I am so excited to announce Setting The Barre‘s first ever giveaway!

I’ve teamed up with the lovely creators of some of my favorite dance/activewear apparel brands to create a fun, fresh outfit (valued over $200!) that can take you to the barre and beyond…

For a chance to win all 4 pieces (The Modern Classic in ‘Mocha Grey’, The Short Shorts in ‘Vertigo’, The Full Leg Rubiawear Leg Warmers in ‘Soft Ash‘, and the Odette Wrap Top in ‘Muted Grey’, all size small), follow these easy steps:

1. Follow @settingthebarre, @gwenythbrand, @rubiawear, @k.deer, and @michellehaswell (of danseuseballetwear).

2. Tag 2 friends in the comments section on Instagram.

For extra entires, subscribe to Setting the Barre via email (see sidebar!), follow Setting The Barre on Facebook & Twitter, tag a friend on Instagram, or leave a comment below letting us know which piece you most look forward to trying out!  A winner will be randomly chosen and announced next Friday, May 15.  Good luck!

As many of you know, I’m all about super soft, high quality pieces that are strong and beautiful enough to function in multiple settings.  To learn a bit more about each piece, read on…

Do you remember my favorite workout top, the Modern Classic, from up and coming ballet-inspired fitness line, gwenyth?  The top reflects the very nature of ballet, combining elegance with functionality to yield a product that is both visually flattering and technically supportive.   The top seamlessly transitions from day to night, with adjustable ties on the side that transform top to tunic, studio to real world, day to night.  The Modern Classic knows no limits.  And it’s time for you to experience it for yourself in the chic Mocha Grey.

I first learned of K-DEER back in the darkness of one oppressively snow-filled February.  Their vibrant prints and adorably teeny “bum-bums” were such a breath of fresh air, yanking me out from an icy hibernation and propelling me straight into a newly motivated mindset.  That day I began a new cross training regime that I have actually stuck to several months later (#proud), a feat which I honestly don’t think could have been possible without that energetic, cheeky boost from behind (couldn’t help myself).  The yoga apparel brand seems to be everywhere now, from the pages of popular fitness and style magazines, to the sculpted legs of NYCB principal dancer, Sara Mearns (above), thanks largely in part to their infectiously popular Instagram feed which showcases gorgeously curated snaps of inspiring women posing in the funky patterns.  And now is your chance to join the crew of super soft, seamless and sassy in their best-selling “short shorts“.

On any given day, in any rehearsal, you will find me in some variation of my Rubiawear leg warmers.  Whether they are extended to their full glory, sheathed over both legs at the start of barre, rolled up for pointe work in the center, or hugging one sore thigh in a long rehearsal, wherever  I go, my beloved Rubias follow.  Quite possibly my most-loved warm ups to date (that’s a bold statement, you guys!), the ultra soft, ridiculously flattering wamers are designed, created and produced entirely by stunningly charismatic Ashley Ellis, a principal dancer at Boston Ballet, who models a quirky collection in the above photo.  I currently own two pairs, but look forward to the day I’ve acquired enough to pile on 4 different patterns at once because, let’s face it, Ashley makes the indecisive leg look incredibly cool.  Start your collection with the full leg “soft ash” Rubias, which, by the way, just might be the softest garment ever.

One of my most recent favorites, Danseuse Balletwear creates fashion-forward warm-ups that flatter all body types.  The Odette wrap top (pictured above) is a thing of draped beauty, floating across the shoulders and twisting up into an airy adjustable tied back.  Every piece from the collection seems to be daintier than the next, indulging in the ultimate ethereal ballet reverie by adding a wisp of grace to every line.  I want to wear this top to class and then add some jeans and swingy earrings for a drink with friends.  Multi-tasking, soft and beautiful balletwear, are you sensing a theme here?

Good luck!

A huge thank you to Michele Cheowtiraku Braxton, Kristine Deer, Ashley Ellis, & Michelle Haswell for their generous donations.  Photos via gwenyth, K-DEER, Kenneth B. Edwards and Danseuse Balletwear.