Different Types of Dance Costumes

Dance is a special form of art that needs to be learned diligently from competent teachers. There are many varieties of dance forms in the world, which exhibit the cultural background of the various lands. However, every dance form requires specific dance costumes that the dancers are required to wear while performing before the audiences. Hence, the choreographers and the dancers are very particular about getting suitable costumes for ensuring an impressive performance on stage. 

Dance Costumes 

Varieties of dance costumes according to a few dance forms

• Ballet costumes – In ballet dance, the boys need to wear tight leotard suits that can be of black, white or any other colour - as suggested by the dance teacher. The girls should wear special ballet skirts, which are mostly pink or black in colors. The children learning ballet dance need to wear tights that fit them to perfection. They also should wear special ballet shoes made of either canvas or leather, which constitute as a perfect fit for their feet.
• Jazz costumes – The dance costumes for jazz dance are quite similar to those of the ballet dance ones. The leotards, tights, and the shoes of the jazz dancers are available at affordable prices, which the dancers can buy online. The tights may be replaced with shorts or leggings of suitable fittings and serve as comfortable dance ensembles. Also, the shoes used for jazz dances usually have smaller soles for easier movements during the practice.
• Tap dance attire – The tights, leotards or skirts that are worn during tap dances are similar to the ones that are worn during jazz or ballet dances. Also, the shoes for this dance form should have thin metal plates on the soles, which create beating sounds according to the movements of the feet while dancing. 

Dance Costumes 

Factors to be considered while buying the dance costumes

• The design of the dance attire depends on the specific dance form for which it needs to be used. Hence, the name of the dance form should be mentioned while buying the dance costumes online. The design may also vary according to the theme and the location of the dance, for which the choreographer should be consulted.
• The colour of the costumes depends on the instructions as given by the choreographer, and they need to match with the ones adorned by the co-dancers as well as the props that are used for decorating the stage. The accessories of the dancer should also match with the colors of the dancing dresses. The colour of the dress may look different as per the lights that are reflected on the stage and is an important point to consider when selecting the dresses colors.
• The material of the dance attire should be chosen carefully as per the rules of the dance and the suggestions of the dance teacher. Normally, light fabrics are preferred for creating these dance attires, among which silk, georgette, and chiffon are the most popular. As the dress needs to be stretched comfortably while dancing, jersey and Lycra are also preferred for the dress materials. The buyers will find the dance costume of all these materials on the online stores.
• The specific patterns of the dance attires should also be mentioned, as the dresses need to be the same in the cases of group dancers. The variations are usually created by dyeing or painting or the use of appliqués, to bring more colourfulness to the dress and making the dancer look more vibrant.
• The type of footwear used in a dance totally depends on the demands of the dance form. However, utmost care should be taken to fit the shoes perfectly to the wearer’s feet.

It is important to bear in mind that during the purchase of the dance attires, the requirements of the dance forms and the choreographer’s instruction should be borne in mind for making the ideal choices.