FLOOR
If you have been to PAW, make sure that you have a surface with similar FRICTION to the Marley in the studio (Studio A). You do not want to slide around and you do not want to apply too much pressure to your joints by not being able to slide enough.
You may find that:
Some woods and tiles are actually too slippery.
Carpet is not the worst thing but may be unsafe to turn on especially if it has longer fibers.
Cement is not the worst in terms of friction though will be damaging to your shoes and more importantly to tissues in jumps and descending from your relevee. These actions are not recommended on cement.
Make sure you have 4 - 6 feet in all directions when taking class.
Some dancers are opting to purchase floors. Some recommended products are available on this page (if they are not up yet, it’s because we have not done our research).
Here is a youtube video of someone who opted to build her own sprung dance floor.
MIRROR
You probably have one at home and any size will do!
Position it in front of you at the barre anchored in a safe way. Sometimes mirrors can tip and fall because the ground absorbs gravity when you jump. This may be a great time to practice feeling your body without the mirror if one is not available to you. Keep the same front if this is the case for you throughout your practice. The more used to your surroundings you get, the easier it will be to locate yourself in space. If a big window is available to you, your reflection can be used as evening falls or in shaded locations as a mirror.
Some dancers are opting to purchase mirrors. Some recommended products are available on this page (if they are not up yet, it’s because we have not done our research).
BARRE
A sturdy barre is important for classes. It is also important that you use the barre as if it were an outstretched hand from another person. Unless you have a leg up on it stretching, there should not be much weight on it at any given point.
You can use a chair back as a barre if you have one that’s high enough. Your barre should be positioned somewhere in between the bottom the back of your rib cage and the bottom of the the front. If you take your fingers and try to stick them a little under your ribs (without digging) in the front and the back, you should be able to find a height difference. To make your chair sturdy, simply put something heavy that won’t break on the seat where you normal sit (3 or four books, a kettle bell, a sibling many things will do).
Some dancers are opting to purchase barre. Some recommended products are available on this page (if they are not up yet, it’s because we have not done our research).
