WORKING -- Keeping them on their toes

-- Story by Amy R. Spurgeon; photo by Taya Kashuba

SHE IS

Stocking up on extra-strength stockings.

LEOTARDS AND LEG WARMERS

Costa Mesa resident Linda Harber never became a ballerina, but she knows

the look.

Harber provides costumes and exercise clothes for dancers through her

business, Blisters dance and active wear, on Harbor Boulevard.

She started the business after her children took up dancing. Her

16-year-old daughter, who has been dancing since she was 2, needed

recital costumes, so Harber sewed a tutu for her. The job just stuck.

Harber doesn’t handcraft all of the merchandise in her store, but she

does carefully select the ballet slippers, leggings and leotards that she

sells.

“Tights. I need these,” Harber exclaimed after receiving a large brown

box from the deliveryman. “We ran out of one of the pairs the kids

needed. It’s like getting a present.”

DRESSING LIKE A DANCER

Because her two children aspire to become professional dancers, Harber

knows exactly what items to stock. Her store is full of dance wear, bobby

pins, ballet slippers and jewelry. She even has dance-related wallpaper,

clocks, bags and Christmas tree ornaments.

She is familiar with her regular customers, who often need specialized

orders for a performance. Harber will sometimes take out her needle and

thread and make a custom costume.

But the store is particularly fascinating to young dancers, she said.

“Those are really popular with the little girls,” said Harber, pointing

to pens topped with an oversized ball of fuzz. “And of course, all of the

hair accessories.”

BLISTERS?

Harber and her daughter named the business, but they don’t actually

encourage dancers to develop blisters.

In fact, they are more concerned with preventing and treating the

affliction common to those who stay on their toes.

“We have stuff to take care of them,” Harber said.