10/21/2026
On Pointe Corps ambassador Kareli Dotson sits down with the founder of AK Dancewear.
Our ambassadors do a lot more than wear leotards and pointe shoes. Kareli Dotson created Pointe of Inspiration, an interview series celebrating women-owned dancewear businesses and the women behind them. In her words, she hopes it inspires young dancers “to look beyond the studio and discover the people behind the brands we know and love.”
Her first feature is Alina Khoo, founder of AK Dancewear. Alina began ballet at nine years old in Penang, Malaysia. When she returned to dance as an adult, she started altering and sewing her own leotards, and in 2018 that became AK Dancewear. Kareli first shared this interview on Instagram, and we loved it so much we asked to bring it to all of you.
Kareli
You’ve shared that finding dancewear that felt right for you was part of what inspired AK Dancewear. Do you remember when you first thought, “Maybe I could create something myself”?
Alina
It started with my own frustration finding dancewear that felt comfortable and flattering on my body. When I returned to ballet as an adult, I knew how I wanted to feel in class, but finding a leotard that helped me feel that way wasn’t always easy. I began modifying and sewing leotards for myself. At a workshop in New York, other dancers noticed what I was wearing, and that encouraged me to think beyond making something just for myself. Perhaps other dancers were looking for the same things I was. AK Dancewear grew from that very personal starting point.
Kareli
One thing I find interesting about AK Dancewear is how much you care about helping dancers feel comfortable and confident. How do you get inspiration from dancers and their different experiences when creating your designs?
Alina
A lot of my inspiration comes from listening. At our store, pop-ups, and events, I get to meet dancers of different ages, body types, and training backgrounds. I hear what they love, what they struggle with, and what they wish their dancewear could do better. Sometimes a small comment about a strap, a neckline, or how something feels during class gives me a lot to think about.
I also pay attention to how a design moves on different bodies. Something can look beautiful standing still, but it needs to feel good through an entire class, too. My own experience gives me a starting point, but listening to other dancers helps me see beyond it.
Kareli
You’ve had experiences in dance, engineering, and business. Did you ever imagine that all of those different parts of your life would come together? Is there something you learned outside of dance that you now use as a founder?
Alina
I didn’t imagine that they would come together this way! I studied Computer Engineering and Computer Science and worked in technology before starting AK. At the time, dance and my career felt like different parts of my life.
Engineering taught me to look closely at a problem, ask why something isn’t working, and keep testing ways to improve it. I use that approach in design, whether I’m thinking about fabric, fit, or construction. Business has also taught me patience, adaptability, and how to make decisions when there isn’t one perfect answer.
Those lessons help me as a dancer, too. I can approach a difficult step with curiosity, break it into smaller parts, and work through it. You don’t always know where an experience will lead, but it can become useful in ways you never expected.
"I wish more young dancers knew that there is more than one way to have a meaningful relationship with ballet."
- Alina Khoo
Kareli
When you think about young dancers today, what is something you wish more dancers knew about finding their own place in ballet and being comfortable with who they are?
Alina
I wish more young dancers knew that there is more than one way to have a meaningful relationship with ballet. Your journey doesn’t have to look like your friend’s, and your worth isn’t determined by a role, a competition result, or whether you become a professional dancer.
I stepped away from ballet and later returned as an adult. It became an important part of my life again and eventually helped lead me to AK. I couldn’t have planned that when I was young. Work hard and stay open to learning, but give yourself room to discover who you are. You can admire someone else without feeling that you need to become them.
Kareli
When you look at AK Dancewear today, what is something you hope a dancer feels wearing your designs?
Alina
First, I hope they feel comfortable enough to focus on dancing. They shouldn’t have to spend class worrying about their leotard or constantly adjusting it. I also hope they feel beautiful and confident as themselves. Dancewear can’t do the work for you, but it can help you walk into the studio feeling ready. That’s the feeling I want our designs to support: “I feel good, and I’m ready to dance.”
Kareli
I love that you have created Dolly and the other Motleyville characters. It’s clever that they all have such unique personalities. What I find really special about Motleyville is that the characters don’t all have to be the same to belong in the same world. Was that something you wanted to show through them?
Alina
Yes, absolutely. I wanted Motleyville to have room for different personalities, including the feelings we don’t always know how to talk about. Dolly is our mascot with autism. She is quiet and caring, but she’s still learning how to express herself. Blushy is shy and learning to be brave one step at a time. Cocoa cares deeply about getting things perfectly right and is learning to give herself grace. Gaffy loves making everyone laugh, but he’s learning that he’s still loved even when he isn’t being funny.
They’re all ballerinas or aspiring ballerinas, but each brings something different to their little world. I hope dancers recognize a part of themselves in them and feel understood. You don’t have to be the loudest, the funniest, or the most perfect person to belong.
"You can be ambitious and kind at the same time"
- Alina Khoo
Kareli
I think it’s really special to see you and Ms. Rhea supporting and encouraging each other. What would you tell young dancers about the importance of having women who support you, and also being that person for someone else?
Alina
I’m glad you noticed that about Ms. Rhea and me. Having people who encourage you and care about what you’re trying to build means a great deal. I would tell young dancers to look for people who help them grow and feel comfortable being themselves, and to offer that same support to others.
It can be as simple as checking on a friend after a difficult class, celebrating someone’s new role, or inviting someone into a conversation. Ballet can be competitive, but someone else’s achievement doesn’t make yours smaller. You can be ambitious and kind at the same time. Learning to support one another is something you’ll carry far beyond the studio.
A Note from Ms. Rhea
Alina, thank you for turning something you needed into incredible products that help dancers walk into class feeling confident and ready. Kareli, thank you for asking questions that went straight to the heart of belonging in ballet. This is exactly what the On Pointe Corps is all about.
Keep an eye out for Kareli’s next Pointe of Inspiration conversation. Follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kareli_ballet/) . We can’t wait to see who she talks to next!
Click here for an update from On Pointe Dancewear!
