Decide on the type of ballet stability bar you need. There are two styles and each one comes with various benefits and limitations.
The first type of ballet barre is wall-mounted, which uses wall-mounted brackets to hold it tightly in place. The advantage of this type of barre is that it remains sturdy and secure no matter how much leverage or weight you put on it. On the other hand, it cannot be moved or transported.
The second type of ballet barre is the floor-mounted style, which uses fixed floor brackets to hold it in place. This is useful for buyers who don’t have the wall space for fixing a barre, or if three or four dancers need to use it from both sides. In contrast, the barre is not as sturdy as the wall-mounted type because of the height of the supports.
Choose the material for your ballet barre. Two types of material are used, each with different qualities.
The first type, steel, is the most modern barre material, and has great sustainability because of its robust finish. However, it can look severe in a wood-finished dance studio.
The second material, wood, is the more traditional barre style. This finish looks softer and warmer to the touch than steel. Wood barres can also be sanded down and coated each time it begins to show wear.
Shop online for your ballet stability bar once you have decided on a style and finish. Some of the most reputable and popular websites are: Ballet Barres Inc, Alvas, The Cartwheel Factory and eBay. See the Resources section for direct links to each site.
Follow the online purchasing procedure to buy your ballet stability bar.
Visit a ballet equipment store if you want to test your barre before buying it. This is recommended if you'd like input from a professional seller, or would like to test the look and feel of the barre before you take it home.
Most dance suppliers will have different styles of barres set up, and will be more than happy to assist you.