Dance Supply Store Opens on Haverford Avenue in Narberth

Instead of trekking to Drexel Hill or as far as Wayne, local dancers can now shop for their apparel, footwear, and accessories at , located on Haverford Avenue in Narberth.

Swan Dancewear, open since Sept. 5, supplies dance apparel and footwear for ages 3 and up, as well as gymnastics and yoga apparel, accessories, and therapeutic tools for stretching and massage.

Owner Marla Kaine, a native of the Narberth-Bala Cynwyd area, has been teaching at local studios for the past 15 years and opened the store to do something different and “branch out.”  She formerly danced professionally for the Pennsylvania, Sarasota, and Atlantic Ballets.

“The benefit of the store is people get to come in and have a professional fitting,” Kaine said.  “We make sure the shoes are fitting correctly, and customers can try apparel on and make sure it’s working right for them.”

“It’s important to come to the store to be fitted because it’s for the dancer’s own safety that their shoes fit correctly and are comfortable so they don’t injure themselves."

Kaine prides her business on supporting North American suppliers, with some products made right in New York and New Jersey.  Many of the shoes she sells are made in China, too, but she wants to sustain domestic companies, the owner said.

Kaine is also interested in supporting the local dance community, and a future goal is advertising on her website when travelling professional companies come to town as well as local performances and recitals.

SwanDancewear.com also provides information for dancers and parents, like “how to make a great ballet bun.” Kaine plans to put up recital checklists, tips for sewing pointe shoes, and other useful articles once Nutcracker season rolls around in November and December.

A customer rewards program is still in the works, Kaine said, but once the logistics are worked out, loyal clients will earn store credit with their purchases.

While there are no current promotional offers, Kaine would like to put together fundraisers such as a gift bazaar at a local synagogue.

“One of my students, who is a senior in high school, came up with a project where people can bring in their old recital costumes and donate them to inner-city schools or dance schools where they don’t have the means for costumes,” she said.

“We’re still working on that,” she continued, “but people who donate would then receive a percentage off their purchase [at Swan Dancewear].”

As a seven-year leukemia survivor, Kaine would also like to host fundraisers where a percentage of the profits would benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and children’s hospitals, she said.

The store is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, visit the store’s website or “like” their page on Facebook.