| In the professional theatre, large budgets allow for | | | | make-to-order dance leotards and dance |
| highly elaborate dance costumes which are | | | | costumes. This creates a massive opportunity to |
| designed and hand made by highly qualified | | | | really explore the effect that costume can have |
| professionals. However, it's very rare that dance | | | | on your dance. As well as significantly increasing |
| schools and dance academies have the luxury of | | | | the number of colours you can choose your |
| such extensive production budgets. For these | | | | leotard in, it also means that there is the possibility |
| shows, the leotard can form a great base for a | | | | to use printed fabrics such as Rainbow, Zebra, |
| highly effective and flexible costume that's | | | | Polka Dot and many more. |
| excellent value for money. | | | | To give your dance costume the edge, it's |
| There are several basic elements to consider | | | | important to focus on the small details. Dance |
| when choosing a leotard for the basis of your | | | | accessories such as bun nets, hair pins and hair |
| dance costume. These are colour, material, | | | | bands all play an important role in completing the |
| texture and pattern, and whether the costume is | | | | dancer's costume. Where possible, colours that |
| for a male or female dancer. | | | | harmonize with the costume and with the theme |
| The colour of the dance costume is a very easy | | | | of the dance should be chosen. Footwear should |
| and often a very cheap way to directly affect | | | | also not be overlooked, as different types of |
| the emotion of the audience. Blue colours will | | | | dance will require different types of footwear. A |
| create a cool feeling, whereas orange colours | | | | chorus may find themselves wearing pointe |
| create a feeling of warmth. They can also be | | | | shoes, soft ballet shoes, tap shoes, character |
| highly symbolic. For example, green is a powerful | | | | shoes or even bare feet. If you have a chorus, |
| symbol of envy and red can be a potent symbol | | | | then it's usually a good idea to make sure they all |
| for anger. A great idea is to use the colour of | | | | wear footwear that at least matches in colour |
| your dance costume to pick out an individual | | | | unless they intentionally mismatch to create a |
| dancer. For example, imagine a dancer wearing a | | | | particular effect for the audience. |
| red leotard dancing alongside a chorus of dancers | | | | Most dance retailers that provide a make-to-order |
| wearing white leotards. Effects such as this show | | | | service will also supply dance accessories. If not, |
| how the dance costume can have a powerful | | | | then a good retailer should be able to recommend |
| effect over the dance without any specialist | | | | where you can get them. You may also find that |
| lighting. | | | | they sell dancewear from other popular dance |
| Dance leotards are often only available in a small | | | | brands such as Roch Valley, Pineapple, Capezio |
| selection of colours which are predetermined by | | | | and Bloch which is very useful as this can make |
| the manufacturer. However, there are a small | | | | the dance retailer you find your one stop shop |
| number of dance retailers that produce | | | | for all your dancewear! |