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BodyGear opened its doors as a women's aerobics store in April of 1988. It was the very first fitness specialty store in New York State, offering apparel, sneakers, weights, mats and other necessary fitness gear and accessories, all under one roof. Founder Mary Ellen Sprague, a certified aerobics instructor for nearly twenty years, says it was her love of fitness that sparked the store's original concept. BodyGear soon added apparel and gear for many other types of fitness, including running, walking, cycling, swimming and tennis, and, in 1991, Mary Ellen was nominated by her bank, Tompkins Trust Company, for "New York State Small Business Person of the Year."

By 1990, BodyGear was offering leotards and tights for children, in part due to Mary Ellen's 6-year-old daughter, Samantha, who had now begun ballet classes. The store soon added dance shoes and adult dancewear to its product line. By 1994, Mary Ellen was company-trained and certified in the precise art of fitting dance shoes, particularly pointe shoes, and BodyGear became an official Capezio dealer. With this, BodyGear completed its evolution from a fitness store into a dance store, and has been considered the premier dance boutique of Central New York ever since.

BodyGear offers a complete and expansive line of dancewear, dance shoes and dance accessories, with everything you need for ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical, hip hop, Latin, ballroom, and even bellydance. You'll also find a beautiful array of books, cards, music, posters, calendars, and wonderfully-unique gift items. Mary Ellen still caters to her original fitness customer base, offering apparel for yoga, pilates, gymnastics, cheer and skating.

In the fall of 2004, BodyGear moved to its current location on the beautiful Ithaca Commons, in downtown Ithaca, NY. This move marked the store's first expansion, and nearly doubled its size. One of the many features in the new space is the special shoe fitting area. Complete with a wood floor, mirrored wall and a ballet barre, it's the perfect place to try out new dance shoes. BodyGear's walls are lined with colorful posters from the many dance concerts Mary Ellen's attended over the years, along with gorgeous photographs, colorful tutus, and dozens and dozens of Samantha's used pointe shoes.

Mary Ellen has long been considered a Master Fitter. Her customers regularly travel from a 90-mile radius and beyond to buy their dance shoes, and, to shop at BodyGear in general. One of the most rewarding aspects of her 20 years in business has been getting to know the families, and their young dancers, that make up her loyal customer base. She considers them as friends, and watched many of these young girls growing up along side her own daughter, now 24. She enjoys the frequent surprise visits from these former dance students, now young adults, who stop by BodyGear whenever they're in town. Many have gone on to professional careers in dance, as did her daughter, Samantha, dancing with Tulsa Ballet Theatre. Others just like to look at the photos on the walls and reminisce. Mary Ellen looks forward to the store's next 20 years, and, to watching the next generation of young dancers growing up.