As a Team USA Figure Skater, two time National Medalist, and entrepreneur with two patents for inventions, Pooja Kalyan has achieved a lot at the young age of 17!
NEWS
Aurora in the News
Spotlight Interview: Aurora Tights x Pooja Kalyan
Ashley Stout
Posted on August 12 2020
As a Team USA Figure Skater, two time National Medalist, and entrepreneur with two patents for inventions, Pooja Kalyan has achieved a lot at the young age of 17!
Spotlight Interview: Aurora Tights x Vanessa James
Ashley Stout
Posted on August 05 2020
According to her mother, Vanessa James and her sister Melissa went on the computer after watching the 1998 Winter Olympics and made a contract saying “Mom and Dad, if we both get straight A’s, will you take us to figure skating lessons at six in the morning?” The rest is history.
Spotlight Interview: Aurora Tights x Ali Willingham
Ashley Stout
Posted on July 29 2020
Ali Willingham auditioned for the University of the Arts dance school on a dare. Now, he is a choreographer and coach at PHILADANCO. Read about him in our blog!
BEHIND THE SEAMS: AURORA TIGHTS
Ashley Stout
Posted on July 29 2020
Created by three extremely accomplished competitive ice skaters and dancers, Aurora Tights is an activewear line designed for athletes and artists of all skin tones and sizes.
3 Women Founded a Brand That Brings More Skin Color Diversity to Dance Tights
Ashley Stout
Posted on July 29 2020
Jasmine Snead, Imani Rickerby, and Sydney Parker all experienced marginalization in their respective sports — and this occurred in part because the clothing they wore made them feel like they didn't fit in. That's why their brand, Aurora Tights, came to be.
Spotlight Interview: Aurora Tights x Jaime Atilano
Ashley Stout
Posted on July 15 2020
Jaime Atilano is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland and is an influencer, a writer, and an advocate for change in the LGBTQ+ community! Read our exclusive interview now!
Spotlight Interview: Aurora Tights x Priscilla Del Castillo
Ashley Stout
Posted on July 08 2020
Being a model who has seen herself on a billboard in Times Square, the beautiful Priscilla Del Castillo is living the dream and amazing people everywhere while embracing body positivity. Read our interview with her!
Changing the Culture: Celebrating Diversity in Synchro
Ashley Stout
Posted on July 03 2020
Synchronized skating is all about matching – from dresses, to extensions, and even nail polish. Scores are partially based on precision and unison, so every movement must match perfectly. With this in mind, how do we embrace diversity within our sport?
Spotlight Interview: Aurora Tights x Kameryn Everett
Ashley Stout
Posted on June 26 2020
Kameryn is a figure skater at Oakland University who has been skating since she was seven-years-old. She is studying exercise science and is also a coach for Figure Skating in Detroit! We got the opportunity to catch up with her recently.
Spotlight Interview: Aurora Tights x Anniyah Gillet
Ashley Stout
Posted on June 24 2020
Anniyah Rose Gillet is a 9-year-old dancer who has been dancing since the age of 2. She trains in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and, most recently, demi-pointe. Her goal is to become a doctor, open a dance school, and provide classes for the less fortunate. Read our exclusive interview with Anniyah!
Spotlight Interview: Aurora Tights x Leatrice Bulls
Ashley Stout
Posted on June 19 2020
Leatrice Bulls is not only a Team USA figure skating alumni with a gold medal under her belt, but she is also paving the way for women of color in the STEM field. We had the opportunity to sit down with Leatrice and hear about her amazing accomplishments and her stance on many issues. Here are the highlights from our interview with Leatrice:
Skater Makes Her Mark in Full Color
Aurora Tights
Posted on February 12 2020
Performance apparel for dancers and skaters – in an array of tones to match all complexions and sizes. “We’re sending the message ‘You DO belong in this sport,’” the founders of Aurora Tights said, winning the top $15K prize in the latest Pitch Dingman competition.
Catching Up With Ladies First Founder Jasmine Snead of Aurora Tights
Aurora Tights
Posted on October 28 2019
We sat down with Aurora Tights Co-Founder and 2019 Pitch Dingman Competition winner Jasmine Snead to talk about her experiences as an entrepreneur.
I Love Synchro, but Hate Actionphotos.com
Aurora Tights
Posted on July 19 2019
My name is Imani Rickerby, I was a competitive synchronized ice skater for 13 years, and I hated Actionphotos.com. I sound crazy, right? Action photos to a synchro competition are like peanut butter on a PB&J. My action photos at every competition symbolized a reminder to the judges, technical panel, audience, and even my teammates something I tried desperately to hide: A black girl trying to masquerade inside somebody else’s body.
Terps’ Startup Creates Tights for Ice Skaters, Dancers of All Skin Tones
Aurora Tights
Posted on May 14 2019
In figure skating or gymnastics, athletes strive to put together the perfect outfit to complement a hoped-for perfect routine. That can be harder for athletes of color, as the attire hasn’t always matched their skin tones.
Hanging Onto a Tights Lead
Aurora Tights
Posted on March 11 2019
Inclusive performance apparel for ice Skaters and dancers of all skin tones wins Pitch Dingman Competition’s top prize.
“Body-positive” activewear start-up wins $15,000 at annual UMD business competition
Aurora Tights
Posted on March 08 2019
Jasmine Snead, a public policy graduate student, presents her activewear company, Aurora Tights, which offers tights to skaters and dancers of all skin colors, at the Pitch Dingman Finals, an annual business start-up competition. Aurora Tights won the $15,000 grand prize.
An Interview With Pitch Dingman Competition Finalist Aurora Tights
Aurora Tights
Posted on February 09 2019
In anticipation of the final round of the 2019 Pitch Dingman Competition, the Dingman Center is interviewing each of the five startup finalists about their progress and upcoming challenges as they prepare to compete for the $15,000 Grand Prize on March 7th in the Grand Ballroom of Stamp Student Union.