Dance is a graceful and graceful art form and a very exciting activity for both children and adults to participate in. An exquisite mix of movement and beauty, any type of dance is a sight to behold with its striking costumes. Since dance is all about movement, it makes sense that it would have its own special type of clothing that is worn to allow this to happen more freely. Dancewear is the name given to these garments, and includes shoes, leggings, bodysuits, and skirts that are related to dance. These are the most frequently worn items associated with dance.
A leotard is standard for all types of dance and is worn by all dancers at some point. Similar to a swimsuit, a leotard covers the body but not the legs, tights are usually worn with it. Practice leotards are usually made from stretch cotton and performance leotards from satin. These garments free up the body to allow full movement. There are several styles available; sleeveless, long or short sleeve, skirted, ruffled, sleeveless or camisole.
Tights are also a staple in a dancer’s wardrobe. Worn against the legs and similar to pantyhose but thicker, the tights draw attention to the legs and, like the leotard, allow full range of motion. They are used for all types of dance; ballet, tap, jazz and modern alike. There are various forms of hosiery that come footless, footed, footless with stirrups, and convertibles that can be footed or footless.
For ballet, two different types of shoes are used. Those who are just learning ballet wear lightweight, flat slippers that have a simple design built for movement. They are mostly pink or white in color and made of leather, satin or canvas. Sometimes for shows special brightly colored slippers are used. These should be worn for several years until the dancer is ready to dance “en pointe” or on tiptoe. Once this stage is reached, pointe shoes can be worn. These shoes feature a solid toe box to support the toes and a shank in the sole to support the arch, and are tied around the ankles with ribbons.
Special footwear is also used for tap dancing. These shoes are well known for their rhythmic, percussive sound that they make in time with the music when they hit the floor, uniting the dance act with the song. Most are shiny black patent leather and are tied with ribbons, lace or buttoned.
Jazz and modern types of dance such as hip-hop use a special jazz shoe. These shoes are very light, flexible and soft and are made of canvas or leather. They can be in a lace-up or slip-on design, and some have a split heel, allowing for even more foot movement as the arch is free. Some designs also have a built-in chamois patch for added flex needed for fast twists and turns.
Skirts used for dancing come in different styles, but the most common is the “tutu” used in balancing performances. These cute skirts are made in 2 styles; “romantic”, which is long and flowing, and “pancake”, which consists of ruffles of net or organza that extend from the dancer’s hips. Various other types of recital skirts are sometimes worn in other types of dance as well.
All types of dance; Ballet, tap, jazz, and modern all have their own appropriate types of dress worn by most dancers. Dance schools will also specify which particular items they want their students to wear. One thing that all dancewear has in common is that it is made to move and look beautiful in the public eye.
