Dance Costumes

Create a fantastic dance costume with a small production budget

In the professional theatre, large budgets allow for highly elaborate dance costumes which are designed and hand made by highly qualified professionals. However, it's very rare that dance schools and dance academies have the luxury of such extensive production budgets. For these shows, the leotard can form a great base for a highly effective and flexible costume that's excellent value for money.

There are several basic elements to consider when choosing a leotard for the basis of your dance costume. These are colour, material, texture and pattern, and whether the costume is for a male or female dancer.

The colour of the dance costume is a very easy and often a very cheap way to directly affect the emotion of the audience. Blue colours will create a cool feeling, whereas orange colours create a feeling of warmth. They can also be highly symbolic. For example, green is a powerful symbol of envy and red can be a potent symbol for anger. A great idea is to use the colour of your dance costume to pick out an individual dancer. For example, imagine a dancer wearing a red leotard dancing alongside a chorus of dancers wearing white leotards. Effects such as this show how the dance costume can have a powerful effect over the dance without any specialist lighting.

Dance leotards are often only available in a small selection of colours which are predetermined by the manufacturer. However, there are a small number of dance retailers that produce make-to-order dance leotards and dance costumes. This creates a massive opportunity to really explore the effect that costume can have on your dance. As well as significantly increasing the number of colours you can choose your leotard in, it also means that there is the possibility to use printed fabrics such as Rainbow, Zebra, Polka Dot and many more.

To give your dance costume the edge, it's important to focus on the small details. Dance accessories such as bun nets, hair pins and hair bands all play an important role in completing the dancer's costume. Where possible, colours that harmonize with the costume and with the theme of the dance should be chosen. Footwear should also not be overlooked, as different types of dance will require different types of footwear. A chorus may find themselves wearing pointe shoes, soft ballet shoes, tap shoes, character shoes or even bare feet. If you have a chorus, then it's usually a good idea to make sure they all wear footwear that at least matches in colour unless they intentionally mismatch to create a particular effect for the audience.

Most dance retailers that provide a make-to-order service will also supply dance accessories. If not, then a good retailer should be able to recommend where you can get them. You may also find that they sell dancewear from other popular dance brands such as Roch Valley, Pineapple, Capezio and Bloch which is very useful as this can make the dance retailer you find your one stop shop for all your dancewear!

About the Author

Dance Gear Direct are experts in providing make-to-order dancewear as well as dancewear from popular brands such as Roch Valley and Capezio. For more information about our extensive range of make to order dance costumes and other dancewear please visit our website http://www.dancegeardirect.co.uk.

What are those underwear type things called that you wear under dance costumes, or cheerleading outfits?

Like i've heard a few names for them, but I was curious as too what they are actually called.

Spankies. Dancers call them booty shorts and idk what cheer leaders call them but that is the official title for the shorts. If you are looking to but a pair i would reccomend Capezio. It is a dance brand but they make great products!

A Wish Come True Dance 2010

Dress Up America Girl's Flamenco Dancer Costume $40.99 A bold, tiered dress with polka dot and tulle detailing accents this fun Flamenco Dancer costume from Dress Up America. This costume also includes a head flower, fan and belt.

How to Dress Dancers (Paperback) $12.58 Geared for costuming dancers, this book includes more than 400 line drawings that demonstrate how to make a costume from a sketch rather than a pattern. Detailed instructions for making classical and romantic tutus, bodices, blouses, cos...

Yo Gabba Gabba - The Dancey Dance Bunch (DVD) $11.87 Is it an innocuous children`s program or a surrealist masterpiece? Mired in Freud`s precognitive state, and hosted by the eternally upbeat DJ Lance Rock, YO GABBA GABBA is whatever you want it to be. Its colorful costumed characters, catchy songs, cele...

Devil, Spanish Dancer, Mouse 3-in-1 Costume Set $44.99 Don't limit yourself with a single costume choice, be ready for whatever mood your girl is in with the Spanish Dancer, Mouse, Devil 3-IN-1 Costume Set.

