| Dance costumes, or apparel is an important | | | | a successful dance event. For instance, dancers |
| component of any dance competition, movie, or | | | | never dance in traditional clothing, because most |
| stage presentation. The look can make a dancer | | | | fabric we wear everyday is restrictive. Even |
| or dance group really stand out to the audience. A | | | | when dancer seem to be wearing t-shirts and |
| lot of effort goes into costume design. Most | | | | jeans in the movies or on stage, they are not. |
| people when they think of dance apparel, they | | | | The cut and material are especially made to allow |
| think "flashy" or "glittery" and "sparkly," even. | | | | the dancer full range of movement and most |
| However, the best designed costumes are | | | | times allow the dancer's body to breathe and |
| beautifully designed pieces that will compliment the | | | | keep cool. |
| performer and the choreography. If it sounds like | | | | Another important factor in costume design is |
| a complicated process, it is! There are not only a | | | | comfort. If the dance apparel is beautiful, but the |
| vast array of styles, which consist of colors, | | | | dancer is uncomfortable, then the purpose will be |
| textures, and materials of fabrics, but it also the | | | | defeated. Comfort is sometimes put on the back |
| fits and how the all these individual components | | | | burner of design and when you see a |
| come together. | | | | performance where comfort has been |
| For instance, certain colors will show off certain | | | | disregarded, the performance will suffer. It is |
| dance moves better than others, and the way | | | | crucial that comfort be implemented into the |
| the light reflects from the fabric can really | | | | design process early on; otherwise, the dancer |
| enhance a dancer's form. Also, the color can | | | | may not be able to perform the moves needed |
| represent the choreography of the piece itself, a | | | | at all. |
| sort of representation of the dancers dance | | | | The key to a good dance costume is that it must |
| moves. Color should never distract from the | | | | accentuate the dancer and not hinder the dancer |
| dancer, and sometimes this can be a difficult | | | | or the dance in any way. A good dance costume |
| accomplishment for a costume designer. | | | | will enhance the audience's experience of the |
| Fabric itself is a huge consideration in the design | | | | piece. If the costume is too flashy in color or |
| of a piece. The fabric must show the moves and | | | | fabric, then not only does it detract from the |
| not the body. The audience needs to concentrate | | | | dance moves being performed, but it also |
| on the moves of the dancer and not be too | | | | detracts form the overall choreography of the |
| dazzled by the dance wear, itself. The fabric can | | | | piece. And last but not least, comfort is king here. |
| be loose or tight, but should never inhibit a dancer | | | | No matter if all the other pieces come together, if |
| from movement, such as traditional clothes would. | | | | the dancer is not comfortable then the |
| Choosing a costume or designing a costume that | | | | performance will suffer. |
| is comfortable is the most important step toward | | | | |