversation with Claire. She's so lovely.

SPEAKER_02 45:41

Oh, so lovely, and just so fun. I love how she was like one, so passionate about like seeing people in the pieces. Yeah. But two, how she's like, you can do anything in this industry and you're still in the industry. Yeah. Yeah, like her being at Move It and like being in that. Like it is when people say like the dance world, it is so like a dance world. Yes, and I love being engrossed in it and like talking to lots of people from different avenues of the dance world. So let us know if you've got anyone else who you would like to come on the podcast or any other avenues that you want us to go down and chat to people in those avenues. You're coming out with some crackers today. I'm just I'm too excited of what happened last night, guys. We can't tell you yet, but something exciting. Keep changing. She's unfocused. I'm unfocused and just excited and loving the podcast. Thank you for listening, everyone, and we'll see you next time. See you soon.