When you hear people talk about dance clothes, ballet dancers usually come to mind. The variety of outfits designed for professional dancers is much more extensive than that, however. If we dig a little deeper into the subject, you’ll find that there are clothes made for many different types of dance, and each have their special place in a performer’s wardrobe.

If you try, you can probably think of many different items of clothing that could be categorized by the general term “dancewear.” Leotards, unitards, comfortwear, tights, tutus, dresses, cheerwear – these are all examples of clothes designed for specific types of performance.
There are also many styles of shoes to consider as well, since dance clothes and outfits would not be complete without a matching, comfortable pair of shoes. From line dancing to tap, ballet to aerobics, and flamenco to jazz, anyone who dances as a performer needs the right shoe to move safely and comfortably through their routines.

So, what do these performers wear, and what are some of the differences between the various styles of dance clothes? Well, that depends. Sometimes a stage performance dictates that certain characters or chorus members will wear costumes that match the theme of the show. There are standards though that we can use to give a general picture of a few outfits.
Male ballet dancers typically wear a white shirt with black tights and ballet shoes in the studio. If you’re doing the tango, you will see more slacks, long-sleeve shirts, and leather shoes with a slightly higher heel than jazz shoes. In fact, black is a popular color for men, no matter what the style. A male performer’s clothing is much more basic overall than dance clothes for women.

Ladies have infinite choices, depending on the style of dance. For ballet, its leotards, tutus, tights, and ballet slippers or pointe shoes. For a more casual style, they can also wear spandex dresses, Capri or gaucho pants, shorts, and an infinite variety of heeled and flat shoes or sneakers.
An increasing number of online and brick-and-mortar vendors are offering liturgical robes and long dresses or leotards, sometimes called praisewear, designed with religious themes in mind.
Danskin and Capezio are two of the more well-known brand names that provide clothing for all of these different types of performers. Their reputations as long-time vendors in the modern dance industry make them reliable sources for finding the right items required for specific performances.
Another style of dance that has a distinct wardrobe is ballroom dancing. Modern attire might feature a halter dress or pullover matched with a long, flowing drapery skirt that adds flair to a female dancer’s routine. For something more bold, women might wear gauntlet gloves and sexy strapless dresses that show off a woman’s tender shoulders. They might have a beautiful necklace to wear that makes the outfit complete.
Its sometimes fun to look back at the styles worn in the roaring Twenties, when modern girls stepped out of their corsets and into as Charleston or a Shimmy in flapper skirts styled after fashion maven Coco Chanel. By today’s standards, these outfits are tame, but the same spirit of freedom burns inside many of those who wear the dance clothes of today.