Dancing is a great way to have fun, meet new people and maintain a healthy lifestyle. From ballet, to hip-hop to ballroom, the right kind of dancewear can make all the difference. It helps you to feel great when you’re dancing as well as helping you to keep safe. Leotards, skirts, shoes, tights and other gear are all part of dancewear outfits, so it’s important to be wearing the right outfit.
Dance instructors will be able to tell you the right kind of dancewear and shoes you need for your dance style and skill. With styles such as ballet, the instructor needs to see the outline of the body a lot more than with a style such as zumba, so it makes sense that ballet dancers need to wear leotards. This is to also see the dancer’s muscle definition and ensure each warm-up and position is performed correctly.
2. Body type is important
Whether you’re dancing for your enjoyment or professionally, dressing for your body type will help you feel safe and supported throughout all your dance moves. Leotards especially have to be able to offer the right amount of support in the bust to keep you as comfortable as possible.
3. Make sure your dancewear fits correctly
Ill-fitting dancewear is simply uncomfortable and sometime hazardous, making it extremely important that you buy the right size dancewear. Remember that most dancewear, including skirts, tights and warm-up sweaters fit closer to the body than street wear. You should also measure stretchable clothing whilst they’re loose. It’s important to remember that every manufacturer has a different sizing standard.
4. Buy style appropriate dancewear
Each dancing style has its own dancewear appropriate for practising and performing. A traditional ballet outfit doesn’t lend itself well to hip-hop, where sensible trousers, a sports bra and elbow and knee pads may be more appropriate. Likewise, the use of cargo trousers may be fine in zumba, but not highland dancing.
5. Buy appropriate footwear
Footwear is just as important as clothing when dancing. Styles such as modern or jazz require a flexible, low-cut shoe with full or split soles. Ballet shoes need to be light and extremely flexible to accommodate articulation and footwork. Pointe shoes may be appropriate for more advanced dancers, to provide the toe with extra support. Ballroom shoes are essential for dancers. Ballroom shoes have reinforced arches and a heel cup to provide the foot with a level of support not present in street shoes.
By wearing the correct dancewear to your lessons and performances, you'll be put in the right frame of mind, feel great and look amazing, which will all be apparent in your dancing to everyone around you. Stay safe and look your best in your dancewear by making sure you're wearing the right thing.