Rubie's Costume Co 33252 South Park Kyle Adult $42.84 "Dance dance!"Yep Kyle knows how to keep it real all right! This costume includes a great big Kyle headpiece/mask with his famous green hunter's cap a tunic printed to look just like Kyle's jacket with green mittens and turquoise ...

Disguise Wild West Cutie Toddler-Child Costume $32.86 Cowgirl with an adorable sense of style! This little cowgirl is ready for some pioneering fun! Whether it's square dancing or cow-wrangling she's up for it!A pink and white spotted dress with attached vest and attached belt with silver ...

Disguise Beauty and the Beast Belle Ballerina $35.99 A Dancing Beauty!An adorable Disney Princess with a love of dancing and reading this Ballerina costume is what your little one needs for her magical Halloween moment! The Belle Ballerina Toddler/Child Costume includes a gold knee-length dress ...

Russian Festivals and Costumes for Pageant and Dance (Hardcover) $27.68 Description not available.

Costumes For All Occasions Small Ballerina Witch $37.93 Pretty dance-style costume has puff sleeves and full skirt and includes mitts and hat.Color: Green.Size: Child Small 4-6.

Costumes For All Occasions Medium Ballerina $41.72 Pretty dance-style costume has puff sleeves and full skirt and includes mitts and hat.Color: Green.Child Size: Medium 8-10.

Russian Festivals And Costumes For Pageant And Dance $18.2 Russian Festivals And Costumes For Pageant And Dance

Celtic Dance Costumes Iron-On Transfer Patterns $6.75 Celtic Dance Costumes Iron-On Transfer Patterns

Costumes For All Occasions BB136 Belly Dance Jewel $17.75 Looking for the best selection of Costumes for any occasion Then you have come to the right place. Choose this item made by the premier manufacturer for costumes props and theatrical wear. We supply ice shows circuses TV amusement parks Broadway and almost every major Hollywood movie studio with all their theatrical needs. From funny masks and accessories to unique life like mascot and animal costumes we have them all. Satisfaction Ensured. Includes glass stone for belly button and adhesive for applying. Available in blue red or green. Assorted colors only.

Costumes For All Occasions BC25BK Dance Hall Headpiece Black $22.1 Looking for the best selection of Costumes for any occasion Then you have come to the right place. Choose this item made by the premier manufacturer for costumes props and theatrical wear. We supply ice shows circuses TV amusement parks Broadway and almost every major Hollywood movie studio with all their theatrical needs. From funny masks and accessories to unique life like mascot and animal costumes we have them all. Satisfaction Ensured. Plastic headband with large feather and sequin detailing. Perfect for the old west dance hall girl.

Costumes For All Occasions BC25PR Dance Hall Headpiece Purple $22.1 Looking for the best selection of Costumes for any occasion Then you have come to the right place. Choose this item made by the premier manufacturer for costumes props and theatrical wear. We supply ice shows circuses TV amusement parks Broadway and almost every major Hollywood movie studio with all their theatrical needs. From funny masks and accessories to unique life like mascot and animal costumes we have them all. Satisfaction Ensured. Plastic headband with large feather and sequin detailing. Perfect for the old west dance hall girl.

RG Costumes 80401M Dance Waiter Costume Size Adult Medium 3638 $44.33 RG Costumes amp; Accessories is one of the world s largest manufacturers and suppliers of costumes accessories seasonal decor and supplies in the costume industry. The attention to detail and quality of material used in manufacturing each product make this beautiful line even more attractive. The line of the product is designed by skilled and experienced costume designers and is then manufactured by a team of leading professional tailors. Dance Waiter Costume Size Adult Medium 3638 Includes Fully Lined Vest Pants CollarTie and Cuffs Other items not included

