Dancewear 101: Things to Consider When Buying Ballet Costumes

Costumes are an important part of any dance stage performance or competition, and ballet isn’t an exception. The appearance of a ballet dancer or dance group can really make them stand out in front of an audience. Ballet costume design takes a lot of time and effort. When most people think of ballet dancewear, they envision something flashy, glittery, and sparkly.

The best costumes, on the other hand, are beautifully designed pieces that complement the performer and the choreography. If this sounds like a difficult process, it’s because it is! There is not only a wide range of styles, which include colours, textures, and fabric materials but also fits and how all of these individual components come together. Here are some pointers to help you with the task of purchasing the right ballet costume.

Quality

Who said that quality means spending more money? On the internet, you can find a range of quality ballet costumes for sale at great prices. This doesn’t mean however you shouldn’t spend some extra bucks on high-quality dancewear that will last the entire production. If you try to save money by buying cheap, flimsy discount dancewear, it may rip due to all of your physical exertion, forcing you to replace it quickly and spend even more money. It’s fine to look for costumes for sale, just make sure you spend your money on the good stuff.

Colour

Certain colours help highlight specific dance moves better than others, and the way light reflects off the fabric can really enhance a ballet dancer’s form. Furthermore, the colour can represent the choreography of the piece, acting as an indicator of the dancers’ movements. Colour should never distract from the dancer, which can be difficult for a costume designer to achieve.

Fabric

The fabric of your chosen ballet costumes for sale itself is an important factor for the overall design. The fabric must reveal the movements rather than the body. The audience should focus on the dancer’s movements instead of being distracted by the dancewear itself. The fabric can be loose or tight, but it should never restrict movement.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different materials such as lycra, elastane, microfibre, polyester, polyamide, and Tactel nylon. Each has advantages and disadvantages, so you must decide which option works best for you. The most important step toward a successful dance event is selecting or designing a comfortable costume.

Fit

This aspect also has to do with how comfortable a costume is. If the dancewear is beautiful but the dancer is not comfortable, the purpose is defeated. Although this feature is sometimes pushed to the back burner of design, it can be at the detriment of the entire performance. Hence it is critical that comfort be incorporated early in the design process; otherwise, the dancer may not be able to do the required moves at all.

Types of Tutus

A tutu skirt is the most important part of a ballerina outfit. To suit different tastes and needs, a variety of tutus can be found on the market today.

A romantic tutu is a knee-length, bell-shaped tulle skirt with several layers. It’s free flowing to emphasize lightness and to match the quality of romantic ballets like “Giselle.” Romantic tutus come in two styles: those that start at the waist, and those that have a dropped waist and basque.

The length of this skirt allows dancers to splay their skirt out when sitting, and it swishes with their movements. A classical pancake tutu, as the name suggests, resembles a pancake. It is usually quite short and thin, extending straight out from the wearer’s hips and not dipping much downward.

Russian lyrical tutus are more tightly tacked and appear flattered. The English models have a gentle slope from the high hip-line, and the net is tacked slightly looser, giving it a much softer, fluffier appearance. This style of the tutu is commonly seen in classical ballets.

Accessories

Dancers get so focused on their costumes that sometimes they forget about other essentials like leg warmers. Having the right accessories and beauty items, on the other hand, can make or break your dancing experience. Consider all kinds of aspects when purchasing for your look; this way, you won’t forget to get a warm beanie for a cold dance class.

What to Wear Under Your Costume?

Wearing regular undies in class is fine. But for a concert or performance, making sure that your undies and bras can’t be seen is really important. Dark colours get more visible with extra lighting, and you also won’t want extra straps interfering with the line of your ballet costumes.

For concerts, consider:

• Briefs with a skin tone and no seams.
• Skin-coloured bra/crop top with clear straps.
• If you’re a dancer with a larger bust, you might enjoy the support of a skin-coloured strapless bra.
• A body suit is recommended for a dancer who wants some coverage over their tummy. These are frequently very useful for dancers who have quick changes because they function as an “under-leotard,” allowing dancers to feel more covered and less self-conscious.
• Thanks to technological advancements, period undies have now been adapted for dancers!
• For boys and young men, use underwear in the same colour as their costume. As they grow older, they will require additional support, such as dance belts.