Dance Uniforms, Cladding Bodies in Motion

Dance is an art form that combines music, motion, scenery- and costume.  Even simple dance uniforms help a dancer or a dance troupe to project a more dynamic and vivacious image to an audience.  Dancers and choreographers must carefully choose the uniforms their dancers will wear if the performances are going to be the total experience that dance can be.  At the same time, comfort and flexibility are equally as important as aesthetic concerns.

Indeed, there is a need for different kinds of uniforms for different purposes. It is important for a dance troupe or a dance school to determine all of the different needs and environments in which dance uniforms will be worn. For instance, uniforms worn in rehearsal must, of course, be comfort and allow for the body to move in an unencumbered fashion. They should also be durable as they will be worn day in, day out. Another concern is how well the garments absorb sweat. Not every fabric makes for a clothing item that feels good on the body in the course of long, hard rehearsals. However, uniforms for rehearsals do not have to be colorful or have striking designs.  Cost be kept down by purchasing garments that are strictly functional.

Dance uniforms for performances will tend to more visually striking. Some dance styles-some ballets, for instance- will call for more elaborate or fancy dance garments.  The first thing to know when a dance company or school buys their performance uniforms is just what particular dances will make up their dance programs. Buying inappropriate dance wear just to save money is unwise.  The magic of the movements on stage will be compromised if the dancers are drably attired or seem to be dressed for a different performance. If funds are very limited, it might be better to avoid certain dance pieces that rely on elaborate costumes rather than to “under-stage” a work by putting the dancers on stage with the wrong garments.

Customization is very popular when it comes to dance uniforms. If ready made garments don’t satisfy the artistic vision of the choreographer , it is easy nowadays to have garments custom made.  Dance wear can be made in a staggering array of colors and patterns.   Uniforms are also custom ordered so as to accommodate the different figures and physiques of the dancers.  It is important that measurements of dancers’ bodies be accurate when custom ordering dance wear.

There is, however, an impressive number of companies that make uniforms for dancers, whether they are performing jazz dance, tango, or ballet. If a dance group has a limited number of stores in its town that sell dance uniforms, they can peruse the catalogs of all the different dance clothing manufacturers from  round the U.S, and round the world, for that matter.  E-mail allows questions to be quickly posed and responded to by the online store or manufacturer. Time spent establishing just what manufacturers and stores can furnish a dance troupe with the uniforms it needs, is time well spent.