RG Costumes 80401S Dance Waiter Costume Size Adult Small 3234 $44.33 RG Costumes amp; Accessories is one of the world s largest manufacturers and suppliers of costumes accessories seasonal decor and supplies in the costume industry. The attention to detail and quality of material used in manufacturing each product make this beautiful line even more attractive. The line of the product is designed by skilled and experienced costume designers and is then manufactured by a team of leading professional tailors. Dance Waiter Costume Size Adult Small 3234 Includes Fully Lined Vest Pants CollarTie and Cuffs Other items not included

Irish Dance $13.87 This book traces the history of dance in Ireland and reveals how Irish dance has survived centuries of emigration, invasion, and persecution. It is more than the history of dance, however, with chapters on music, dance costumes, competitions, and the phenomenal revival. The book also defines the social and cultural significance of dance in Ireland and among the Irish Diaspora. For the smitten fan of Irish dance, there are instructions and illustrated steps to two elementary dances. Irish dance, which probably dates back to the Druids, is today on the universal stage and may be seen in the movie Titanic as well as in the mesmerizing stage shows Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. Much more than mere entertainment or spectator sport, Irish dance attracts more than 1,000 international competitors annually to the World Championships.

The Dance $11.95 The Dance

Dance $15.19 Dance

This Is Dance! $19.41 This Is Dance!

Costumes For All Occasions BC33RD Dance Hall Hdpc Deluxe Red $26.85 Looking for the best selection of Costumes for any occasion Then you have come to the right place. Choose this item made by the premier manufacturer for costumes props and theatrical wear. We supply ice shows circuses TV amusement parks Broadway and almost every major Hollywood movie studio with all their theatrical needs. From funny masks and accessories to unique life like mascot and animal costumes we have them all. Satisfaction Ensured. Ribbon design with sequins and large full feathers. A must have for the old west saloon girl or Moulin Rouge dancer.

Costumes For All Occasions BC33BK Dance Hall Hdpc Deluxe Black $26.85 Looking for the best selection of Costumes for any occasion Then you have come to the right place. Choose this item made by the premier manufacturer for costumes props and theatrical wear. We supply ice shows circuses TV amusement parks Broadway and almost every major Hollywood movie studio with all their theatrical needs. From funny masks and accessories to unique life like mascot and animal costumes we have them all. Satisfaction Ensured. Ribbon design with sequins and large full feathers. A must have for the old west saloon girl or Moulin Rouge dancer.

Modern Dance (Reinforced Hardcover) $28.94 Describes the origins and development of the art form that began in the early twentieth century under the name "modern dance" and discusses choreography, music and other sounds for dancing, sets, costumes, lighting, and modern dance training.

RG Costumes 80173G 70s Dance Fever Gold Shirt Size Adult Standard $37.83 RG Costumes amp; Accessories is one of the world s largest manufacturers and suppliers of costumes accessories seasonal decor and supplies in the costume industry. The attention to detail and quality of material used in manufacturing each product make this beautiful line even more attractive. The line of the product is designed by skilled and experienced costume designers and is then manufactured by a team of leading professional tailors. 70s Dance Fever Shirt Size Adult Standard Color Gold Pictured in Silver Includes Shirt Only Wig Pants and other items not included

RG Costumes 80173S 70s Dance Fever Silver Shirt Size Adult Standard $37.83 RG Costumes amp; Accessories is one of the world s largest manufacturers and suppliers of costumes accessories seasonal decor and supplies in the costume industry. The attention to detail and quality of material used in manufacturing each product make this beautiful line even more attractive. The line of the product is designed by skilled and experienced costume designers and is then manufactured by a team of leading professional tailors. 70s Dance Fever Shirt Size Adult Standard Color Silver Includes Shirt Only Wig Pants and other items not included

Modern Dance By Solway, Andrew $36.24 Describes the origins and development of the art form that began in the early twentieth century under the name modern dance and discusses choreography, music and other sounds for dancing, sets, costumes, lighting, and modern dance training. Author: Solway, Andrew Series Title: Dance Publication Date: 2008/09/01 Number of Pages: 48 Binding Type: School And Library Grade Level: 46 Language: English Depth: 0.50 Width: 8.75 Height: 11.25